Hello, and thanks for joining me today for another Oak Academy history lesson.

My name is Mrs. Knox and I'll be here today guiding you through all the resources you need to be successful with the lesson.

So let's get started.

Today's lesson is part of the Edexcel GCSE historical environment topic of Notting Hill.

We're asking what does Notting Hill tell us about migration? And in today's lesson, we'll be having a look at the national context of post-war Britain.

By the end of the lesson, you'll be able to describe the state of Britain after World War II and you'll be able to explain how this led to increased Caribbean migration.

Now today's lesson will use a couple of key terms. Let's have a look at them now.

The first term we'll use is the word rationing.

Rationing is when you are only allowed a fixed amount of something, for example, bread or meat, often due to shortages.

A second word that we'll use today is the term Commonwealth citizens.

Commonwealth citizens are citizens who live in British colonies or former British colonies who had joined the commonwealth.

Let's get started now with the first section of the lesson, which we'll look at the state of Britain and its empire.

After World War II, Britain was exhausted from years of fighting.

Rationing was still in effect and many cities were badly damaged from bombing.

Across the UK, 43,000 people had been killed by German bombing raids, and in London, 70,000 buildings had been destroyed and 1.

7 million had been damaged.

Britain's debt had reached nearly 21 billion pounds and the country had lost nearly 30% of the wealth it had before the war, most of which was linked to the British Empire.

Okay, let's have a quick check of your understanding so far.

I'd like you to answer this question.

What level was Britain's national debt at the end of World War II? Was it A, nearly 21 million pounds, B, nearly 210 million pounds, or C, nearly 21 billion pounds? Press pause and then when you've got your answer, press play.

That's right, you should have said the correct answer was C.

At the end of the Second World War, Britain's national debt was nearly 21 billion pounds.

The British Empire had been run to the benefit of Britain for hundreds of years.

Wealth from the oil fields, sugar plantations, and gold, copper, and diamond mines in its colonies was invested in Britain and not in the colonies.

Money from all the colonies was therefore also used to support Britain during World War II.

This meant that post-war, there was a lack of jobs in the colonies, and the best paying jobs in the colonies went to white migrants from Britain.

Furthermore, some of the Caribbean colonies had also suffered from attacks by German submarines causing major shortages of food and other materials.

Despite this, many people in the colonies, particularly in the Caribbean, felt a sense of loyalty to the Mother Country.

Colonial schools taught students about British history and not the history of their own countries or ancestors.

As a result, many people from British colonies, including the Caribbean, had been proud to play an active role in fighting for the allies and millions of people had served in the armed forces.

Here's another check of your understanding so far.

I'd like you to answer this question.

What term did many people in the British colonies use to refer to Britain? Was it A, the Father Country, B, the Mother Country, or C, the Sister Land? Press pause and when you're ready for the answer, press play.

You should have said the correct answer was B.

Many people in the British colonies refer to Britain as the Mother Country.

Life in Britain after World War II was difficult as the country faced huge debts and there were shortages of food, fuel, and housing.

The prospect of a new life in the empire was attractive and many British people therefore immigrated to Australia and Canada.

However, some Caribbean people wanted to come to Britain.

Many had lived there during the war and many others were willing and eager to migrate to the Mother Country.

British politicians knew that rebuilding Britain after the Second World War would take decades and would require thousands of workers.

With large numbers of people immigrating from Britain and with the tens of thousands killed in the war, Britain needed an extra 1.

38 million workers to get back on its feet.

These workers were particularly needed to repair war damage, run the railways, and to staff the new National Health Service or NHS.

In the 1950s, the NHS even paid for over three and a half thousand people from Barbados to migrate to Britain for work and run recruitment programmes in 16 Commonwealth countries.

This resulted in many opportunities for those who wish to start a new life in Britain.

Okay, it's time to have another check of your understanding.

Let's try this question.

Britain needed fewer workers after the Second World War.

Is that true or false? Press pause and when you've got your answer, press play.

Yes, you should have said the correct answer is false.

Britain needed more workers, not fewer, after the Second World War.

