Christ’s College

History Department

GCSE History Paper 2, Section A

Migration, Empires and the People,
c.790 - present day

Knowledge Organiser Booklet

 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (1 of 8): How did England gain and lose land in Medieval and Early
Modern times?
The first part of the Migration and Empires course begins with the growth and decline of early empires. We begin
with the Viking raids and invasions of the late 8th and 9th centuries, before turning to the reign of Canute and the
‘North Sea’ Empire and then the impact and legacy of the Norman Conquest in England.

Who were the Vikings? Impact of the Viking invasions Who was Alfred the Great?
GLOSSARY
 The Vikings were raiders and traders. They came  Viking raids continued sporadically over the next  The earliest Viking raid was the monastery on
from Scandinavia and established trade routes , 200 years, between 800 and 1000. Lindisfarne in 793: they killed monks and re-  Pagan: someone who follows a
including with the Near and Far East. turned with gold and treasures. different religion to the main
 Many Danes, however, settled peacefully in the world religions, like the Vikings.
 They built longships that could sail the North Danelaw, which were parts of England under  Later, Vikings began conquering land and de-
Sea but also navigate inland waters and rivers. Danish laws and customs. feated some of the seven Kingdoms. Alfred the  Danelaw: land in North and East
Great was the King of Wessex. He fought back. England under Danish rule, laws
 Scandinavia was becoming overcrowded, and  Anglo-Saxons in the Danelaw were not forced and customs.
soil quality was sandy and poor: not many ani- to adopt the Viking pagan faith and remained  Despite defeat at Chippenham, Alfred defeated
mals could be successfully reared. Christian. the Viking ruler Guthrum at Edington. The peace  Danegeld: money paid by the
treaty allowed the creation of the Danelaw and English to prevent further Viking
 The Vikings knew the Anglo-Saxons were rich:  There was an assimilation of culture: Anglo- Guthrum converted to Christianity. Alfred’s de- raids.
they had traded with them. They knew about how Saxons and Danes intermarried. There was a scendants united England under a single king.
the Anglo-Saxons minted coins and had fertile merging of cultures, laws, food and language:  Longships: long and narrow
land. words like ‘sky’, ‘egg’ and ‘skin’ are Norse. boats used by the Vikings to
navigate the seas and inland
What was the ‘North Sea Empire’? The Norman Conquest Impacts of the Normans waters.
 The peace did not last. King Aethelred the Unready  Relations between England and Normandy improved  Power: William dealt harshly with Anglo-Saxon upris-
 Assimilation: when groups of
was forced to pay Danegeld to the Vikings after losing after Emma of Normandy's son Edward the Confessor ings and at the time of his death just 5% of land was in
people, cultures, customs and
the Battle of Maldon in 991. became King. He brought Normans into the Royal Anglo-Saxon hands.
Court. languages begin to merge.
 Viking raids continued. Aethelred ordered the St.  Castles and Cathedrals: William constructed enormous
Brice’s Day Massacre where many Danes were killed,  William of Normandy conquered England after winning buildings to symbolise his authority.  ‘North Sea Empire’: lands ruled
including the sister of the Danish King. He invaded. the Crown at the Battle of Hastings. by Canute: England, Norway
 Laws: the Normans made lots of changes to law and and Denmark
 After the Battle of Assandun, the Danes took over Eng-  William ennobled many of his close allies and they order, writing them down in Latin or French.
land. Canute ruled the ‘North Sea Empire’ of Denmark, gained large swathes of English land.  Encomium: the book written by
Norway and England. Canute married Aethelred’s wid-  Language: the English language evolved with French Emma of Normandy to promote
ow Emma of Normandy and England prospered. He  England was integrated into the Norman ‘empire’ which words like ‘Parliament’ and ‘beef’. her two sons’ claims to the Eng-
introduced a new law code and created new earldoms. included Maine, Anjou, parts of France, and Sicily. This lish throne.
The Empire dissolved after Canute died in 1035. led to increased English trade with these areas.  Jewish migration: merchants & money-lenders arrived.

