Migrants: Impact (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
Impact of migrants in early modern England (c1500-c1700)
During the 16th and 17th centuries, migrants had an enormous influence on English society, transforming the economy, agriculture, and culture in ways that would shape the country for centuries to come.
Economic transformation
Trade and industry revolution
Migrants brought remarkable changes to English commerce and manufacturing. Skilled Huguenot craftsmen revolutionised the cloth trade, using their expertise in silk weaving to dramatically improve England's textile exports. The impact was striking - between 1630 and 1650, cloth exports increased by twenty times their previous levels.
The scale of this transformation cannot be overstated. A twenty-fold increase in cloth exports within just two decades represents one of the most dramatic economic changes in English history.
Jewish traders played a crucial role in developing England's maritime trade networks. Their international connections and commercial knowledge helped establish England as a major trading nation, contributing significantly to the growth of Britain's maritime empire.
Financial innovation
Jewish financiers were particularly influential in transforming England into a major financial centre. They invested heavily in various businesses, providing the capital needed for economic growth and helping London develop into an important financial hub.
When the Bank of England was founded in 1694, its first governor was a Huguenot, and seven of the 25 directors were also Huguenots. This means that Huguenots held nearly one-third of the leadership positions in England's most important financial institution.
These migrants created what became known as a 'National Debt' system, allowing the government to borrow large amounts of money for various enterprises.
Manufacturing industries
Huguenots made significant contributions to manufacturing, particularly investing in the Sheffield steel industry and establishing England's paper industry. These developments laid important foundations for later industrial growth.
The fashion industry also benefited greatly from migrant expertise. Luxury fabrics such as silk, velvet, and taffeta became increasingly popular among wealthy English people, with rich women and dress designers eagerly adopting these new materials.
Agricultural revolution: The Dutch contribution
Transforming the Fens
One of the most impressive migrant contributions was the Dutch-led transformation of the Fens in eastern England. In 1630, King Charles I commissioned Cornelius Vermuyden, a skilled Dutch engineer, to undertake this massive drainage project.
Worked Example: The Fen Drainage Project
Step 1: Planning and Commission (1630) King Charles I hired Cornelius Vermuyden to lead the project
Step 2: Engineering Work (1630-1642) Dutch engineers and labourers worked for 12 years, implementing a systematic approach:
- Digging extensive drainage ditches
- Straightening existing rivers for better water flow
- Building pumps and windmills to remove water
Step 3: Results (1642) Successfully converted 40,000 acres of waterlogged land into fertile farmland
However, the project wasn't without controversy. The drainage meant that some local people lost their traditional livelihoods from activities like cutting rushes and trapping waterbirds and eels. These displaced workers, known as the Fen Tigers, became angry and sometimes attacked and destroyed the dams and pumps built by the Dutch engineers.
Cornelius Vermuyden eventually became an English citizen in 1633, demonstrating how successful migrants could integrate into English society and achieve recognition for their contributions.
Cultural enrichment
Fashion and luxury goods
Migrants introduced sophisticated new fashion trends to England. Silk and other premium fabrics were used to create fashionable clothing for wealthy people, transforming English style and setting new standards of luxury.
Art and creativity
The cultural impact of migration extended to the arts, where talented artists from Germany and the Netherlands came to England to paint portraits of royalty and other wealthy individuals. Their paintings were highly admired, and gradually, English merchants and bankers began commissioning their own portraits as well.
Literature and scholarship
Writers also made important contributions to English culture. Polydore Vergil, who was born in Italy and migrated to England, spent most of his life in London and became one of the first people to write a comprehensive book about English history, helping to establish new standards of historical scholarship.
The printing revolution
The invention and development of the printing press had profound effects on English society. This technology took control of knowledge away from the Church and enabled new ideas to spread much more rapidly throughout the country.
By 1535, approximately two-thirds of those working in England's book trade were European migrants, demonstrating their crucial role in this communication revolution.
Religious tolerance and integration
An important factor in migrant success was religious compatibility. Huguenots who attended Huguenot churches were generally seen as respectable members of society because of the similarities between their Protestant beliefs and English Protestantism.
This religious common ground was essential for successful integration. Unlike Catholic migrants who faced suspicion and persecution, Protestant migrants found acceptance and were able to contribute fully to English society.
Timeline of key events
- 1535: About two-thirds of book trade workers in England were European
- 1630: Charles I commissioned Cornelius Vermuyden to drain the Fens
- 1633: Cornelius Vermuyden became an English citizen
- 1630-1650: Cloth exports increased twenty-fold
- 1642: Approximately 40,000 acres of Fens converted to farmland
- 1694: Bank of England founded with Huguenot governor
Key Points to Remember:
- Economic transformation: Migrants revolutionised trade, manufacturing, and finance, with cloth exports increasing twenty times between 1630-1650
- Agricultural innovation: Dutch engineers converted 40,000 acres of waterlogged Fens into productive farmland by 1642
- Financial leadership: Huguenots dominated early banking, with the first Bank of England governor being a Huguenot migrant
- Cultural enrichment: Migrants contributed significantly to art, fashion, literature, and the printing industry
- Religious compatibility: Protestant migrants, especially Huguenots, integrated successfully due to shared religious beliefs with English society