The Experience of Migrants in Modern Britain After 1945 (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note

How did migrant experiences in Britain change after 1945?- Summary

Immediately after World War Two, migration to Britain was generally welcomed. Britain needed workers to rebuild the country, so people were encouraged to come from the Commonwealth and Europe. The Polish Resettlement Act (1947) helped over 200,000 Polish migrants settle. The arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948 marked the beginning of the Windrush Generation, with Caribbean migrants coming to work in the NHS, transport and factories. Although racism existed, many migrants felt hopeful and were invited to build a life in Britain.

From the 1960s onwards, attitudes began to shift. The government introduced immigration controls which made it harder for people from the Commonwealth to move to Britain. Later, more asylum seekers arrived from places like Somalia, Afghanistan, and Syria. Many faced strict rules, long waits, or negative media coverage. Migration from Eastern Europe after 2004 led to more debates and pressure, and in 2016, concerns about immigration were a key part of the Brexit vote.

This shows how migrant experiences moved from being welcomed to being more restricted and challenged over time.

Migration after World War Two

• After World War Two, Britain was badly damaged

  • Homes, factories, and infrastructure needed rebuilding

• Britain also had a major shortage of workers

  • Many British men were killed in combat during the war

• The government encouraged migration from other countries to help fill gaps in essential jobs

Commonwealth migration

• Many people came from Commonwealth countries such as the Caribbean, India, and Pakistan

  • As former British colonies, many Commonwealth migrants held British subject status

• Commonwealth migrants were often recruited to work in public services, like hospitals and on buses or trains

The Polish Resettlement Act (1947)

• In the Second World War, many Polish soldiers fought with British soldiers

• After the war, many Polish soldiers could not return home

  • The war destroyed their homes

  • The USSR took control of Poland as a communist satellite state

• The Polish Resettlement Act (1947) offered housing, education, and jobs to Polish migrants

  • Over 200,000 Polish soldiers and their families settled in Britain

European migration

• People from Ireland, Italy, and other European countries migrated to Britain in the 1940s and 1950s

  • Irish migrants were the largest single migrant group in Britain for much of the 20th century

• Many came to work in construction, farming, and other labouring jobs

Empire Windrush

• In June 1948, the ship Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks

  • On board were around 500 Caribbean migrants

  • This marked the start of the Windrush Generation

    • Thousands more migrants followed in the 1950s and 1960s

Treatment of the Windrush Generation

• Despite being invited to come and work in Britain, many migrant workers suffered discrimination

• The migrant workers struggled to find housing 

  • Often they had to pay high rents to live in the worst parts of town

  • Banks refused to lend them money, so they were unable to buy houses

    • This led to unofficial segregation and the creation of ‘Black Areas’

• Racist attitudes were widespread both at work and in wider society

  • Some companies, such as the Bristol Omnibus Company, enforced a colour bar and refused to employ Black and Asian workers

The 'Windrush Betrayal'

• Many of the Windrush Generation had lived and worked in Britain for decades

• In the 2010s, the British government wrongly told some Windrush migrants that they were in the UK illegally

  • Some lost their jobs, were denied NHS care, or were made homeless

  • Others were detained in immigration removal centres

  • A number were even wrongfully deported

• The scandal caused public outrage

  • Across the country, protestors campaigned for the fair treatment of the Windrush Generation

• The UK government:

  • Officially apologised to the Windrush Generation in 2018

  • Set up a compensation scheme

Asylum seekers & refugees

• From the 1980s onwards, Britain saw a rise in asylum applications

• Examples of refugee groups include:

  • Somalis

    • From the 1990s, due to civil war

  • Syrians

    • This was due to the civil war from 2011 onwards

  • Afghans

    • This was especially after the Taliban takeover in August 2021

  • Ukrainians

    • Escaping from the war with Russia from February 2022

• The government introduced tougher controls, such as:

  • Stricter checks on asylum seekers

  • Immigration removal centres and long waits for decisions

How did the government control immigration?

• As migration increased, the government introduced new laws to limit who could come to Britain

Immigration Laws

• Commonwealth Immigrants Act (1962) – ended free movement for most Commonwealth citizens

  • Many migrants rushed to bring their families over before restrictions tightened

• Further laws (1965–1976) introduced tougher rules, especially for non-white migrants

  • These laws were seen as unfair and discriminatory

  • Some families were split up, and many migrants felt targeted and unwanted

• East African Asians (e.g. from Uganda and Kenya) were given special help if they had British passports

Race Relations Acts

• These laws were meant to protect migrants from racism in:

  • housing

  • employment

  • public services

• The 1965 Act banned discrimination in public places

• The 1968 Act extended this to housing and jobs

• The 1976 Act created the Commission for Racial Equality to investigate complaints

• These laws were important in recognising the rights of migrants and promoting fair treatment

  • However, many still felt that racism continued in daily life

1998 Crime and Disorder Act

• This law introduced harsher punishments for racially motivated crimes, such as:

  • racist attacks

  • harassment

• It followed growing concern over racist violence, especially in the 1990s

• It showed that the government was taken hate crimes against migrant communities more seriously

  • However, many migrant communities continue to face discrimination from individuals, employers, and even the police

The rise of anti-immigration in Britain

• From the 2000s onwards, there was growing debate and tension in Britain about immigration

  • This was in response to:

    • Increased migration from Europe

    • Negative media coverage of migrants

    • Anti-immigration political campaigns

Eastern European immigration

• In 2004, ten countries joined the European Union, including Poland, Hungary, and Lithuania

• Within a few years, hundreds of thousands of Eastern European migrants came to the UK

  • Many Eastern European migrants worked in farming, construction, and hospitality

• While many employers welcomed the workers, some areas saw pressure on:

  • housing

  • schools

  • public services

• People in some areas in Britain claimed that Eastern European migrants were:

  • Taking the jobs of native British workers

  • Purposefully taking lower wages than British workers could

The role of politics and the media

• Some newspapers ran stories blaming migrants for:

  1. crime

  2. benefit fraud

  3. problems in the NHS

• These stories were often published without evidence

• The stories also increased fear and resentment, especially during the financial crisis of 2008, when unemployment was rising.

• Political parties like UKIP (UK Independence Party) grew in popularity by focusing on:

  • border control

  • leaving the EU

Brexit

• In 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union (Brexit)

  • A major reason given by campaigners was to “take back control of Britain’s borders”

• After the vote, there was a reported rise in hate crimes and racist abuse

  • This was especially towards EU nationals and ethnic minorities

• Some European migrants decided to return to their home countries,

  • Other migrants stayed but felt less secure