Knowt
Migrants to Britain, c. 1250 to Present
1. Medieval Period (c. 1250-1500)
Key Migrants:
Jews: Arrived in England in 1066 with William the Conqueror. Faced significant persecution, culminating in the expulsion of 1290.
Flemish Weavers: Invited by Edward III to improve the English wool industry.
Key Events:
1290: Expulsion of Jews by Edward I.
13th-15th Centuries: Flemish weavers settle in towns like Norwich, Colchester, and London, contributing to the textile industry.
Impact on Society:
Economic growth in the textile industry.
Cultural contributions in urban areas.
2. Early Modern Period (1500-1750)
Key Migrants:
Huguenots: French Protestants fleeing religious persecution in the late 17th century.
Palatines: German Protestants escaping hardship in the early 18th century.
Africans: Brought as slaves or servants during the expansion of the British Empire.
Key Events:
1685: Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, leading to Huguenot migration.
1709: Arrival of Palatines, settling in places like London and Ireland.
Impact on Society:
Huguenots integrated into the economy, particularly in textiles, finance, and craftsmanship. Examples include the establishment of silk weaving in Spitalfields and the development of banking and financial services.
The growth of the slave trade, with Africans brought to Britain and the colonies, contributed to economic growth but also raised significant social and moral issues. The long-term effect of African slavery included entrenched racial hierarchies and economic dependencies that persisted well beyond the abolition of slavery.
3. Industrial Period (1750-1900)
Key Migrants:
Irish: Significant migration during the Great Famine (1845-1852).
Jewish Refugees: Fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century.
Italians: Seeking economic opportunities in Britain.
Key Events:
1845-1852: Great Irish Famine leading to mass migration.
1880s-1914: Arrival of Eastern European Jews escaping persecution. Pogroms in places like Russia and Poland included violent riots and massacres of Jewish communities.
Impact on Society:
Irish migrants contributed to the labor force in industries and infrastructure. They played crucial roles in building railways, roads, and canals.
Jewish communities established businesses, contributing to the urban economy. They were prominent in trades such as tailoring and shopkeeping and played a significant role in the development of the British clothing industry.
Italians influenced cuisine and culture in urban areas, notably in places like London's "Little Italy" in Clerkenwell.
Numbers of Migrants:
During the Industrial Period, hundreds of thousands of Irish, Jewish, and Italian migrants arrived in Britain. For example, by 1851, about 520,000 Irish-born people were living in England and Wales.
4. 20th Century to Present
Key Migrants:
West Indians (Windrush Generation): Post-WWII labor shortages led to invitations for Caribbean migrants.
South Asians: Migrated post-1960s, especially after changes in immigration laws.
Eastern Europeans: Post-2004 EU expansion.
Key Events:
1948: Arrival of SS Empire Windrush, marking significant Caribbean migration.
1962, 1968, 1971: Immigration Acts impacting migration. The acts progressively restricted immigration from the Commonwealth, reflecting changing attitudes towards migrants and leading to tensions and debates about race and identity.
2004: EU expansion leading to increased Eastern European migration.
Impact on Society:
The Windrush Generation filled labor shortages, particularly in public services. They were essential in rebuilding post-war Britain and contributed significantly to the NHS and public transport.
South Asians established businesses and contributed to healthcare and cultural diversity. For example, many became successful entrepreneurs in the textile and retail industries.
Eastern Europeans contributed to various sectors, impacting labor markets and cultural landscapes. They were prominent in agriculture, construction, and service industries, helping to address labor shortages.
Key Words and Definitions
Flemish Weavers: Invited by Edward III to improve the English wool industry.
Huguenots: French Protestants fleeing religious persecution in the late 17th century.
Palatines: German Protestants escaping hardship in the early 18th century.
Pogroms: Violent riots aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews in Eastern Europe.
Great Irish Famine: A period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland from 1845 to 1852.
West Indians (Windrush Generation): Post-WWII labor shortages led to invitations for Caribbean migrants.
Windrush Generation: Caribbean migrants who arrived in Britain after WWII to fill labor shortages.
Pogroms: Violent riots aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews in Eastern Europe.
EU Expansion: The enlargement of the European Union, allowing citizens of new member states to migrate more freely.
