Migration to Britain After the Second World War

What was post-war migration to Britain?

There was a large amount of migration to Britain following the Second World War. Large numbers of migrants from across the empire, and newly-independent countries, flocked to Britain to make a home here.

When did people migrate to Britain after the Second World War?

Migration to Britain after the Second World War happened in different stages. The key stages of migration include:

• ❖ Large numbers of migrants from the Caribbean after 1948. These migrants are known as the 'Windrush generation'.
• ❖ Migrants from India and Pakistan arriving in Britain since Indian independence in 1947.
• ❖ Asian migrants from Kenya arriving in Britain after Kenyan independence in 1963.
• ❖ A large number of Asians migrating from Uganda to Britain in 1972, after they were forced to leave the country by Idi Amin.

Why did people migrate to Britain after the Second World War?

There were a number of reasons why migrants came to Britain in large numbers after the Second World War.

• ❖ Britain's economy was in ruins after the Second World War, and the country was suffering a shortage of workers. Britain needed more people in the workforce.
• ❖ Jobs were scarce in the migrants' home countries. Migrating to Britain gave them opportunities for work, and to earn a good living.
• ❖ In some cases there were political reasons to migrate. In Kenya and Uganda, the Africans wanted to take back power, and they forced the Asian workers in these countries to leave.
• ❖ Britain put in place immigration laws that made it easier for people from the former empire to migrate to Britain.