23: Post-Colonial Ties
Political Britain was proud of creating new 'nation states' with their representative institutions and
Legacy practices. Parliaments, ministries, wigged judges and British-style legal systems were all
legacies of the British empire
Common- The establishment of a Commonwealth Secretary General and his Secretariat in 1965
wealth and permitted the co-ordination of many Commonwealth activities. It's emphasis on shared
political ties political tradition helped maintain ties. Regular Commonwealth Conferences, attended
by PMs/Presidents took place at least once every 2 years in London (accept one in Lagos
in 1966). Commonwealth helped to bolster Britain's international position, providing a
strong and wide-ranging diplomatic network and ensuring Britain's membership of key
international bodies e.g. the UN Security Council. However, the Commonwealth had no
formal commitment to Britain
Military Ties Britain continued to maintain a military with a 'global reach' and recruited citizens from
Commonwealth nations who all remained eligible to serve in the British armed forces.
Britain continued to maintain military bases post-independence in: Malta, Cyprus, Hong
Kong and Singapore
National Of those lower down the social order, the only groups likely to encounter the Empire and
Service Commonwealth at first hand were men who were required to do National Service and
became involved in one of the late colonial wars e.g. Kenya, Malaya and Suez. It was
abolished in 1960/63 which closed off the outlet for travel and direct personal experience
of the Empire became rarer
Economic A major Commonwealth Economic Conference in 1952. The City of London remained as
Ties one of the world's major financial centres. Government made every effort to keep ex-
colonies within the Stirling Area - it could be said Britain replaced its 'formal' empire with is
old 'informal' one of training links and economic ties. The conventions of international
trade and law and Britain's imperial connections had given rise to multi-national
companies with branches around the world. It had important trading links that continued
to be of major importance - particularly given Britain's exclusion from the EEC until 1973
Migration to Experience of war, continued rationing (until 1954) and increasing demand for labour in
Empire countries such as Australia, Canada and NZ which offered better prospects encouraged
people to leave Britain. 87 100 emigrated to Australia and 65 800 emigrated to Canada.
Between 1946 and 1957, approximately 1m people left Britain for Dominions, representing
a marked acceleration of pre-war levels. This intensified the range and depth of personal
contacts between ordinary British people and the White Dominions. In 1948, a survey
showed that around 25% of the population were in contact with relatives in the Dominions
Immigration Relatively small numbers of colonial immigrants settling in Britain since the late 19th
pre 1947 Century. Large numbers of Indian soldiers had been billeted in Britain during WW1 but their
stay was temporary. Relatively little direct exposure to the Empire for most Britons
British In recognition of the Empire's contribution to the war. Gave full British citizenship, including
Nationality the right of free entry into Britain, to every inhabitant of the Empire/Commonwealth
Act 1948
Empire A steamship carrying 492 Jamaican passengers which arrived in 1948. Arrived without prior
Windrush notification and the authorities were hastily forced to house the immigrants in a temporary
shelter at Clapham. First post-war immigrants to attract media interest
1950s As the economy recovered from the war, there was plentiful and well-paid unskilled work
Recruitment in the factories. The government actively encouraged immigration. There were successful
Drives recruitment drives to encourage unskilled workers to take up work in public transport and
the NHS. In 1956, London Transport took on nearly 4000 new employees - mostly from
Barbados. Some made Britain their home but others earned enough to repay their
passaged and returned home. Since there were plenty of jobs available, no action was
taken to limit immigration. However, no action was taken to help migrants settle to find
decent accommodation
Numbers of By 1958: 115 000 West Indians, 55 000 Indians and Pakistanis, 25 000 West Africans, 10 000
Immigrants Cypriots. Nearly half lived in London which 25 000 lived in and around Birmingham
Increased Initial reaction was curiosity mixed with uncertainty. Indifference was more common than
racial intolerance in the very early 1950s. However, as the post-war boom slackened, prejudice
tensions in and anxieties grew. There were worries about the dilution of British cultural and national
the 1950s identity which were coupled with a concern to protect houses and jobs. Brought out a
sense of racial superiority in Britain - views came to the surface. It couldn't be ignored
because it was a very real aspect of people's lives now
Political Britain was proud of creating new 'nation states' with their representative institutions and
Legacy practices. Parliaments, ministries, wigged judges and British-style legal systems were all
legacies of the British empire
Common- The establishment of a Commonwealth Secretary General and his Secretariat in 1965
wealth and permitted the co-ordination of many Commonwealth activities. It's emphasis on shared
political ties political tradition helped maintain ties. Regular Commonwealth Conferences, attended
by PMs/Presidents took place at least once every 2 years in London (accept one in Lagos
in 1966). Commonwealth helped to bolster Britain's international position, providing a
strong and wide-ranging diplomatic network and ensuring Britain's membership of key
international bodies e.g. the UN Security Council. However, the Commonwealth had no
formal commitment to Britain
Military Ties Britain continued to maintain a military with a 'global reach' and recruited citizens from
Commonwealth nations who all remained eligible to serve in the British armed forces.