AD 793: Viking invasion c.850: start of 878: Battle of 991: Battle of 1002: St. Brice’s 1014: Sweyn Forkbeard’s 1016: Battle 1035: Death 1066: Battle of Hastings; 1087: death of
of Lindisfarne Viking conquests Edington Maldon Day Massacre invasion of England of Assandun of Canute start of Norman Conquest William I
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (2 of 8): How did England gain and lose land in Medieval and Early
Modern times?
After the Norman Conquest, William’s descendants continued to rule England, and the country would eventually
become the main kingdom within the ‘Angevin’ Empire. You will learn about the rise and fall of this Empire under
Kings Henry II and John, and the significance of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France.

What was the Angevin Empire? How did King John lose the Angevin Why did the Hundred Years’ War break
Empire? out? GLOSSARY
 When William died, he split his lands between his
sons, but England and Normandy reunited under  In 1177, John was put in charge of Ireland by his  Gascony: England made lots of money from  Angevins: the royal house that
Henry I. He named his daughter Matilda as his heir. ruled England in the 12th and
father: he was named Lord of Ireland. taxing wine here, but France confiscated the
land in 1337 to try and force Edward III to submit. 13th centuries, named for the
 Matilda was challenged by her cousin Stephen,
 When John became King of England in 1199, he County of Anjou in France.
triggering two decades of civil war in England: the
inherited a lot of Crusade debts and angered  Scotland: had formed the ‘Auld Alliance’ with
Anarchy. It was agreed Matilda’s son Henry would
the French King by marrying Isabella of An- France, who were angry after Edward III invaded  Angevin Empire: lands ruled by
be the next king.
goulême, a French noblewoman. Scotland to re-capture land lost by his father. the Angevin monarchs including
Aquitaine, Brittany, Normandy,
 Matilda married Geoffrey of Anjou, a French Count
who seized control of Normandy. When Henry be-
 In the ensuing wars with France, John lost Nor-  Wool: France threatened to take over Flanders England and Ireland.
came King of England, he became the first Angevin mandy and almost all of England’s French territo- which would jeopardise the English cloth trade.
King. He gained Aquitaine by marrying the Duchess ries except Gascony. He was forced to seal  Plantagenet: name given to the
Eleanor and Brittany when one of his sons married Magna Carta in 1215, and the French invaded in  Royal Feud: Edward wanted the French Crown royal house of England after
the heiress Constance. 1216. They were defeated by William Marshal. and felt he had a stronger claim than Philip VI. King John.

 Henry restored authority in England by increasing Hundred Years’ War: the Key Battles Significance of the Hundred Years’ War  ‘The Pale’: part of Ireland near
finances and introducing legal reforms. Trade Dublin under the direct control
between the parts of the Angevin Empire increased.  Battle of Crécy 1346: the English defeat the  England was left with only Calais after a number of the English Crown.
crossbow-wielding French with longbows and of defeats, notably to Joan of Arc at Orléans in
 Henry II would conquer Ireland. It was a collection early cannon. England gained control of the key 1429 and to heavy cannons at Castillon in 1453.  Longbow: a tall, powerful bow
of small kingdoms with a single ‘High King’ ruling port city of Calais, which it would rule until 1558. used successfully by English
over them all. Pope Adrian IV gave Henry permis-  Huge swathes of French land were devastated; archers during the Hundred
sion to conquer Ireland.  Battle of Poitiers 1356: Edward’s son inflicts a both sides spent a fortune which weakened Years’ War.
humiliating defeat, who had tried to reinforce their their economies and lost thousands of men.
 In 1169, the King of Leinster asked Henry for help in armour, but England just aimed at the horses!  Artillery: heavy guns which
a fight with a rival King: Henry sent the Earl of Pem- England gained more French lands.  In the long term, new battlefield technology started to be used in the 1300s.
broke Richard ‘Strongbow’ de Clare. became important like longbows and gunpowder.
 Battle of Agincourt 1415: Henry V stuns the  Treaty of Troyes: 1420 agree-
 Henry invaded in 1171, and built castles. The High
French as he invaded to reclaim lost lands. De-  There was a birth of a sense of English identity, ment that made Henry V the
King paid homage to Henry, recognising him as as the English language replaced French. Victo- heir to the French throne.
clared the French heir in the Treaty of Troyes.
overlord of Ireland.
ries were immortalised in Shakespeare’s plays.

