29th September 02
Intolerance Towards Racial Minorities
In the 1960’s and 1970’s
1960’s
1970’s
11th September 02
Why Did People from the Caribbean come to Britain?
Many of the Caribbean people originally planned to come to England for only a few years and then go back to the Caribbean. They came for adventure, to make money, visit relatives and see the world. However, very few of them actually went home again. During the Second World War thousands of Caribbean men and women had been recruited to the British armed forces. Some of those who had served for Britain during the war wanted to return back ...
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1970’s
11th September 02
Why Did People from the Caribbean come to Britain?
Many of the Caribbean people originally planned to come to England for only a few years and then go back to the Caribbean. They came for adventure, to make money, visit relatives and see the world. However, very few of them actually went home again. During the Second World War thousands of Caribbean men and women had been recruited to the British armed forces. Some of those who had served for Britain during the war wanted to return back to Britain and learn more about the country who they had fought for.
At first only a few people came to Britain from the Caribbean. However a hurricane hit Jamaica in 1951, which caused a lot of destruction and increased the pace of emigration to Britain.
In 1952 the immigration into the USA was heavily restricted so people who wanted to emigrate had to go somewhere else.
Britain had lots of job vacancies so they decided to recruit workers from other countries. London Fares loaned the fare to get to Britain so that people could come here and work. In London and large cities life was expensive. Many of the people who loved in the cities had well paid jobs. They did not want jobs such as cleaning, driving and nursing. People from the colonies were encouraged to come to Britain to do this type of work. Between 1956 and 1958 London transport employed 3787 Barbadians, however this was still not enough and so they went on to recruit in Trinidad and Jamaica as well as British colonies. West Indian nurses were clearly welcomed to Britain.
By 1958 nearly 100 000 people had come to Britain from the Caribbean to settle.
19th September 02
Immigration Acts
1962 – IMMIGRATION ACT
Said:
Blacks and black Asians need an employment voucher to enter Britain.
An official limit for the number of vouchers available was set.
To obtain a voucher, you had to prove you had:
A job offer in Britain already.
Specialist skills.
Appropriate educational qualifications for Britain’s needs.
Act only applied to black Caribbean African and black Asians, not to Irish, Australian or other white minority groups.
1965 number of vouchers restricted to 8500 per year.
Reasons:
Many people in Britain blamed blacks for racism. By 1961 economic growth had slowed down so not as many workers were needed. Also there was no longer a fear of recession.
1968 – COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRATION ACT
Said:
Kenyan Asian with a British passport no longer permitted into Britain.
Entry to white Kenyans with a British passport still allowed.
Reasons:
1968 feared a large number of Kenyan Asians would come to Britain because of the Africanisation policy introduced by Jomo Kenyatta. This policy looked to expel all foreigners from Kenya. Many of them intended to come to Britain. As racial tension in Britain increased a member of parliament Enoch Powell made speeches around the country warning of terrible consequences if immigration was to continue at such a high level. The Labour Gov. panicked and in just three days passed the second immigration act.
1971 - IMMIGRATION ACT:
Patrials could enter Britain freely, to live and work. Non-patrials could not.
Patrials were almost all white coming mainly from the Old Commonwealth.