What's the correct justification for the answer? Is it because A, Britain needed over a million workers for repairing war damage and staffing the NHS, or B, Britain needed over a million workers for aircraft and ammunition manufacturer? Press pause and then when you're ready for the answer, press play.

That's right, you should have said the correct justification is A, Britain need the million workers to repair war damage and to staff the National Health Service.

Finally, in this section, let's put everything you've learned into practise by answering this question.

Describe two features of life in Britain after the Second World War.

Press pause to write your answer and then press play when you're ready to see what you could have written.

Okay, let's see how you got on.

Your answer could have said, "One feature of life in Britain after the Second World War is that the country was suffering from economic problems. Britain had a war debt of nearly 21 billion pounds to repay.

The cost of the extensive war damage was also putting a strain on the country's finances, and although Britain had been wealthy before 1939 due to resources from their empire, much of this wealth had been lost during the war.

A second feature of life in Britain after the Second World War is that there were a variety of social problems. 1.

7 million homes had been damaged during bomb raids resulting in housing shortages.

There were also food shortages and rationing continued even after the end of the fighting.

Additionally, many people in Britain had died during the war, which meant that there was a shortage of workers to provide important services such as healthcare." Okay, it's now time to move on to the second section of today's lesson.

This section will focus on the call for workers.

In order to address the need for workers, the British government passed the 1948 Nationality Act giving Commonwealth citizens the same right to live and work in Britain as British citizens.

With wages in Britain being three or four times higher than in Commonwealth countries like the Caribbean, this was a huge opportunity for many who wish to work in the Mother Country.

Although for many, working in Britain was seen as a temporary solution to economic problems at home.

As a result, many Caribbean people travelled the 6,000 miles to start new lives in Britain.

Caribbean migrants who settled in Britain from 1948 to 1970 became known as the Windrush generation because the ship they arrived on was called the Empire Windrush.

The Windrush generation worked as engineers, train drivers, nurses, musicians, and more.

However, things were far from perfect for Caribbean migrants.

There were no laws against discrimination and Black people found promotion difficult due to colour bars.

This was where Black people were unable to apply for jobs above a certain pay grade due to racial discrimination, which was legal in Britain at the time.

Caribbean migrants often had to take jobs for which they were overqualified and significantly underpaid.

For example, trained engineers worked as London underground workers for seven pounds 10 shillings a week compared to the national average wage of 11 pounds 10 shillings.

Okay, time to check your understanding again.

Let's answer this question.

What name is given to Caribbean migrants who settled in Britain between 1948 and 1970? Is it A, the Migration generation, B, the Windrush generation, or C, the Younger generation? Press pause now and then press play for the answer.

Well done if you said that the correct answer was B.

The name given to Caribbean migrants who settled in Britain between 1948 and 1970 is the Windrush generation.

Many Caribbean migrants who arrived in Britain were shocked by the levels of poverty, especially in London.

Everything seemed grey, dirty, and damaged by the Second World War.

Rationing was still in place for everyday items and many people wore clothes that were patched and shabby.

Here's another quick question now for you.

The Windrush generation workers were treated unfairly in Britain.

Is that true or false? Press pause and then press play for the answer.

The correct answer is true.

Why is the answer true? Is it because of A, they received low wages by British standards, had to live in poverty and were discriminated against, or B, they received higher than average wages by British standards, but still found the cost of living too high? Press pause and then press play for the answer.

Well done if you said that the correct justification is A.

They received low wages by British standards.

They had to live in poverty and they were discriminated against.

Finally, in this section, I'd like you to read the text and improve it by adding in specific details.

Press pause now whilst you complete your answer and then press play when you're ready to see some of the details you could have added.

Welcome back.

Let's have a look at some of the details you might have added.

In 1948, the British government passed the Nationality Act.

This allowed Commonwealth citizens to work in Britain where they could earn wages that were three to four times higher than in the British colonies.

There were many jobs available in the Mother Country due to the shortage of workers in Britain after the Second World War.

