The end of empire, the Commonwealth and changing patterns of migration

History

In this unit, pupils studied how far the World Wars and post-war events led to changing patterns of migration to Britain. In ‘The historical environment: what does Notting Hill tell us about migration?’, pupils will study the impact that these broader events had, specifically on the area of Notting Hill.

In ‘Migration: what was the impact of 18th and 19th century migration?’ pupils considered how far the expansion of the British Empire and Industrial Revolution led to changing attitudes towards migrants and greater economic contributions from migrants. In this unit, pupils will study how far significant worldwide events affected migration to Britain.

Migration: how far have migrants been welcomed in modern Britain?

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

What is the term for the process of freeing a nation from colonial rule?

How many people left Commonwealth countries to settle in Britain between 1950 and 1970?

Australia and New Zealand becoming independent

What began an era of decolonisation in the 1940s and 1950s?

Which of the following countries had become independent from Britain prior to 1947?

Which groups of post-war migrants largely faced the most hostility from both the government and local communities?

3000 Commonwealth migrants settled in Britain every year.

136 400 Commonwealth migrants settled in Britain every year.

The first Commonwealth Immigrants Act was introduced.

The second Commonwealth Immigrants Act was introduced.

Match the following events to the correct dates. 

There were not enough people to rebuild British cities and infrastructure.

The British government wanted to make Britain more multicultural. 

Britain wanted to thank people from its colonies who had supported them.

Why was there a need for migrants in Britain after World War Two (WW2)?

What is the word for an international community made up of Britain and many of its former colonies?

What is the name used to describe Caribbean migrants who settled in post-war Britain?

After WW2, many European migrants to Britain came from which of these countries?

Many Poles feared persecution from authorities as they favoured independence.

They were seeking to escape from Nazi Germany.

They were not able to migrate anywhere else.

Opportunities in war-damaged Poland were very limited.

Why did many Polish soldiers and their families migrate to Britain after WW2?

The Ministry of Labour scheme was initiated.

The Royal Commission on Population was established.

Put the following events in chronological order.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The end of empire, the Commonwealth and changing patterns of migration

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.