1154: Henry II 1171: Henry II begins 1175: Treaty of Windsor 1177: John named 1199: John 1215: Magna 1337: start of 1346: Battle of 1415: Battle of 1420: Treaty 1453: end of the
becomes King invading Ireland signed with Ireland Lord of Ireland becomes King Carta sealed Hundred Years’ War Crécy Agincourt of Troyes Hundred Years’ War
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (3 of 8): How did England gain and lose land in Medieval and Early
Modern times?
After the Hundred Years’ War, England started looking West to the New World. Pirates and privateers plundered
enemy shipping, and involvement in the slave trade gave way to the establishment of sugar and cotton plantations
in the Caribbean. We will also explore how England gained and lost the thirteen North American colonies.

What was the Age of Discovery? Why was the slave trade significant? How did Britain colonise America?
GLOSSARY
 Better navigation technology and galleons al-  England’s first involvement in the slave trade was  North America was ideal for growing cash crops like
lowed European countries, especially Spain and when Sir John Hawkins captured 300 enslaved tobacco, cotton, sugar and potatoes.  Piracy: raiding cargo or stealing
Portugal, to compete for land around the globe. Africans off Portuguese ships. enemy shipping.
 Sir Walter Raleigh was one of Elizabeth I’s favourites.
 The New World began to be conquered after  Soon, the triangular trade was developed: slaves He tried to discover the mythical city of gold El Dorado  Privateering: when private sea
would be transported to plantations in the New and travelled to Guiana.
Columbus’ 1492 voyage. captains are given state permis-
World; raw materials and crops would be shipped to sion to raid enemy shipping.
 England wanted access to lucrative new trading Europe, and manufactured goods shipped to West  He also established the Colony of Virginia, named for
Africa. the Queen, around Roanoke Island. Although the
routes and to challenge Spanish and Portu- colony failed, it inspired further settlement attempts.
 New World: name given to
guese dominance, particularly with the spice territories reached by Europe-
 Plantations were set up in the Caribbean and North
trade.
America. Jamaica and Barbados became sugar
 Jamestown was founded in 1607. The Virginia Com- ans from the late 1400s.
pany was set up and investors could travel across to the
colonies for England.
 Explorers like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter New World. Many English settlers travelled to escape  Plantation: a large farm or es-
Raleigh were sponsored by the Crown. unemployment, poor harvests, and the promise of land tate where just one crop (usually
 The first colonists were mainly Quakers fleeing per-
and riches.
secution and indentured servants, who worked off a cash crop) is grown.
Pirates and Privateers their contract before being granted land. However,  After initial hardships, Jamestown survived and became  Quakers: a Protestant Christian
slaves were much cheaper. very profitable growing tobacco, and triggering further
 Spanish and Portuguese ships brought gold, waves of settlers.
group who believe in equality
spices, silks and other riches from their voyages.  The Royal African Company began in 1660 and amongst members.
traded gold, ivory and slaves from West Africa to the  The Pilgrim Fathers were a group of mostly English
 Elizabeth I wanted to challenge this dominance. Caribbean. 150,000 slaves would be shipped by the Puritans who travelled across to America on the May-
 Pilgrim Fathers: 102 mainly
She was also fuelled by religious motivations: 1730s. flower in 1620. They settled Plymouth in Massachu- English Puritans who sailed to
Catholic Spain had tried to invade Protestant setts. They were fleeing religious persecution. Their the New World in 1620 and who
England in 1588.  Overall, Britain would traffic 3m slaves, and cities society promoted co-operation and is seen as the established a colony in Plym-
like Liverpool and Bristol flourished. Slave cotton start of American democracy. outh, Massachusetts.
 She licensed privateers like Sir John Hawkins would help fuel the Industrial Revolution.
and Sir Francis Drake to plunder shipping. These
 Settlers initially had good relationship with the Native  Joint-stock company: when
privateers then brought goods back to England.  Britain would eventually abolish the slave trade, Americans. They traded and helped the English farm the several investors put money into
following sustained campaigning, and Freetown in land. Tobacco planter John Rolfe married Pocahontas.
Soon, anti-piracy laws and increasing trade led to a company and share out risks
Sierra Leone was established as a British colony War and disease meant that the number of Native
a shift away from plunder towards colonisation. Americans under British control declined by nearly half and rewards.
for freed and former slaves.
by 1700.

