Experiences of racism in Britain
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how immigration to Britain from the Caribbean changed the make-up of Britain and explain that these groups experienced significant racism.
Key learning points
- Labour shortages after WW2 were a significant problem for Britain, who needed migrant workers.
- The British Nationality Act of 1948 made all Commonwealth subjects British citizens, able to work and settle in the UK.
- The 1948 act and government encouragement led to c. 500 000 Caribbean people moving to Britain during the 1950s-1960s.
- This 'Windrush generation' made important contributions to public life in Britain.
- Caribbean migrants in Britain experienced significant racism and discrimination in many aspects of life.
Keywords
Labour shortage - when there are not enough workers to meet demand
Empire - a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by another person or group of people
Racism - prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of their race and ethnicity
Common misconception
Students might presume that everyone the descendants of the Windrush generation had the automatic right to stay and work in Britain.
The children of Windrush generation did not have their own passports, and it was difficult to prove they had entered the UK legally. This led to the Windrush Scandal in 2018.
Teacher tip
Teachers could discuss what the Windrush Scandal was and how the government has tried to remedy this.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the sentence: During World War Two (WW2), many women entered the workforce or were into military support services.
Q2.Complete the sentence: In the 1940s and 1950s, women were seen as workers and were paid less than men.
Q3.Which of the following were barriers women faced to the workforce post-WW2?
Q4.What age did the Labour government raise the school leaving age to in 1947?
Q5.When was the marriage bar lifted for female teachers?
Q6.Which of the following allowed more women to enter the workforce in the 1950s?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which term describes prejudice or discrimination against a person on the basis of their race and ethnicity?
Q2.Complete the sentence: The British Nationality Act 1948 made provision for all countries that had once been part of the British to have British passports.
Q3.How many Caribbean people moved to Britain during the 1950s and 1960s?
Q4.Why are Caribbean migrants to post-WW2 Britain known as the ‘Windrush generation’?
Q5.In which sector did many Caribbean women fill valuable roles?
Q6.Which of the following were ways in which Caribbean migrants were treated in post-WW2 Britain?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Experiences of racism in Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Experiences of racism in Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Post-war Britain: for whom did the United Kingdom become a 'New Jerusalem'? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.