National context of post-war Britain
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the state of Britain after World War Two and explain how this led to increased Caribbean migration.
Key learning points
- As a result of the Second World War, Britain was in dire need of workers in order to rebuild the nation.
- People from across the British Empire had fought for Britain in WW2, but many returned to their home colonies in 1945.
- The ‘Windrush generation’ is the name given to early migrants to Britain from the Caribbean after 1948.
- Higher wages in Britain led to Caribbean migration; migrants faced discrimination, poor working and living conditions.
- The 1960s became known as the ‘Swinging Sixties’ as conditions improved and people had more time for leisure activities.
Keywords
Rationing - to only be allowed a fixed amount of something, for example, bread or meat, often due to shortages
Commonwealth citizens - citizens who lived in British colonies or former British colonies who had joined the Commonwealth
Common misconception
Students may believe that there was only rationing in Britain during WW2.
Rationing continued until 1954.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to realise that not everyone's experience of a historic environment, in this case post-war London, was the same.
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
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What happened to migration to Britain after World War Two (WW2)?
Q2.What happened to migration to Britain as a result of the British Empire?
Q3.Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
a group of countries formerly belonging to the British Empire
a group of countries governed from the centre
a cultural revolution that took place in Britain in the 1960s
Q4.Where did Britain get many of its soldiers from during WW2?
Q5.Put the historical periods in chronological order.
Q6.Match the period to the group who migrated to Britain at this point in time.
Vikings
Huguenots
Jewish migrants in the East End
Caribbean migrants
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which keyword describes to only be allowed a fixed amount of something, for example, bread or meat, often due to shortages?
Q2.Complete the sentence: The ‘ generation’ is the name given to early migrants to Britain from the Caribbean after 1948.
Q3.What level was Britain’s national debt at the end of World War Two (WW2)?
Q4.Which of the following statements show that life was difficult for Caribbean migrants in Britain?
Q5.What did the 1948 Nationality Act grant?
Q6.Why were the 1960s nicknamed the ‘Swinging Sixties’?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: National context of post-war Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: National context of post-war 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 4 history lessons from the Notting Hill, c1948–c1970 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.