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Year 10
Edexcel

The EU and changing patterns of migration

I can explain how Britain joining and leaving the EU directly impacted patterns of migration from Europe.

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New
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Year 10
Edexcel

The EU and changing patterns of migration

I can explain how Britain joining and leaving the EU directly impacted patterns of migration from Europe.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By the 1960s, the British government hoped to improve relations with mainland Europe.
  2. Britain had been unable to join the European Union (EU) until 1973.
  3. The 1992 Maastricht Treaty led to increasing migration from Europe to Britain.
  4. Migration from the EU rapidly increased in 2004, when eight Eastern European countries joined.
  5. Migration declined rapidly after Britain formally left the EU in 2020.

Keywords

  • Commonwealth - an international community made up of Britain and many former colonies

  • Referendum - a vote held in which citizens vote directly on a closed question

Common misconception

Britain joined the EU with the intention of encouraging greater migration from Europe.

When Britain joined the EU in 1973, it was primarily for economic reasons as they hoped to boost their economy through trading relationships with Europe.


To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The EU and changing patterns of migration, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Emphasise the changing patterns of migration over time - it was not just a gradually increasing number of European migrants from 1973-2020, there were periods of steady increase, rapid increase but also rapid decline as a result of changing economic conditions and the 2016 referendum.
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Content guidance

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

Adult supervision recommended

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What broke out in the interwar years as a response to black and Asian migration?
migrant battles
discrimination debates
Correct answer: race riots
Q2.
What played an important role in the 1964 General Election victory in Smethwick for the Conservative candidate Peter Griffiths?
new laws passed against racism
Correct answer: racist propaganda
a new factory opening in Smethwick
too many houses available
Q3.
What was important about the 1965 Race Relations Act?
It was the first time that a law against discrimination was passed in the UK.
It was the first UK law that related specifically to migrants.
Correct answer: It was the first instance of a law against racism being passed in the UK.
Q4.
What is the term for returning someone to the country they came from?
Correct Answer: repatriation, repatriate, repatriated
Q5.
What percentage of British people supported Enoch Powell's views according to opinion polls after his 1968 speech?
25%
50%
Correct answer: 75%
100%
Q6.
Match the people to the correct descriptions.
Correct Answer:Charles Wootton,Bermudan war veteran who was murdered in race riots
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Bermudan war veteran who was murdered in race riots

Correct Answer:Peter Griffiths,A Conservative MP whose campaign included racist slogans
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A Conservative MP whose campaign included racist slogans

Correct Answer:Harold Wilson,The Prime Minister who did not want to appear soft on immigration
tick

The Prime Minister who did not want to appear soft on immigration

Correct Answer:Enoch Powell,An MP who delivered an anti-immigration speech in 1968
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An MP who delivered an anti-immigration speech in 1968

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What was a reason why Britain applied to join the EEC?
Britain felt vulnerable and left out as other European countries joined.
Britain wanted to encourage migration from European countries.
Correct answer: Britain wanted to boost its declining economy.
Q2.
Why did Britain not join the EEC until 1973?
Correct answer: Britain was initially happy with its support from Commonwealth countries.
Britain wanted to see which other European countries joined.
Correct answer: Britain was initially denied entry to the EEC.
Britain first tried to enter into an economic relationship with the USSR.
Q3.
What event in 1992 increased immigration between European countries?
The Treaty of Rome was passed.
Correct answer: The Maastricht Treaty was signed.
The Brexit referendum was held.
Q4.
What events in 2004 increased immigration to Britain?
Correct answer: Eight nations from Eastern and Central Europe joined the EU.
Eight nations from Western Europe joined the EU.
The free movement of peoples was denied by Britain, Ireland and Sweden.
The first Brexit referendum was vetoed by France.
Correct answer: The free movement of peoples was approved by Britain, Ireland and Sweden.
Q5.
What is the term for a general public vote on a single political question?
Correct Answer: referendum
Q6.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - There was a sharp increase in migration to Britain, Ireland and Sweden.
2 - The UK held a referendum on whether or not it should remain in the EU.
3 - New immigration laws were introduced from the EU to Britain.
4 - Immigration from non-EU countries to Britain increased.

Additional material

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