New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

The World Wars and colonial migrants

I can explain the role colonial migrants played in the world wars and how this impacted migration to Britain and the experiences of migrants in the early 20th century.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

The World Wars and colonial migrants

I can explain the role colonial migrants played in the world wars and how this impacted migration to Britain and the experiences of migrants in the early 20th century.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. As the British Empire had reached its peak by 1914, millions of colonial soldiers fought for Britain in both World Wars.
  2. In the interwar period, race became an increasingly defining feature of the experience of migrants.
  3. By 1939, many colonial soldiers fought in the Second World War with the hopes of earning their independence.

Common misconception

Colonial soldiers joined the British war effort in both world wars, out of a sense of nationalism and pride for their 'motherland'.

Colonial soldiers had often already been part of standing armies that were ordered to join the war effort, and by 1939 many colonial soldiers were only fighting in the hope that it might win them independence from the British Empire.

Keywords

  • Colony - somewhere under the full control of another country, and is usually occupied by settlers from that country

  • Standing army - an army ready to be mobilised for war at any time

  • Demobilised - troops that are out of service, typically at the end of a war

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

When explaining the reality of the interwar years, you can emphasise that as world war veterans they would likely have expected better living conditions and treatment following their service in the First World War. Instead they faced unemployment and violent hostility.
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.
What was a main cause of migration to Britain in the 18th century?
civil war in Britain
Correct answer: the Industrial Revolution
the cotton trade
government policy
Q2.
Why was Liverpool a popular destination for Irish migrants?
Correct answer: There was plenty of work
It was a fun place to live
Correct answer: Had an established Irish community
Close to London
Q3.
What name was often used for sailors from Britain’s colonies across Africa and Asia?
Correct Answer: lascars, Lascars, lascar
Q4.
Migrants from which countries prospered in 18th century Britain?
Africa
Correct answer: Germany
Correct answer: Italy
The Caribbean
Q5.
Someone forced to leave their country is known as a ...
Correct Answer: refugee, refugees, Refugee, Refugees
Q6.
In which of the following ways did migrants positively impact Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries?
pollution
Correct answer: the built environment
religion
Correct answer: politics
Correct answer: the economy

6 Questions

Q1.
How many soldiers did the British army have at the start of World War One (WW1)?
Correct Answer: 700 000, seven hundred thousand, Seven hundred thousand
Q2.
What is the term for an army that a country keeps ready to be mobilised for war?
Correct Answer: standing army, Standing army, Standing armies, standing armies, standing
Q3.
How many men from the colonies fought for Britain in WW1?
30 000
300 000
Correct answer: three million
three billion
Q4.
Put the following events in order.
1 - WW1 broke out
2 - Veterans from the colonies began to settle in Britain
3 - Race Riots occurred in Liverpool and Cardiff
4 - British authorities limited the number of passports issued to Indian workers
Q5.
In 1925, the British government introduced the Special Restrictions , which showed their hostility towards black and Asian migrants.
Correct Answer: Order
Q6.
Which of these is not a reason why most people from the colonies fought in World War Two (WW2) alongside Britain?
they felt a sense of pride and nationalism
Correct answer: they were forced to by conscription
they hoped to win their independence
they believed in the cause

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