Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Background to Early Modern Migration (Edexcel GCSE History) : Revision Note
What changed in migration to England during the Early Modern period?- Summary
Between 1500 and 1700, more people started to come to England. Some were Protestants escaping persecution, like the Huguenots and Palatines. Others came because of trade and empire, including people from Africa and India. This was the first time England saw large numbers of migrants from outside Europe. New ideas from the Renaissance and the printing press also helped people learn more about the world and encouraged contact with other countries.
Migration was still caused by religion and work, just like in the Medieval period, but the types of migrants and where they came from began to change. The government started making more laws about who could live in England, such as giving rights through denization. In the 1650s, Jewish people were allowed back into England after being banned for hundreds of years. These changes show that England was becoming more connected to the world and encouraged migration.
Changes in Early Modern English society
Economic growth and trade
England became more connected to the wider world through global trade and exploration
The cloth industry expanded rapidly, especially in towns like Norwich and Colchester
New businesses and investment opportunities encouraged the growth of global trading companies, such as:
The East India Company (1600) – traded goods from India and the East Indies
The Royal African Company (1672) – involved in transatlantic trade, including the slave trade
Privateering brought wealth and new goods to England
The most famous privateer in this period was Sir Francis Drake
Religious change
The Reformation led to England becoming a Protestant nation under Henry VIII's rule
However, subsequent English monarchs made significant changes to England's official religion
England becoming Protestant caused tension with Catholic countries in Europe, especially Spain and France
England became a place of refuge for Protestant migrants
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Religious change is a useful example of both change and continuity:
Change: England became a Protestant country, attracting Protestant migrants such as Huguenots
Continuity: Religion remained a key reason for migration, for example, Jewish people in the Medieval period
New ideas and technology
The Renaissance encouraged:
scientific progress
geographical discoveries
curiosity about other lands and peoples
The printing press helped spread news, maps, and ideas quickly
These developments created a more connected and curious society, more open to foreign trade and influence
Social and political structures
Although England remained unequal, social structures began to change:
Urbanisation increased as people moved to towns for work
Merchant and middle classes grew in wealth and influence
The monarch was still powerful
However, over this period, the power of Parliament increased, especially after major events like:
The English Civil War (1642–1651)
The execution of Charles I (1649)
The rule of Oliver Cromwell during the Commonwealth (1653–1658)
These events led to Parliament having a more active role in setting laws, including those affecting migrants
The Crown and Parliament passed laws that encouraged migration to England
People who were seen as economically useful were given 'special protections' such as Huguenots
In the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell allowed Jewish people to return to England
They also passed laws to discourage some groups from migrating to England
Laws passed during the reign of Elizabeth I made it illegal to travel in groups or live a nomadic lifestyle
This heavily targeted "Gypsies" (Romani), who the government thought were vagrants
When Romani ignored the laws, the government force them into slavery in the Americas in the 1650s
Change & continuity in Early Modern migration & patterns of settlements
Changes in migration patterns
New regions began to appear in England’s migration story:
Africa
Enslaved Africans were brought through transatlantic trade
Some African migrants fulfilled important roles in English society
India
A small number of Indian migrants came with the East India Company, often working as servants or sailors
Jewish people were still officially banned, but some began returning secretly or were tolerated in small numbers
Continuity in migration patterns
Migrants still came from Europe, especially Protestants from the Netherlands and France
Migrants continued to work in crafts, trade, and manufacturing
Settlement patterns
Migrants tended to settle in ports, such as London, Canterbury, and Southampton
Some migrants formed tight-knit communities, especially if they shared language, religion, or trade
Skilled migrants, like Huguenot weavers, were often granted special rights or protection due to their economic value
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Many students use the terms migration and settlement as if they mean the same thing. These are two different stages of a person's journey to a new country:
Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another
It explains why people left their country and why they came to England
Settlement is what happens after migrants arrive
It refers to where they lived and the communities they formed
If a question asks about patterns of migration, focus on origins, reasons, and timing
If a question asks about settlement, focus on where migrants lived, what rights they had, and how they interacted with locals
Worked Example
Explain one way in which migration to England in the Early Modern period (c1500–c1700) was different to migration in the Medieval period (c800–c1500).
(4 marks)
Answer:
One way migration was different is that it became more global in the early modern period. In this period, people began arriving from places outside of Europe, such as Africa and India, often through the East India Company or the transatlantic slave trade. In contrast, during the Medieval period, most migrants came from nearby European countries, like the Vikings from Scandinavia or Normans from France. This shows that the origins of migrants changed, as England became more involved in global trade and empire.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When answering ‘Explain one way…’ questions, try to be as specific as you can in your examples. Pick a detailed feature of each time period that matches the difference or similarity you have highlighted. Being specific is much better than using multiple pieces of evidence
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