From your studies how far do you agree that Britain has been a tolerant nation? Everybody will interpret a situation in the past according to their own particular view or experience

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Multicultural Britain Coursework Assignment

Q2. “From a study of British history it is possible to question the widespread vision of Britain as a country characterised by a spirit of toleration.” 

Colin Holmes, professor of History at the University of Sheffield.

From your studies how far do you agree that Britain has been a tolerant nation?

Everybody will interpret a situation in the past according to their own particular view or experience.  Colin Holmes believes that Britain has not been particularly tolerant of all immigrants through time.  He is a professor of history and has obviously studied the past in detail.  This statement is unlikely to be biased as Holmes has knowledge of the past and has researched into both sides of the story.  In this essay I will analyse events during the twentieth century to decide for myself how far I agree with Colin Holmes’ interpretation.

The first wave of immigration to Britain was of the Jews and came in 1880.  Most of the 60,000 Jews living in Britain in 1880 had been born there.  After 1880 the Anglo-Jewish community in Britain experienced an increase as large numbers of Jews were immigrating to Britain.  Most of these Jews were from Russia.  This is since the Russian government were “playing the Jewish card.” This was using the Jews for political aims.  For example, using them as scapegoats by blaming them when things went wrong.  This became worse after the assassination of Tsar Alexander the second.  These reasons for immigration are supported by Source A and B.  A census of England shows that in 1880 there was a mere 60,000 Jews in the U.K whereas by 1921, forty one years later the figure had been increased by five times.

After 1880, thousands of Jewish immigrants arrived in Britain to a mixed reception.  Some English Jews disapproved of the newcomers; others helped them on their arrival.  The immigrants settled in big cities especially London.  Many other English people blamed the Jews for adding to overcrowding and competition for work.  

Jewish immigrants headed for the large cities of London, Leeds and Manchester.  This is since in these cities there was the greatest opportunity for work.  In addition, these cities had well established Jewish communities.  In particular the Jewish immigrants became concentrated in the areas of Whitechapel in London, Strangeways in Manchester and Leyland in Leeds. By the beginning of the twentieth century these areas had become rundown.  As Jewish immigrants did no have a lot of money due to spending on travel, food or shelter, they had to seek poor and overcrowded accommodations.  As there was already a shortage of housing, the cost of housing increased and the sanitations and availability decreased.  This is where the media twisted the minds of people and caused further resentment.  Jews were connected with high rents, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions. However they were not to blame as Jews could not help where they lived.  Most could only afford cheap and run-down properties.  The few Jews who could afford to buy a house were blamed for high rents.  This led to problems within the Jewish community.

Anglo-Jews were also worried and disliked the large numbers of Jewish immigrants.  This is because the Jewish immigrants gave the Jewish community a bad reputation.  In fact the Jewish Boar of Guardians tried to persuade Jews not to leave Russia, Austria and Romania in the first place.  In 1884 they paid for advertisements to be placed in newspapers abroad warning that Jewish immigrants could expect no help or charity in the first six months of their stay in England.

However, other Anglo-Jews, such as Simon Cohen tried to help newly arrived, poor Jews.  He faced the disapproval of the Jewish Board of Guardians.  Cohen set up a hostel in Whitechapel, despite attempts by the Board of Guardians to have it closed down.  However Cohen received support from some wealthy English Jews who disagreed with the Board of Guardians.

The government responded to public concern about the number of Jewish immigrants by passing a law that controlled the number of Jewish immigrants by passing a law that controlled the numbers of Jewish people allowed into Britain after 1906. The Alien act was passed and became law on 10th August 1905.  It appeared to stand to stop those without money or a way of supporting themselves entering Britain. However, if the immigrant is seeking admission to avoid persecution or punishment on religious or political grounds, permission to enter shall no be refused on the ground that he does not have enough money or will be a burden on others.

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The Aliens Act of 1905 had a large impact on immigration.  Since the Liberal home secretaries operated the law, they were generous in spirit and gave the benefit of the doubt to the immigrants.   However many immigrants were sent back on the ships that bought them since they could not state things that were important.  This Act shows us that the British government were not as tolerant as they are characterised to be.  However the situation did get worse for immigrants.

During the First World War some people were worried about the loyalty of British Jews and ...

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