Migrants were able to get jobs as engineers, train drivers, nurses, and musicians.

Over three and a half thousand migrants from Barbados were supported to come to Britain to work in the National Health Service.

Migrants who came to Britain from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1970 were known as the Windrush generation.

Okay, we're now ready to go on to the final section of today's lesson.

This section will focus on the Swinging Sixties.

During the 1950s, however, the British economy improved dramatically and only 3% of the population were unemployed.

As rationing came to an end, young people had more time and money for leisure activities.

Young people experimented with new fashions and had much more freedom than in the past.

By the 1960s, musicians and bands such as Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles were creating new sounds that seemed much more exciting and relevant than the musical styles of the 1950s.

This resulted in the 1960s becoming known as the Swinging Sixties.

All right, it is time now for another check of your understanding.

Why were the 1960s nicknamed the Swinging Sixties? Was it because A, life was improving and young people had more money and time for leisure activities, B, life was getting harder and older people wanted a return to traditional activities, or C, life was up and down for many people and there was instability? Press pause and then when you're ready for the answer, press play.

Well, done if you said the correct answer was A.

The 1960s were nicknamed the Swinging Sixties because life was improving, young people had more money and time for leisure activities.

It is important to remember that the Swinging Sixties were difficult for many people, especially those in the Black community where racism was part of everyday life for many.

For example, the police often treated Black and Asian communities with brutality and used unnecessary force.

Although employment had increased, the Black community continued to be offered the lowest paid jobs.

They also occupied the worst housing and did not have the money to enjoy the greater freedom and prosperity of 1960s London.

As a result of unfairness and inspired by changes in the USA and France, teenagers and young people in the 1960s were often more radical than their parents and wanted to make significant changes and improvements to the world.

Subsequently, young people took part in marches, rallies, and protests supporting anti-war and civil rights causes.

Many people within the Black community had been politically active for decades, but Black activism also increased during the 1960s.

Demands from Black activists included higher quality housing, equal opportunities, and fair pay.

Okay, here's another check for your understanding.

I'd like you to answer this true or false question.

There was an increase in political protests in the 1960s, true or false? Press pause and then press play when you're ready for the answer.

That's right.

The correct answer is true.

But why is the answer true? Is it because A, despite the improving economy, there were inequalities and conflicts to resolve, or B, the economy was getting worse and this led to further unrest? Press pause and then press play for the answer.

You should have said the correct answer was A.

Despite the improving economy, there were inequalities and conflicts to resolve.

Okay, it's time for our final task today.

I'd like you to attempt this question.

You need to write one paragraph using at least three pieces of evidence to support Laura's opinion.

Let's have a look at Laura's opinion now.

Laura says, "Britain was a divided country in the 1960s.

Although there was considerable recovery from the post-war economic problems, not everyone was able to enjoy the Swinging Sixties." To help you with your answer, you might want to include some of these points, police discrimination, racism, and poverty.

Press pause whilst you write your paragraph and then press play.

Welcome back.

Time to see how you got on.

Your answer might have looked something like this.

"Laura is right to say that Britain was divided in the 1960s.

Although some people were able to enjoy the recovery after the Second World War, this was not the case for the Black community.

The police often treated Black migrants with brutality and were unnecessarily violent in their treatment of suspects.

Racism was a daily occurrence, and although employment had increased, the Black community continued to be offered the lowest-paid jobs.

They also occupied the worst housing and did not have the money to enjoy the greater freedom and prosperity of 1960s London." We've now reached the end of today's lesson, so let's have a quick summary.

Soldiers from the British Empire had fought for Britain in World War II and returned home when the war was over.

As a result of the war, workers were needed to rebuild Britain.

In 1948, the Nationality Act was passed giving Commonwealth citizens the same right to live and work in Britain as British citizens.

Migrants to Britain from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1970 are known as the Windrush generation.

Migrants to Britain had higher wages than they received at home, but were discriminated against.

The 1960s became known as the Swinging Sixties, but not everyone enjoyed the greater prosperity and freedom.

Thank you for your hard work in today's lesson.