World wars, the end of empire and Britain’s changing relationships (OCR GCSE History A (Explaining the Modern World)): Revision Notes
World wars, the end of empire and Britain's changing relationships
FACTORS AFFECTING BRITAIN IN THE 1900s
EMPIRE Britain had grown hugely wealthy and powerful through its empire providing raw materials for manufacture in industrialised Britain. These goods were then exported back to its colonies and around the world. A workforce was also required and, thus, many people flocked to Britain to find work in the construction of infrastructure, to work as labourers, and to build businesses.
WORLD WARS Through Allied agreements, Britain entered WWI and drew on its colonies to provide resources such as horses and soldiers to win. Almost 1 million died in combat.
The 1940s saw WWII take place in which thousands of Jewish people and other minorities were persecuted and killed en masse by Nazi Germany. While fewer soldiers fought in Europe than in WWI, other theatres of war occurred all across the globe. Britain, again, drew on its colonies to support the war effort and defeat Germany and Japan.
REBUILDING BRITAIN In the years after WWII, Britain underwent significant changes. Not only was a massive rebuild required, but the newly elected Labour government sought to address the 'five evils' of squalour, ignorance, want, idleness and disease through the establishment of welfare.
To achieve this, a large workforce would be required. To this end, the government invited workers with the necessary skills to come to Britain and work.
How did immigration to the UK begin?
- World War II
- Call for Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation created demand for labourers
- British Nationality Act of 1948
- Granting of free entry to Britain from Commonwealth
- First Surge: Windrush