Migrants to Britain, c. 1250 to Present
1. Medieval Period (c. 1250-1500)
Key Migrants:
Jews: Arrived in England in 1066 with William the Conqueror. Faced significant persecution, culminating in the expulsion of 1290.
Flemish Weavers: Invited by Edward III to improve the English wool industry.
Key Events:
1290: Expulsion of Jews by Edward I.
13th-15th Centuries: Flemish weavers settle in towns like Norwich, Colchester, and London, contributing to the textile industry.
Impact on Society:
Economic growth in the textile industry.
Cultural contributions in urban areas.
2. Early Modern Period (1500-1750)
Key Migrants:
Huguenots: French Protestants fleeing religious persecution in the late 17th century.
Palatines: German Protestants escaping hardship in the early 18th century.
Africans: Brought as slaves or servants during the expansion of the British Empire.
Key Events:
1685: Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, leading to Huguenot migration.
1709: Arrival of Palatines, settling in places like London and Ireland.
Impact on Society:
Huguenots integrated into the economy, particularly in textiles, finance, and craftsmanship. Examples include the establishment of silk weaving in Spitalfields and the development of banking and financial services.
The growth of the slave trade, with Africans brought to Britain and the colonies, contributed to economic growth but also raised significant social and moral issues. The long-term effect of African slavery included entrenched racial hierarchies and economic dependencies that persisted well beyond the abolition of slavery.
3. Industrial Period (1750-1900)
Key Migrants:
Irish: Significant migration during the Great Famine (1845-1852).
Jewish Refugees: Fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century.
Italians: Seeking economic opportunities in Britain.
Key Events:
1845-1852: Great Irish Famine leading to mass migration.
1880s-1914: Arrival of Eastern European Jews escaping persecution. Pogroms in places like Russia and Poland included violent riots and massacres of Jewish communities.
Impact on Society:
Irish migrants contributed to the labor force in industries and infrastructure. They played crucial roles in building railways, roads, and canals.
Jewish communities established businesses, contributing to the urban economy. They were prominent in trades such as tailoring and shopkeeping and played a significant role in the development of the British clothing industry.
Italians influenced cuisine and culture in urban areas, notably in places like London's "Little Italy" in Clerkenwell.
Numbers of Migrants:
During the Industrial Period, hundreds of thousands of Irish, Jewish, and Italian migrants arrived in Britain. For example, by 1851, about 520,000 Irish-born people were living in England and Wales.
4. 20th Century to Present
Key Migrants:
West Indians (Windrush Generation): Post-WWII labor shortages led to invitations for Caribbean migrants.
South Asians: Migrated post-1960s, especially after changes in immigration laws.
Eastern Europeans: Post-2004 EU expansion.
Key Events:
1948: Arrival of SS Empire Windrush, marking significant Caribbean migration.
1962, 1968, 1971: Immigration Acts impacting migration. The acts progressively restricted immigration from the Commonwealth, reflecting changing attitudes towards migrants and leading to tensions and debates about race and identity.
2004: EU expansion leading to increased Eastern European migration.
Impact on Society:
The Windrush Generation filled labor shortages, particularly in public services. They were essential in rebuilding post-war Britain and contributed significantly to the NHS and public transport.
South Asians established businesses and contributed to healthcare and cultural diversity. For example, many became successful entrepreneurs in the textile and retail industries.
Eastern Europeans contributed to various sectors, impacting labor markets and cultural landscapes. They were prominent in agriculture, construction, and service industries, helping to address labor shortages.
Key Words and Definitions
Flemish Weavers: Invited by Edward III to improve the English wool industry.
Huguenots: French Protestants fleeing religious persecution in the late 17th century.
Palatines: German Protestants escaping hardship in the early 18th century.
Pogroms: Violent riots aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews in Eastern Europe.
Great Irish Famine: A period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration in Ireland from 1845 to 1852.
West Indians (Windrush Generation): Post-WWII labor shortages led to invitations for Caribbean migrants.
Windrush Generation: Caribbean migrants who arrived in Britain after WWII to fill labor shortages.
Pogroms: Violent riots aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews in Eastern Europe.
EU Expansion: The enlargement of the European Union, allowing citizens of new member states to migrate more freely.