1492: Columbus 1562: Sir John Hawkins 1584: Walter Raleigh 1607: settlement 1620: voyage of the 1625: Barbados 1660: Royal African 1792: Freetown founded 1833: British Empire
crosses the Atlantic begins capturing slaves founds Roanoke Colony of Jamestown Pilgrim Fathers colonised Company founded in Sierra Leone abolishes slavery
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (4 of 8): What factors led to the growth & collapse of the British Empire?
The American War of Independence was a pivotal event in British, and indeed global, History. Britain’s loss of the
thirteen colonies came just after Britain had won the Seven Years’ War. Tea and taxation fuelled grievances be-
tween the colonists and the British Government and a prolonged struggle for independence began. Following the
conflict, Britain’s colonial empire looked elsewhere for conquest.

What was the American War of Consequences of the War Australia

Independence? GLOSSARY
 In the short term, 10,000 British soldiers died in  Britain began transporting criminals to penal
 British control in North America extended to Canada and battle or from disease, alongside 20,000 sailors. colonies in Australia after losing the American  Townshend Acts: controversial
thirteen American colonies. Britain won the Seven colonies. laws that raised import taxes on
Years’ War in 1763 but at a cost: the Crown had debts  The war cost around £80 million and increased lots of goods entering America.
to pay off and needed money. the national debt.  The ‘first fleet’ landed in Botany Bay in 1787
with around 700 convicts; around 3,000 convicts  Navigation Acts: laws that
 The American colonists already had grievances: the  Britain’s pride was damaged since the world’s arrived every year by the 1830s. restricted the Americans to use
Navigation Acts 1651-1773 limited the goods they most dominant army had been defeated by a British shipping and purchase
could legally purchase, often at higher prices. More smaller enemy.  The indigenous Australian aborigines were goods imported by Britain.
British taxes were forthcoming:
exploited by British settlers. They believed the
 Nevertheless, Britain recovered quickly atter land belonged to everyone: the British therefore  Stamp Act: a law that imposed
 The Stamp Act 1765 and Townshend Acts 1767
losing the American colonies. Trade with America claimed all the land without paying compensation a tax on paper and documents
placed higher taxes on documents, goods and imposed
restrictions in Boston, Massachusetts. The people were returned to pre-war levels in 1785 and the Royal to the Aborigines. Australia would become anoth- in North America.
angry because they had no say in Parliament: they cried Navy became the largest in the world in 1813. er key British ally and federated in 1901.
‘no taxation without representation!’  Penal transportation: sending
Canada Jamaica convicted criminals overseas to
 A protest in Boston was put down by British soldiers in a prison colony.
1770. Four Boston residents were shot dead in what  Many American loyalists fled to Canada where  British involvement in the Caribbean continued
became known as the ‘Boston Massacre’.
they were offered protection. It was split into into the 19th century. The Bahamas, Barbados,  Emancipation: freeing a group
two colonies: Upper and Lower Canada. Jamaica, Anguilla, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts of people from oppression.
 In protest at tea taxes, the Sons of Liberty threw 342
and Nevis and Grenada were all British colonies.
crates of tea into the harbour at the Boston Tea Party
 There was rivalry and conflict between the  Indigenous: native to, or origi-
in 1773.
English and French-speaking citizens.  The slave trade was formally abolished in the empire nating from, a particular place.
 America became divided between LOYALISTS and
in 1833, but many freed slaves continued to work for
PATRIOTS. A Continental Congress was held and  The 1839 Durham Report recommended uniting their former masters with poor pay and conditions.  Durham Report: the report that
provided a list of grievances to King George III: he the two Canadas to prevent another revolution. recommended reform to British
ignored them. Fighting broke out when someone fired This happened in 1841, and Canada was given a
 Black Jamaicans rose up against their treatment in rule in Canada.
‘the shot heard round the world’ at Lexington in 1775. the Morant Bay Rebellion in 1865. In retaliation,
lot of freedom to run its own affairs. This es-
The Declaration of Independence was agreed in 1776,
pecially pleased the French-speakers in Quebec!
the British Governor Edward Eyre imposed martial  Federation: when Canada’s
and after five years of bitter fighting, and following aid law and leading figures in the uprising were arrested provinces united into one colony
from Spain and France, the Patriots won the war.
Canada remains a loyal ally to the UK to this day.
for treason and hanged.

