Early Modern Stats (1730-1900)

When was the charter to set up the EIC granted?

1600

Why did Ayahs find it easy to integrate with society?

They were already attached to a family + came as individuals (less threatening and less noticable)

Why did Ayahs find it hard to integrate with society?

Ideas of white supremacy were starting to emerge + if they were abandoned by family they wouldn't be able to find work (trapped in destitution)

Evidence of Ayahs being abandoned

In 1900, London City Mission set up a home of 30 rooms to house Ayahs who had nowhere to go.

Why did some enslaved Africans fight for Britain during the American war of Independence?

They were promised freedom - this wasn't true, upon arrival in Britain they were denied work and pay

What was the impact of the 1772 Somerset case?

It ruled that slavery wasn't allowed in Britain - start of emancipation

When did Mary Prince, who had been viciously tortured by her master, come to Britain? (she stayed, as slavery wasn't allowed in Britain so she was free, even though her husband was in the West Indies)

1828

How were Black Britons a big part of the abolition movement?

Their stories revealed the horrors of the slave trade and forced the British people to confront the truth

Give two examples of Black Britons who wrote autobiographies of their experiences

Mary Prince and Olaudah Equiano

Why were so many Lascars employed by the EIC?

So many British sailors were drafted into the Navy during the Napoleonic wars, so Lascars replaced them

Why did British soldiers see Lascars as a threat?

They were more desirable to employers as they were paid less, didn't drink and seen as more obedient

What was the company that hired Lascars in India, and took most of their money as comission?

Ghat serang

Example of violence to Lascars from British

In 1893 there was a serious battle in Barrow between White sailors and Muslims after Lascars had celebrated a religious festival in the streets

Which act made the EIC responsible for Lascars' upkeep in Britain? (then kept in very bad conditions)

1823 Merchant Shipping Act

How many seamen died in EIC army barracks in 1813? (bad conditions)

92

Why were 'Chinatowns' set up by Chinese Lascars so successful?

They were attractive and popular to English

Evidence of Lascars finding it hard to integrate

Many sailors did not speak English and were described as isolated and 'in distress' by missionaries.

Why did many come to Britain during 19th century?

better quality of life due to job opportunities generated by Industrial revolution

How many Irish left for Britain after the 1945-9 Potato famine?

2 million

Why did many leave Ireland?

Potato famine killed 1 million + Ireland's land was distributed unfairly, with English landowners treating the Irish very badly

Why were Irish workers such a threat to English workers?

They accepted low wages -> undercutting wages

Evidence of Irish living in terrible conditions and cramped housing

In Bent Street, Liverpool, there was 24 men and women sharing a room

Response to influx of Irish to Liverpool

60,000 were deported from Liverpool back to London

During this period, how much of the army was made up of Irish soldiers?

20-40%

When did Irish coal carriers protest against terrible conditions? and where?

1868 at London Docks

What was the names of the forced evictions in Scotland to clear land for sheep farming?

Highland clearances

Reasons for Scottish migration

• Highland clearances in 1840s -> treated brutally by English, some villages were even burned down
• also hit by potato famine

What was the name of the organized massacre of Jews in Eastern Europe? (example of religious persecution) and why did they happen?

Pogroms after Jews were blamed for murder of Czar Alexander in 1881

Why did Jews come to England specifically?

Freedoms in Britain steadily improving - allowed to trade freely in 1830 and equal civil rights in 1858

Why did Jewish people settle in communities?

most could only speak Russian, so grouped together with people who spoke the same language

Example of area transformed into Jewish community

East London -> built sweat shops and synagogues there

Why was Jewish women making cheap clothes to sell over the country so good? (although sweat shops = bad reputation)

Working class families could buy new clothes

Which areas of Britain were transformed to Jewish communities?

East London, Leeds and Manchester

How many people left rural Italy for Britain?

1.5 million

What were the 3 causes for the famine in Italy?

War, changes in agriculture and typhus epidemic

How many Italian street musicians were there here in 1881?

Over 1,000

Which area of London became known as 'Little Italy'?

Clerkenwell

Which Italian ice cream shop owner invented the ice cream cone during a cholera outbreak?

Carlo Gatti

Example of prejudice to Italian migrants

The Times described them as dirty and idle

Reasons for German migrants arriving

Businesses were often supported by top banks with German origins, such as Barings or Rothschild.

Where in London was a German hospital set up in 1845 due to dire conditions of German poor?

Hackney

Why did the Germans not face much discrimination?

Less visible than other groups because they spread out over the UK.

Impact of Germany immigrants

Numerous successful businesses e.g. General Electric, Schweppes, Harland and Wolff.

Why did asylum seekers come to Britain?

Escaping political persecution in their home country (e.g. Napoleon, Latvians fighting Russian empire)

Impact of Asylum seekers

Helped generate important political ideas, Karl Marx wrote his book in British Library