Britain continued to maintain military bases post-independence in: Malta, Cyprus, Hong
Kong and Singapore
National Of those lower down the social order, the only groups likely to encounter the Empire and
Service Commonwealth at first hand were men who were required to do National Service and
became involved in one of the late colonial wars e.g. Kenya, Malaya and Suez. It was
abolished in 1960/63 which closed off the outlet for travel and direct personal experience
of the Empire became rarer
Economic A major Commonwealth Economic Conference in 1952. The City of London remained as
Ties one of the world's major financial centres. Government made every effort to keep ex-
colonies within the Stirling Area - it could be said Britain replaced its 'formal' empire with is
old 'informal' one of training links and economic ties. The conventions of international
trade and law and Britain's imperial connections had given rise to multi-national
companies with branches around the world. It had important trading links that continued
to be of major importance - particularly given Britain's exclusion from the EEC until 1973
Migration to Experience of war, continued rationing (until 1954) and increasing demand for labour in
Empire countries such as Australia, Canada and NZ which offered better prospects encouraged
people to leave Britain. 87 100 emigrated to Australia and 65 800 emigrated to Canada.
Between 1946 and 1957, approximately 1m people left Britain for Dominions, representing
a marked acceleration of pre-war levels. This intensified the range and depth of personal
contacts between ordinary British people and the White Dominions. In 1948, a survey
showed that around 25% of the population were in contact with relatives in the Dominions
Immigration Relatively small numbers of colonial immigrants settling in Britain since the late 19th
pre 1947 Century. Large numbers of Indian soldiers had been billeted in Britain during WW1 but their
stay was temporary. Relatively little direct exposure to the Empire for most Britons
British In recognition of the Empire's contribution to the war. Gave full British citizenship, including
Nationality the right of free entry into Britain, to every inhabitant of the Empire/Commonwealth
Act 1948
Empire A steamship carrying 492 Jamaican passengers which arrived in 1948. Arrived without prior
Windrush notification and the authorities were hastily forced to house the immigrants in a temporary
shelter at Clapham. First post-war immigrants to attract media interest
1950s As the economy recovered from the war, there was plentiful and well-paid unskilled work
Recruitment in the factories. The government actively encouraged immigration. There were successful
Drives recruitment drives to encourage unskilled workers to take up work in public transport and
the NHS. In 1956, London Transport took on nearly 4000 new employees - mostly from
Barbados. Some made Britain their home but others earned enough to repay their
passaged and returned home. Since there were plenty of jobs available, no action was
taken to limit immigration. However, no action was taken to help migrants settle to find
decent accommodation
Numbers of By 1958: 115 000 West Indians, 55 000 Indians and Pakistanis, 25 000 West Africans, 10 000
Immigrants Cypriots. Nearly half lived in London which 25 000 lived in and around Birmingham
Increased Initial reaction was curiosity mixed with uncertainty. Indifference was more common than
racial intolerance in the very early 1950s. However, as the post-war boom slackened, prejudice
tensions in and anxieties grew. There were worries about the dilution of British cultural and national
the 1950s identity which were coupled with a concern to protect houses and jobs. Brought out a
sense of racial superiority in Britain - views came to the surface. It couldn't be ignored
because it was a very real aspect of people's lives now
