Race and Immigration

• How did race, immigration policies and attitudes towards ethnic minorities change 1918–39?


  1. Before WW1 = increasing immigration from countries hit by events of the war

  2. After WW1 was an increase in black and Asian communities in Britain

  3. Attitudes to migrant workers meant that they did not have the same rights and white workers

  4. Trade Unions fought to free jobs up for white workers

  5. Some black workers were sacked

  6. The National Union of Seamen (NUS) organised a strike in Liverpool that led to the sacking of 120 black workers

  7. There was also increasing violence towards immigrants

  8. Growing concerns led to the passing of two laws - 1920 Alien Orders Act and 1925 Special Restrictions Act

  9. By the 1930's there was an influx of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in Germany

  10. Many black and Asian workers in this period faced discrimination
• Some groups tried to fight for the rights of black/Jewish/Asian immigrants. The Communist Party of Great Britain had many ethnic minority members and supported a strike in the North East against the NUS. It also organised protests against the British Union of Fascists in London.
• Some universities encouraged young men from the colonies to come to Britain an receive a high level education. The expectation was they would then return home and play a key role. In reality some, such as doctors, stayed and faced racism.
• How did race, immigration policies and attitudes towards ethnic minorities change 1939-79?


  1. At the start of the war the government encouraged white men from Australia and New Zealand to help with the war effort but rejected offers of help from thousands of Caribbean workers

  2. But, as the war went on the govt realised migrant workers and soldiers would be crucial to win the war

  3. Thousands of workers travelled to the UK to help in factories in the North of England and thousands more joined the armed forces

  4. Even when immigrant work was accepted – racism and discrimination continued

  5. Promotion of black and Asian soldiers was rare

  6. Inter-racial relationships were frowned on

  7. After the war education and training was offered to all ex-servicemen – many immigrants took advantage of this

  8. After the war there was a serious shortage of workers especially in textiles and the NHS

  9. This opened up opportunities for migrant's across the empire

  10. The 1948 British Nationality Act gave a legal right for all people in British colonies to enter the UK

  11. After WWII, Britain encouraged immigration from Commonwealth countries

  12. The first example of mass migration is often seen as the arrival of the ship HMS Windrush in 1948

  13. Before 2WW = Immigration from the Caribbean/India/Pakistan = tens of thousands

  14. By 1958 = Immigration from the Caribbean/India/Pakistan = hundreds of thousands

  15. As immigration increased – so did racism

  16. Many people felt these new immigrants were taking houses, jobs that white people should have

  17. Some accused these immigrants of crime and claiming benefits and not working

  18. This led to more racist attacks
• Even with growing racist attacks the government still did not act – possibly fearing passing laws to curb racism might make Britain more attractive to immigrants.
• Immigrants tended to find themselves housed in the poorest parts of cities – these were the only landlords that would rent to them.
• Many firms continued to use the Colour Bar – stopping coloured workers. Others set quotas (e.g. Ford car factory = 95% of workers had to be white)
• Trade Unions normally failed to support immigrant workers. They feared white workers would lose jobs to them.
• On average immigrant workers were paid 28% less than white workers.
• The Notting Hill riots took place in late August and early September 1958, and coincided with similar unrest in Nottingham.


  1. In the late 1950s Notting Hill was an impoverished area of London, with high crime rates and a shortage of housing

  2. Tensions between members of the white working class and the new African Caribbean residents broke into open violence in 1958 with attacks by white youths ('Teddy Boys') on Caribbean people and properties

  3. 3-400 white men armed with chains , iron bars and petrol bombs attacked local black people and their homes. 140 were arrested.
• How did the government attempt to deal with race relations 1939-79?


  1. The Labour Governments introduced 3 acts aiming to ban racism

  2. 1965 Race Relations Act - Banned the colour bar, outlawed incitement for racial hatred, banned discrimination in all public places

  3. 1968 Race Relations Act - Outlawed racial discrimination over housing and employment, set up a race relations board

  4. 1976 Race Relations Act - Outlawed indirect discrimination, set up the Commission for Racial Equality
• 1964 Election – Birmingham – One Conservative candidates slogan was "if you want a nixxer for a neighbour vote Labour"
• 1967 – National Front was formed – never got an MP elected and by 1979 its support was falling
• 1968 Enoch Powell (Senior Conservative MP) made the speech "Rivers of Blood".


  1. Powell argued that mass migration and anti racism laws meant that black and Asians now had more rights than white people

  2. Powell also said that multi culturalism would lead to a segregated Britain

  3. Powell speech was widely condemned (and the Conservative party demoted him) but it got a lot of public support
• By 1979 there was greater assimilation by different races into British society. This was especially true of second generation immigrants who had known no other homeland.
• By 1979 British culture had become more diverse. In 1964 the first Notting Hill Carnival took place. TV shows started to have black characters (such as Rising Damp) Chinese and Indian takeaways and restaurants started to open up. Youth culture also drew from ethnic communities through music (reggae) and fashion.