1651: first 1765: Stamp 1767: Townshend 1770: Boston 1773: Boston 1776: Declaration of 1783: Treaty of Paris 1787: ‘First Fleet’ to 1839: Durham Report 1865: Morant Bay
Navigation Act Act Acts Massacre Tea Party Independence and end of the War Australia published Rebellion in Jamaica
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (5 of 8): What factors led to the growth & collapse of the British Empire?
Although Britain lost the American Colonies, Britain turned elsewhere and began expanding its colonial empire,
gaining colonies in India and Africa. The country was practically unchallenged as the world’s sole superpower in the
19th century. This enquiry focuses on two important case studies in British imperial History: India, the ‘jewel’ in the
empire’s crown, and how we participated in the Scramble for Africa.

What was the East India Company? The Indian Mutiny/’Great Rebellion’ India after 1857

 India was rich in resources including silk, iron ore,  The Government of India Act 1773 allowed the  The Government of India Act 1858 set up the GLOSSARY
copper, gold and silver. Elizabeth I set up the East India British Government to rule India jointly with the British Raj. Indians were to be treated as equal
Company in 1600. It was to have a monopoly on Eng- Company. British influence continued expanding. subjects within the British Empire.
 Nabob: someone who has
lish (and British) trade in the Far East. made a significant amount of
 The sepoys serving in the Army were outraged  The Queen appointed a Secretary of State for money from the East, especially
 The Company set up trading posts in the 17th century,
at their treatment, especially the disrespect to India and a representative known as a Viceroy. in India during the 18th century.
including Bombay and Madras.
their religion over the issue of gun cartridges.
 The Rebellion sparked nationalist movements  Sepoy: an Indian soldier who
 The Company grew powerful and established political
control in India. Robert Clive led the Company army to
 Over 300 British women and children died at like the Indian National Congress in 1885. fought in the British Army.
Cawnpore; there were also casualties in Luck-
victory in the Battle of Plassey and this led to British rule
now and Delhi. The sepoy rebels were defeated.  The British tried to interfere less in education and  Viceroy: the representative of
extending to Bengal: one of the richest provinces.
religion: the Indian Universities Act 1904 set up the British Crown in India.
 Warren Hastings became Governor-General of Bengal  After the rebellion, in 1858, the British Govern- universities in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. A
and promoted Indian culture, but was accused of cor- ment replaced the Company in ruling India. new middle class was created, and many
 Social Darwinism: the racist
ruption and mismanaging Company funds. theory that some races and
worked in the Indian Civil Service.
nations were superior to others.
What was the ‘Scramble for Africa’? Why was the Suez Canal important? South Africa and the Second Boer War
 Khedive: ruler of Egypt.
 Africa was believed to be rich in gold, diamonds  Before the Suez Canal, Britain had to sail round  Cecil Rhodes was an imperialist who had a
and ivory. These goods could make European Africa to trade with India. This was a long and vision of British rule stretching across Africa  ‘White Man’s Burden’: the idea
countries richer. dangerous voyage. ‘from the Cape to Cairo’. He made a fortune that it was the duty of Britain to
from the De Beers diamond-mining company. ‘civilise’ the native populations
 Many European countries had imperial ambi-  The Canal opened in 1869 under French control, under its control.
tions and wanted to create overseas empires. linking the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean.  By the late 19th century, Britain ruled most of
South Africa alongside Dutch Boer settlers.  Imperialist: someone who
 Some racist imperialists believed in ‘White  By 1875, Egypt was going bankrupt and needed Britain wanted to extend its rule into Boer lands. wants to expand an overseas
Man’s Burden’: it was their duty to colonise money fast. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli empire by conquering more
native Africans to ‘civilise’ and improve them. spent £4m purchasing Canal shares from the  The Second Boer War began in 1899 and 7,600 territory.
Khedive Isma’il Pasha. Britain had secured con- British soldiers died, proving how determined Britain
 The 1884 Berlin Conference divided the African trol of the Canal, thus enabling quicker travel to was to hold on to, and expand, the Empire. It also  Jingoism: a feeling or belief
continent between European countries. India. British influence in Egypt also increased. transformed the British Army, with reforms intro- that your country is always right.
duced to make sure recruits were fitter and healthier.

