New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Race relations in 20th century Britain

I can explain how the experiences of black and Asian people in post-war Britain were impacted by increasing racism and changing laws.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Race relations in 20th century Britain

I can explain how the experiences of black and Asian people in post-war Britain were impacted by increasing racism and changing laws.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. As increasing numbers of black and Asian people settled in Britain, racism and discrimination also increased.
  2. The Race Relations Acts were introduced to address issues of ongoing racism in Britain.
  3. The media was used to exacerbate tensions and to increase support for anti-immigration campaigns.
  4. The Race Relations Acts did not change public attitudes overnight, but did show changing attitudes of the government.

Common misconception

The Race Relations Acts completely addressed the issues of racism that were rampant in post-war Britain.

The Race Relations Act went a long way in showing changing government attitudes and providing some protection to black and Asian people in post-war Britain - but they could not and did not change public attitudes overnight.

Keywords

  • Race riots - riots that break out between groups that identify as different race (e.g. black and white people)

  • Colour bar - a system where people who are not considered white are denied access to the same services as white people

  • Repatriation - to return someone to the country they came from, this can be both voluntarily or involuntarily

In explaining Enoch Powell's speech you could consider playing an extract from the speech, having made a selection appropriate to the context of your class and teaching.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

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

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
In what decade did World War Two (WW2) end?
1920s
Correct answer: 1940s
1960s
Q2.
What is the word for the process of freeing a nation from colonial rule?
Correct Answer: decolonisation, decolonise, decolonising
Q3.
What is the name for the organisation linking Britain and members of its former colonies?
Correct Answer: Commonwealth
Q4.
Why did Britain encourage countries from its former empire to join the Commonwealth?
Britain wanted to be part of a multicultural community.
Britain wanted to benefit from their experience and wisdom.
Correct answer: Britain wanted to continue to benefit from trade with these countries.
Q5.
Match the categories given to migrant workers who wanted to come to the UK to their definitions.
Correct Answer:Category A,migrants with a job in Britain to come to

migrants with a job in Britain to come to

Correct Answer:Category B,migrants with special skills in short supply

migrants with special skills in short supply

Correct Answer:Category C,migrants who could only take up unskilled jobs

migrants who could only take up unskilled jobs

Q6.
What was the result of the 1968 Commonwealth Immigrations Act?
It drastically increased migration from Commonwealth countries.
Correct answer: It drastically decreased migration from Commonwealth countries.
Migration from Commonwealth countries stayed the same.

6 Questions

Q1.
What did the increase of black and Asian migration to Britain after World War Two (WW2) lead to?
economic decline
Correct answer: increased racism
Correct answer: increased discrimination
increased toleration
Q2.
What is the term for denying access to services for people based on perceptions about their racial identity?
Correct Answer: colour bar, colour bars
Q3.
Which organisation criticised the 1965 Race Relations Act?
Correct answer: Campaign Against Racial Discrimination
Centre for Racial Discrimination
Community of Racial Discrimination
Community Against Racial Discrimination
Q4.
Support for anti-immigration campaigns was increased in the 1950s and 1960s through ...
the internet.
Correct answer: the media.
the Labour Party.
Q5.
In what areas did the 1968 Race Relations Act make racial discrimination illegal?
education
Correct answer: employment
Correct answer: housing
Correct answer: financial services
politics
Q6.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - The murder of Charles Wootton
2 - Peter Griffiths became MP of Smethwick
3 - The first Race Relations Act was passed in the UK
4 - Enoch Powell gave his 'Rivers of Blood' speech
5 - The second Race Relations Act was passed in the UK

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