New
New
Year 9

Experiences of racism in Britain

I can describe how immigration to Britain from the Caribbean changed the make-up of Britain and explain that these groups experienced significant racism.

New
New
Year 9

Experiences of racism in Britain

I can describe how immigration to Britain from the Caribbean changed the make-up of Britain and explain that these groups experienced significant racism.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Labour shortages after WW2 were a significant problem for Britain, who needed migrant workers.
  2. The British Nationality Act of 1948 made all Commonwealth subjects British citizens, able to work and settle in the UK.
  3. The 1948 act and government encouragement led to c. 500 000 Caribbean people moving to Britain during the 1950s-1960s.
  4. This 'Windrush generation' made important contributions to public life in Britain.
  5. Caribbean migrants in Britain experienced significant racism and discrimination in many aspects of life.

Keywords

  • 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 misconception

Students might presume that everyone the descendants of the Windrush generation had the automatic right to stay and work in Britain.

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.

Teachers could discuss what the Windrush Scandal was and how the government has tried to remedy this.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: During World War Two (WW2), many women entered the workforce or were into military support services.
Correct Answer: conscripted, conscript
Q2.
Complete the sentence: In the 1940s and 1950s, women were seen as workers and were paid less than men.
Correct Answer: secondary, lesser, less valuable
Q3.
Which of the following were barriers women faced to the workforce post-WW2?
Correct answer: the belief that a woman’s rightful place was in the home
Correct answer: discrimination and unequal pay in the workplace
trade unions wanted to protect the skilled status and wages of female members
women’s war work was seen as a long-term solution
Correct answer: the decline of traditional industries in Britain
Q4.
What age did the Labour government raise the school leaving age to in 1947?
11
13
Correct answer: 15
18
Q5.
When was the marriage bar lifted for female teachers?
1940
1944
1950
1955
Q6.
Which of the following allowed more women to enter the workforce in the 1950s?
creation of work-from-home schemes
expansion of full-time positions
Correct answer: invention of household appliances
Correct answer: wider availability of childcare
Correct answer: expansion of part-time positions

6 Questions

Q1.
Which term describes prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of their race and ethnicity?
Correct Answer: racism, racist beliefs
Q2.
Complete the sentence: The British Nationality Act 1948 made provision for all countries that had once been part of the British to have British passports.
Correct Answer: Empire
Q3.
How many Caribbean people moved to Britain during the 1950s and 1960s?
200 000
Correct answer: 500 000
2 000 000
5 000 000
Q4.
Why are Caribbean migrants to post-WW2 Britain known as the ‘Windrush generation’?
They came from the town of Windrush in the Caribbean.
They were rushed in to solve Britain’s labour shortages.
Correct answer: They were named after the ship the first migrants arrived on.
They were named after the company who recruited them to Britain.
Q5.
In which sector did many Caribbean women fill valuable roles?
teaching
accounting
Correct answer: nursing
plumbing
Q6.
Which of the following were ways in which Caribbean migrants were treated in post-WW2 Britain?
Correct answer: The children of Caribbean migrants faced bullying in schools.
Caribbean migrants easily found high-paying and highly-skilled work.
Correct answer: Black tenants were overcharged for overcrowded and poor-quality housing.
Received a welcoming and understanding reception from local communities.
Correct answer: Faced poor and unfair treatment by the police and judicial system.

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