1600: East India 1612: first EIC 1757: Battle of 1773: Hastings becomes 1857: Indian Mutiny/ 1869: Suez 1875: Disraeli buys 1884: Berlin 1899-1902:
Company founded post in Surat Plassey Governor-General Great Rebellion Canal opened Suez Canal shares Conference Second Boer War
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (6 of 8): What factors led to the growth & collapse of the British Empire?
The 20th century saw the decline of the British Empire. Both of the World Wars had huge economic consequences,
and Britain could not afford to uphold its imperial commitments. There was also a growth of anti-imperialism and
nationalism in the colonies, and this enquiry features three case studies of decolonisation: India, Ghana and Kenya
and how they became independent from the British Empire.

What was the impact of WWI? Mahatma Gandhi and India Jomo Kenyatta and Kenya
GLOSSARY
 Before WWI, Britain was the world’s leading  Gandhi founded the Indian National Congress in 1885.  Kenyatta formed the Kenyan African Union in
power. However, after 4 years of bitter fighting, He campaigned for independence. 1940. He campaigned for independence and for  Dominion: a self-governing
Britain had to borrow billions of dollars from the access to white-owned land. colony within the British Empire.
USA and Canada, reducing British prestige.  Although Britain gave 5 million Indians the vote in 1919,
it resisted calls to make India a dominion. Nationalism  A violent uprising was led by the Mau Mau, who  Home Rule: the campaign for
 By 1914, Britain had given dominion status to its increased after the Amritsar Massacre.
targeted white landowners. The campaign lasted colonies to acquire more powers
‘white’ colonies: Canada, Australia, New Zealand 8 years. Kenyatta was jailed though many be- or independence.
 Gandhi practised satyagraha: a form of peaceful pro-
and South Africa. They were mostly self- lieve he was not affiliated to the Mau Mau.
test. He encouraged Indians to pan their own salt and
governing countries, reducing London’s control. refuse to pay the Salt Tax. Over 60,000 Indians were
 Muslim League: an Indian
arrested after Gandhi’s ‘salt march’.  The British treated the Mau Mau rebels very political party that campaigned
 There was a rise in nationalism, and demands harshly and both sides committed atrocities. for the creation of a Muslim-
for independence grew. Millions of colonial  Independence came in 1947; Britain couldn’t afford to Many white settlers chose to leave Kenya. In majority state: Pakistan.
soldiers served during WWI and wanted to be maintain it, and India was violently partitioned. Mus- 1963, Kenya became independent and Jomo
rewarded for their efforts with more powers. lims and Hindus turned against each other; many died. Kenyatta became its first President.  Satyagraha: Gandhi’s form of
non-violent, peaceful protest.
What was the impact of WWII? Kwame Nkrumah and Ghana What was the Suez Crisis?
 Partition: the division of India in
 Both world wars disrupted trade and many colo-  In the Gold Coast (Ghana) in the 1920s, the  Egypt became independent after WWI, but Britain and 1947 into India and Pakistan.
nies could not rely on Britain for goods. The National Congress of British West Africa France kept control of the Suez Canal.
USA was able to capture most of this market. asked for more control: they were rejected.  Nationalisation: bringing a
 In 1956, Egypt’s President Nasser nationalised the company under government
 The fall of Singapore in 1942 was one of Brit-  Britain was keen to hold on to Ghana, due to its Canal and took control. control.
ain’s greatest military defeats. Over 130,000 prospering cocoa farms and gold. It slowly gave
troops surrendered, demonstrating to Britain’s West Africans more self-government; Kwame
 Britain and France were outraged. Along with Israel,  Mau Mau: a Kenyan terrorist
they invaded Egypt in an attempt to regain control of the organisation that targeted white
Asian colonies that British power was declining. Nkrumah was less patient. He wanted independ-
Canal.
ence. Although he was in jail, his party won elec- settlers and British supporters.
 The USA and USSR became the two dominant tions. Nkrumah became ‘Leader of Govern-  Britain was forced into an humiliating withdrawal
superpowers during the Cold War; Britain’s de- ment Business’. He would later become Gha-
 Commonwealth: an internation-
after pressure from President Eisenhower. It proved
sire to decolonise increased under Attlee’s La- na’s first Prime Minister when the country be- Britain could no longer defend its imperial interests.
al association made up of most
bour government: empire was just too expensive. came independent in 1957. More colonies were granted independence. of Britain’s former colonies.

