Migration and settlement (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
Migration and settlement c1500-c1700: Early modern England
Introduction
During the early modern period, England experienced significant migration patterns that shaped the country's demographic and cultural landscape. While some motivations for movement remained consistent with earlier periods, new factors emerged that distinguished this era. England became an attractive destination for various groups seeking economic opportunities, religious freedom, and escape from persecution, while also serving as a refuge for those fleeing hardship and conflict.
The transformation of England into a Protestant nation under the Tudor and Stuart monarchies created unique opportunities for certain religious communities while simultaneously creating challenges for others. This religious shift fundamentally altered migration patterns and government policies towards different groups.
Migrants to Protestant England
Huguenot migrants
French Protestant communities, known as Huguenots, represented one of the most significant migrant groups during this period. These religious refugees fled their homeland during two distinct waves of persecution between 1550-1572 and 1670-1710, when Catholic authorities systematically targeted Protestant communities.
The term "Huguenot" comes from the French word "huguenot," meaning "confederate." These French Protestants followed Calvinist teachings and faced increasing persecution as the French monarchy strengthened its Catholic identity.
The English government actively welcomed these migrants, recognising their potential contributions. Edward VI initially permitted the establishment of a French Protestant Church in London during the 1550s, while Charles II later extended official recognition in 1681, granting Huguenots specific rights to settle and worship in England.
Many Huguenot migrants brought valuable skills as experienced craftworkers and artisans. They strategically established themselves in areas where their relatives had already achieved success, creating networks that facilitated further migration and economic integration. These communities often specialised in trades such as silk weaving, silversmithing, and other luxury crafts.
Migration Pattern Example: Huguenot Settlement
Consider the Huguenot silk weavers who fled France in the 1680s:
- Initial departure: Religious persecution following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685)
- Settlement choice: Spitalfields area of London, where earlier Huguenot migrants had established businesses
- Economic integration: Used existing family connections to secure apprenticeships and establish workshops
- Community building: Established French Protestant churches and maintained cultural traditions while integrating economically
This pattern demonstrates how family networks and specialised skills facilitated successful settlement.
Palatine migrants
German Protestant farmers from the Palatinate region represented another significant group seeking refuge in England. In 1709, these migrants departed their homeland due to a devastating combination of poor harvests, widespread famine, extreme poverty, and ongoing warfare that had destroyed their livelihoods.
The British government actively encouraged Palatine settlement through practical support measures. Many migrants received assistance in their journey to America through the British-owned Carolina Company, with funding provided directly by the government. However, these refugees arrived in England with extremely limited resources and possessed few specialised skills beyond agricultural knowledge and general labour.
The Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act of 1709 was groundbreaking legislation that provided European Protestant migrants with comprehensive civil rights in Britain. This act required migrants to demonstrate loyalty to the Crown in exchange for legal protection and settlement rights - a model that influenced later immigration policies.
Indian migrants
England's expanding trade relationships with India created new pathways for Indian migration during this period. Increased commercial activity led English merchants to India, where Indian workers found employment in clerical positions while Indian women often worked as domestic servants for English families.
Some Indian servants, particularly household staff called ayahs (nannies), returned to England alongside the English families they served, continuing their employment in familiar roles. Additionally, some Indian workers found positions aboard ships travelling between England and India, with many eventually settling in English ports seeking improved living conditions.
Maritime workers from India and southeast Asia became known as lascars, forming distinct communities in English port cities. These sailors often remained in England between voyages, contributing to the growing diversity of urban populations in coastal areas.
The presence of Indian migrants in early modern England challenges common assumptions about when Asian migration to Britain began. These early communities, though small, established important precedents for later, larger waves of migration from the Indian subcontinent.
African migrants
African communities had maintained a presence in England since Roman times, but migration patterns became more complex during the early modern period. Some Africans arrived as free individuals, while others were forcibly brought to England through the slave trade.
Various circumstances brought Africans to England during this era. Some had been enslaved in Spain and were expelled in 1569 as part of a rebellion against Spanish rule, subsequently fleeing to England. Others had already been enslaved elsewhere but managed to escape and reach England seeking freedom.
Tragically, some Africans were directly brought to England by their owners as enslaved people, representing the harsh realities of the expanding Atlantic slave trade that connected England to broader systems of exploitation.
Jews
The Jewish community in England faced a complex situation during the early modern period. Following their expulsion in 1290, some Jewish people had remained in England by converting to Christianity outwardly while privately maintaining their religious practices.
By the 1650s, Jewish communities throughout Europe were experiencing increased antisemitism and systematic persecution. England's relatively weak economic position at this time created an opportunity, as allowing Jewish merchants to return could potentially strengthen the economy through their commercial expertise and international connections.
Historical Turning Point: Jewish Readmission (1656)
The process of Jewish readmission demonstrates how economic considerations influenced migration policy:
Background: England's economy struggled in the mid-17th century while Dutch Jewish merchants prospered in Amsterdam
Oliver Cromwell's reasoning:
- Jewish merchants possessed valuable international trade connections
- Their commercial expertise could boost English economic competitiveness
- Religious tolerance might attract other skilled migrants
Outcome: Formal permission granted in 1656, marking the end of nearly 400 years of official exclusion
Oliver Cromwell formally permitted Jewish resettlement in 1656, recognising the potential economic benefits of welcoming experienced merchants back to England. This decision marked a significant shift in official policy towards Jewish communities.
Romani people
Romani communities, often referred to as 'Gipsies' in historical sources, were nomadic people who travelled throughout England and Europe. Their mobile lifestyle and cultural differences led to suspicion and hostility from English authorities and settled populations.
The English government regarded Romani communities as vagrants and beggars, implementing laws designed to force them to remain in fixed locations rather than continuing their traditional nomadic practices. Most Romani people ignored these restrictive laws, as their lifestyle made compliance extremely difficult.
Warning about Historical Persecution
Government persecution escalated significantly during the 1650s, when authorities began forcibly transporting Romani people into slavery in North America and the Caribbean. This represented one of the harshest government responses to any migrant group during this period, with hundreds facing execution as punishment for their nomadic lifestyle.
This extreme persecution demonstrates how cultural differences and government misunderstanding could lead to tragic outcomes for migrant communities.
Timeline of key events
- 1290: Jewish expulsion from England
- 1550: French Protestant Church established in London under Edward VI
- 1550-1572: First major wave of Huguenot migration to England
- 1569: African migrants expelled from Spain flee to England
- 1656: Oliver Cromwell permits Jewish return to England
- 1670-1710: Second major wave of Huguenot migration
- 1681: Charles II grants official recognition to Huguenot communities
- 1709: Major Palatine migration year; Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act passed
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
-
Religious persecution drove major migration waves - Both Huguenots and Palatines fled religious persecution, while Jews returned after centuries of exclusion, demonstrating how religious tolerance could attract skilled migrants
-
Economic factors attracted government support - England actively encouraged Protestant migrants through legislation and funding, recognising their potential to strengthen the economy through trade skills and connections
-
Trade expansion created new migration patterns - Growing commercial relationships with India brought Indian workers to England, while maritime trade introduced lascar communities to English ports
-
Government responses varied dramatically by group - While Protestant refugees received official support and legal protection, Romani communities faced severe persecution including slavery and execution
-
Settlement patterns reflected existing networks - Migrants often settled near relatives or co-religious communities, creating concentrated areas of particular ethnic and religious groups that facilitated integration and mutual support