Migration and Impact of Empire Dates, Events, and Laws

Medieval Period (c.1000–c.1500)

1066 – Norman Conquest.

1169 – English invasion of Ireland.

1190 – Anti-Jewish attacks in York.

1290 – Expulsion of Jews from England by Edward I.

Early Modern Period (c.1500–c.1730)

1530 – Expulsion of Gypsies ordered.

1560s – Arrival of Walloons; slave trade begins.

1570s – First wave of Huguenot refugees.

1598 – Steelyard (German trading post) closed by Elizabeth I.

1600 – East India Company founded by Royal Charter.

1616 – First recorded named Asian in England.

1650s – Forced transportation of Gypsies.

1656 – Readmission of Jews to England.

1660 – Royal African Company set up.

1680s – Second wave of Huguenot refugees.

1687 – James II’s Declaration for Liberty of Conscience.

1688 – Glorious Revolution; Nine Years’ War begins.

1689 – Bill of Rights; Siege of Derry.

1690 – Battle of the Boyne.

1691 – Battle of Aughrim; Treaty of Limerick.

1692 – Massacre of Glencoe.

1694 – Bank of England founded.

1695 – Penal Laws against Irish Catholics begin.

1697 – Treaty of Ryswick.

1698 – End of Royal African Company monopoly.

1699 – English Woollen Act.

1701 – Act of Settlement.

1702 – Queen Anne’s accession.

1704 – Inheritance rights removed from Irish Catholics.

1707 – Act of Union (England and Scotland).

1709 – Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act; Arrival of Palatines.

1713 – Treaty of Utrecht.

1714 – Accession of George I.

1715 – Jacobite rebellion.

1717 – Mughal firman granted to East India Company.

Industrial & Empire Expansion (c.1730–1900)

1833 – Slavery abolished across the British Empire.

1840s – Irish Potato Famine.

1857 – Indian Rebellion ends East India Company rule.

1870 – Naturalisation Act.

1900 – Population: 42 million; 70% in cities.

Modern Era (1900–2010)

1905 – Aliens Act.

1914 – Alien Registration and British Nationality Act.

1915 – Internment of ‘enemy aliens’.

1919 – Race riots in port cities; Alien Registration (Amendment) Act.

1925 – Coloured Alien Seamen Order.

1936 – Battle of Cable Street.

1938–39 – Kindertransport.

1940 – Internment during WWII.

1947 – Polish Resettlement Act.

1948 – British Nationality Act; Empire Windrush arrives.

1958 – Notting Hill Riots.

1962 – Commonwealth Immigrants Act.

1963 – Bristol Bus Boycott.

1965 – Race Relations Act.

1966 – National Front founded.

1968 – Second Race Relations Act; Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech; Commonwealth Immigrants Act (tightened).

1971 – Immigration Act (introduced work permits).

1973 – UK joins EEC.

1976 – Third Race Relations Act (establishes CRE).

1978 – Murders of Altab Ali & Blair Peach; Rock Against Racism carnival; Thatcher’s "swamping" speech.

1980 – St Paul’s Uprising.

1981 – New Cross Fire; Brixton and Toxteth riots.

1985 – Tottenham & Brixton riots; Schengen Agreement signed.

1993 – Stephen Lawrence murder; Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act.

1996 – Asylum and Immigration Act.

1998 – Crime and Disorder Act (racist motive sentencing).

1999 – Immigration and Asylum Act.

2001 – Sangatte camp (Calais) closed.

2002 – Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act.

2004 – Eastern EU enlargement leads to migration spike.

2007 – UK Border Agency established.

Notable Laws & Legislative Acts (Detailed)

1709 – Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act.

1833 – Slavery Abolition Act.

1870 – Naturalisation Act.

1905 – Aliens Act.

1914 – Alien Registration and British Nationality Act.

1925 – Coloured Alien Seamen Order.

1947 – Polish Resettlement Act.

1948 – British Nationality Act.

1962 – Commonwealth Immigrants Act.

1965 – Race Relations Act.

1968 – Commonwealth Immigrants Act (amended).

1971 – Immigration Act.

1976 – Race Relations Act (CRE established).

1993 – Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act.

1996 – Asylum and Immigration Act.

1998 – Crime and Disorder Act.

1999 – Immigration and Asylum Act.

2002 – Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act.