1919: Amritsar 1930: Gandhi’s 1942: Fall of 1947: Indian independence 1956: Suez 1957: Ghana becomes 1963: Kenyan
Massacre Salt March Singapore and Partition Crisis independent independence
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (7 of 8): Why have people migrated to and from Britain over the
centuries?
British history has seen numerous examples of migrants travelling to and from the country. Both the Huguenots and
the Jews migrated to Britain to flee persecution, and internal British migration also played a significant role in our
past, and this is particularly notable with the Ulster Plantations and the Highland Clearances.

Who were the Huguenots? What were the Highland Clearances? Jewish migration to Britain
GLOSSARY
 Protestants in France were persecuted and there  Clan culture and Gaelic identity were strong in the High-  Britain offered refuge for Jews fleeing persecu-
was a mass killing during the St. Bartholomew’s Day lands, were croft farming had continued for centuries. tion. There were long-standing communities: the  Edict of Nantes: a law protect-
Massacre. This triggered a wave of migration to Jews’ Free School in London opened in 1732. ing Protestant religious free-
Protestant England.  However, landowners wanted to enclose the land and
doms in France.
create larger estates. This meant evicting the crofters.  There was a large wave of migrants following the
 A second wave followed once King Louis XIV re- Some viewed these Clearances as political retaliation
assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881.  Diaspora: a group of people
voked the protections offered by the Edict of Nantes. for the Jacobite Rising.
Pogroms were launched across Russia. from a small geographical area
  Sometimes, 2,000 evictions per day were held. scattered across different coun-
Despite some hostility, the Huguenots migrants had  Jewish migrants took up trades like shoe-making tries.
a huge economic impact. They built over 200 and furniture-making. They had a reputation for
paper mills and supplied 70% of Britain’s paper.  Tens of thousands of Highlanders migrated to the colo-
nies, particularly Canada, where there are still Scottish being hard working and law-abiding.  Blight: a disease which dam-
Huguenots made our banknotes for 250 years.
communities today. Many Scots contributed their aged the Irish potato crop.
engineering skills and helped to build roads, railways  HOSTILITY: some felt they were ‘stealing jobs’
 They assimilated into British society, and Huguenot
investors helped to found the Bank of England.
and other important imperial infrastructure. and the 1905 Aliens Act restricted migration.  Crofters: small-scale farmers in
the Scottish Highlands.
What were the Ulster Plantations? Irish migration to Britain Internal British migration
 Jacobites: supporters of the
 Elizabeth I struggled to control Catholic Ireland  Migration began during the Industrial Revolu-  The Industrial Revolution sparked a wave of Stuart claimants to the British
and there were frequent uprisings. The idea tion when there were job opportunities in British internal migration as people moved from the throne.
emerged of ‘planting’ Ulster (in Northern Ireland) cotton mills and factories. ‘Navvies’ helped build countryside to the towns and cities.
with Protestants from England and Scotland. Britain’s new railways.  Navvy: a labourer employed in
 In 1740, 80% of people worked and lived in rural building a road or railway.
 The plantations began under King James I; the  1.5 million people left Ireland during the Great areas: this declined to just 25% in 1901.
City of London financed a new settlement known Potato Famine: the British government did not  Pogrom: large scale, targeted
as Londonderry. By 1622, there were roughly offer much financial support or relief.  The growth of towns and industry in turn promoted and repeated persecution of an
1,000 Protestants & 4,000 Catholics in Ulster. more migration. ethnic or religious group.
 Initially the Irish were treated poorly, on account
 Religious tensions were common. In the long of their religion. They were blamed for disease  British people also settled in colonies. A gold rush  Chain migration: when mi-
term, Protestants loyal to the British Crown came or crime, but gradually assimilated: Irish pubs in Australia began in 1851, and farming expanded in grants follow family members to
to dominate politics and culture in Ulster. and dancing are now common across Britain! New Zealand, attracting many British workers. a new place.

1572: St. Bartholomew’s 1598: Edict of 1607: Ulster 1613: Derry renamed 1685: Edict of 1780: Highland 1846: Start of the Irish 1905: Aliens
Day Massacre Nantes passed Plantations begin Londonderry Nantes revoked Clearances begin Potato Famine Act passed
 GCSE History Paper 2: Migration, Empires and the People, c.790-present day
Knowledge Organiser (8 of 8): Why have people migrated to and from Britain over the
centuries?
Although the British Empire declined, the decolonisation of the 20th century also led to Britain becoming a much
more multicultural society. Migrants from former colonies would move to the ‘mother country’ in search of jobs and a
better quality of life. This final part of the Migration course assesses the impact of 20th century migration.

