Year 9 - History
Experiences of racism in Britain
Post-war Britain: for whom did the United Kingdom become a 'New Jerusalem'?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the significant changes that took place in post-war Britain: the establishment of the NHS and the welfare state, the growth of social democracy, the changing role of women and the experience of racism in Britain.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how immigration to Britain from the Caribbean changed the make-up of Britain and explain that these groups experienced significant racism.
Key Notes
- Labour shortages after WW2 were a significant problem for Britain, who needed migrant workers.
- The British Nationality Act of 1948 made all Commonwealth subjects British citizens, able to work and settle in the UK.
- The 1948 act and government encouragement led to c. 500 000 Caribbean people moving to Britain during the 1950s-1960s.
- This 'Windrush generation' made important contributions to public life in Britain.
- Caribbean migrants in Britain experienced significant racism and discrimination in many aspects of life.
Vocabulary To Learn
- labour shortage: when there are not enough workers to meet demand
- empire: a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by another person or group of people
- racism: prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of their race and ethnicity
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students might presume that everyone the descendants of the Windrush generation had the automatic right to stay and work in Britain.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Labour shortages after WW2 were a significant problem for Britain, who needed migrant workers. The British Nationality Act of 1948 made all Commonwealth subjects British citizens, able to work and settle in the UK.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'labour shortage'
when there are not enough workers to meet demand.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Students might presume that everyone the descendants of the Windrush generation had the automatic right to stay and work in Britain. Correction: The children of Windrush generation did not have their own passports, and it was difficult to prove they had entered the UK legally. This led to the Windrush Scandal in 2018.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 History guide library.