New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

The British Empire and migration to Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries

I can explain the reasons for increasing migration from across the British Empire, and describe the experiences and the impact of these migrants on Britain.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

The British Empire and migration to Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries

I can explain the reasons for increasing migration from across the British Empire, and describe the experiences and the impact of these migrants on Britain.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. From the 1700s the British Empire began to expand, leading to increasing numbers of migrants from both Asia and Africa.
  2. The 1800s saw the rapid growth of the British Empire in Africa, leading to greater numbers of African migrants.
  3. Despite most migrants having negative experiences, there were a number of exceptions who lived successful lives.
  4. Migrants from across the empire had the greatest impact on politics and the economy.

Common misconception

Migrants from the Empire only includes those who travelled from as far as Asia and Africa.

As Ireland did not become part of Britain in 1801, many people considered Ireland a colony and therefore Irish migrants are often treated as migrants from within Britain's empire.

Keywords

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

  • Transatlantic Slave Trade - the trade between Europe, West Africa and the Americas, where goods were exchanged for enslaved people who were sold onto plantations in European colonies

  • Civil liberties - a person’s right to be subject to laws that are only for the good of the community

  • Lascar - a sailor, usually from Britain’s colonies across Africa and Asia

  • Ayah - a nurse, maid or nanny who is usually of Indian descent

When looking at the experience of each migrant group make sure to emphasize that experiences often varied within each group and even where generalisations can be made, there are almost always exceptions.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

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

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: The led to increasing migration from France to Britain in the 18th century.
Correct Answer: French Revolution
Q2.
Which occupations did many German migrants have when they came to Britain post 1714?
Correct answer: doctors
Correct answer: bankers
teachers
Correct answer: artists
politicians
Q3.
Complete the sentence: For some French migrants, life in Britain was very different to life in France; for example, de Montazet became a window cleaner.
Correct Answer: Marquis
Q4.
How did German migrants impact Britain culturally?
A German hospital was opened in Hackney in 1845.
By 1750, there were over 80 German-owned sugar refineries in the country.
Correct answer: Handel composed the anthem for George II's coronation.
Q5.
How many Italians migrated to Britain between 1871 and 1881?
3000
40 000
Correct answer: 750 000
Q6.
Were did many Italian migrants settle?
Portsmouth
Correct answer: London
Correct answer: South Wales
North Wales
Correct answer: Glasgow

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes a person’s right to be subject to laws that are only for the good of the community?
Correct Answer: civil liberties, civil liberty
Q2.
Which word describes a nurse, maid or nanny who is usually of Indian descent?
Correct Answer: ayah
Q3.
In what year did the Act of Union make Ireland a formal part of the United Kingdom?
Correct answer: 1801
1833
1858
1829
Q4.
Who was the first black Briton to vote?
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Joseph Emidy
Correct answer: Ignatius Sancho
George Africanus
Q5.
Who is an example of an African migrant who had a significant impact on the British economy?
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Correct answer: George Africanus
Sir Mancherjee Bhownaggree
Joseph Emidy
Q6.
Which act gave Irish people in England the right to vote?
Correct answer: The Emancipation Act
The Papist Act
The Act of Union

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