Post-WWII Migration to Britain What was life like for new migrants? What was the Falklands War?
GLOSSARY
 Cyprus: there were tensions between Greeks  Racism and Discrimination: many migrants faced  The Falkland Islands had been a British colony
and Turks over culture and language. Thousands hostility from British citizens. They were accused of since 1833. Argentina also claimed the islands.  ‘Sus’ Law: an 1824 law that
of Cypriots fled the violence, poverty and ’stealing jobs’. Many faced a Colour Bar when they allowed police to stop and
hardship and settled in Britain in the 1950s. tried to access jobs or housing.  Argentine dictator General Galtieri invaded the search people they suspected
islands in 1982 with 12,000 soldiers. might commit a crime.
 Uganda: dictator Idi Amin expelled Asians living  Notting Hill, 1958: tensions between Caribbean mi-
grants and white British citizens escalated into ‘race
and working in the country. Around 29,000 refu-  Margaret Thatcher authorised a task force of  Colour Bar: discrimination
riots’ and violent clashes in Notting Hill. Campaigner
gees settled in Britain. Claudia Jones helped set up the Notting Hill Carnival to 100 ships and 28,000 troops to reclaim the is- against black migrants in jobs
celebrate West Indian culture. lands for Britain. The Royal Navy set up an ex- and housing.
 Far East: many Malaysians, Singaporeans and clusion zone around the islands.
Hong Kong migrants settled in Britain after WWII;  Commonwealth Immigration Act 1962: Common-  Asylum: protection given by a
around 50,000 Hong Kong residents were given wealth migrants could only arrive in Britain if they had a  Britain regained the islands at a cost of 255 men country to someone who has
British passports after the colony was handed job offer; the condition was not extended to whites. and £2.5bn. The war was very popular at home had to leave their home country.
back to China in 1997. and proved Britain could still defend its interests.
 Bristol Bus Boycott 1963: Roy Hackett and Paul Ste-  Task force: part of the Armed
phenson boycotted the Bristol Omnibus Company when
Who are the Windrush generation? it refused to hire black bus drivers or conductors. The
Britain and the EU Forces given job of working on a
campaign worked and the BOC dropped its colour bar.
single objective.
 Many Caribbean countries were impoverished and  Britain joined the European Economic Commu-
there was mass unemployment, especially in Jamaica  Race Relations Acts 1964 and 1968: it became illegal nity (later the EU) in 1973. It came with the right  Exclusion zone: an area into
following a large hurricane in 1944. to discriminate against someone in jobs or housing on to Freedom of Movement. which enemy shipping and
account of their race. planes are forbidden to enter.
 The British Government introduced the British Nation-  Citizens of the member states could move, live
ality Act in 1948. It gave all people living in the Empire  Enoch Powell: gave the infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ and work in any other member state. When the  Special Relationship: the nick-
the right to a British Passport. speech in 1968. He opposed mass immigration and EU enlarged in 2004, it led to over 800,000 name given to friendly relations
said more new arrivals would lead to violence. between the UK and USA.
 There were job opportunities after WWII. The country Polish migrants settling in Britain.
needed help re-building houses, infrastructure projects,  Immigration Act 1971: arrivals in Britain had to be a
 The UK left the EU in 2020 following a Referen-  Multiculturalism: the presence
and the new National Health Service needed workers. ‘PATRIAL’ and have at least one British grandparent.
dum in 2016. A points-based immigration sys- of several different cultural and
 492 West Indians arrived on the RMT Empire Windrush;  Brixton Riots 1981: violent clashes and rioting took
tem is now in force. Applicants with appropriate ethnic groups within a country.
40,000 a year were arriving in Britain by 1960. place over the police’s misuse of the 1824 ‘Sus’ Law. skills and training are favoured for entry.

1948: Empire 1958: Notting 1968: ‘Rivers of Blood’ 1972: Idi Amin expels 1973: Britain 1982: Falklands 1997: Hong 2004: EU expansion; start 2016: ‘Brexit’
Windrush arrives Hill race riots speech Ugandan Asians joins EEC War Kong handover of 800.000 Polish migrants Referendum