Multicultural_Britain_Essay_2

Multicultural Britain essay 2 In this essay I am going to review a number of sources to figure out whether Britain showed tolerance or intolerance to immigration throughout the 19th and 20th century. In source 1 it shows the feelings of the Anglo Jews about the immigration of foreign Jews from places such as Poland and Russia. The source tells us that the Anglo Jews were worried about other Jews coming over and spoiling their good relations that they had already built with the British, this shows intolerance towards immigration. The source also says “ Anglo Jews were also concerned at the prospect of so many poor Jews coming to Britain who would need financial help”, this meant that they weren’t too keen on helping out if they did come, again showing intolerance. The source isn’t very reliable because its not signed or dated so whoever wrote it could’ve been biased or somewhat influenced. Source 2 shows a large family crowded round in a small room with a table in the middle, the living conditions look crowded and dirty, there is also someone laid looking ill in bed, from all of this we gather that Jews weren’t living in the best conditions when they got here, this was probably because they weren’t being given good jobs or being sold good housing, this shows prejudice and intolerance. This source isn’t very reliable because it doesn’t say who drew it and for what purpose, meaning it could’ve been drawn by a Jewish man being biased and over exaggerating. Source 3 shows what a survey came up with about Jewish immigrants and their new lifestyles in England, it was written by Beatrice Potter about a Jewish community and how it thrived on the hard work of Jewish men and women, this shows some tolerance because the British are appreciating their way of life and how it helps their country. This source is very reliable because it was done by someone outside of the community who wasn’t going to be biased or exaggerate things. Source 4 shows a law enforced by Britain in 1905 because of all the poor immigrants coming over and ruining the economy, this meant they could have migration officers who decided who could and couldn’t come into the country. This shows the intolerance of the British and how they were getting fed up of poor immigrants entering the country, this source is very reliable because its not someone’s opinion its just facts. Source 5 shows both tolerance and intolerance because although people were demonstrating their anger there was also people trying to stop it the source says “many opponents of the BUF clashed violently with police who tried to clear a way through the barricades”, This is what shows tolerance because people were putting themselves on the line to stand up for what they believed was fair. This source is very reliable because its facts and no opinions are given so it cant be exaggerated. Source 6 shows tolerance to immigration but the government contradicts itself with double standards, they only started letting them in after the war because they need them to help rebuild the country, in the source it says “The government gave loans to immigrants who came to Britain, they were also guaranteed a job.” but this wasn’t always true and people were left jobless, this source is reliable because its just facts. Source 7 shows intolerance in the form of racism and prejudice towards black people that came over on the Windrush. The source says “They are more aggressive to you. In short, they are trying to say you shouldn’t be here.” even though they were invited over people were still intolerant of them. This source isn’t very reliable because it was written by the man off of the Windrush who could’ve been exaggerating and making things up. Source 8 says “well, you come, you do your little bit in the war, England has won the war and now it seems as if they don’t want you any more.” this shows intolerance and makes them feel like they’ve been used. This source could be exaggerated because it was written by someone from the Windrush but it could also be very accurate because its his experience so its whether or not you trust the reliability of the source. Source 9deffinately shows intolerance towards immigrants because it’s a picture of two black people looking for accommodation in London, but in the picture there’s a sign that says “ROOM TO LET, NO COULEREDS, NO NIGGERS.” This shows prejudice racism and all round intolerance towards immigrants. Even though we don’t know what or where this photo was used for it is still a pretty reliable source and is dated around the right time. Source 10 says “By the late 1950s, over 50% of West Indians in London had lower-status jobs than their qualifications entitled them to, because of discrimination.” this shows how immigrants could only get the jobs that white people didn’t want because of the colour of their skin. Even if they were more skilled than the next white person they would not get the job. This shows Britain to be intolerant, the source doesn’t say who wrote it and its not dated so its not all together very reliable. Source 11 shows Britain to be tolerant of immigrants and their religion because they changed the law because of an immigrants beliefs. This source is facts and its dated so it very reliable. Source 12 shows Britain’s intolerance and discrimination even in the education system. The source says “they didn’t even give me a test to see wich grade I should be put in, they just put me in the lowest grade.” This shows the intolerance and how they assumed that because he was an immigrant he must be stupid. This source isn’t dated and its not signed it just says it’s a quote from the Windrush book, this means that it could’ve been written by anyone so the source isn’t completely reliable. Source 13 shows both intolerance because the man on the bus moved up away from the black person as they sat down, but it also says “But then somebody would look at you, see that you’re as frightened as hell, and say ‘oh mate, take no notice of them, we’re not all the same.’…” this shows the tolerance of everyday British people and shows how not everyone was the same. This source was also taken from the Windrush book but it isn’t dated or signed so we don’t know who wrote it, and for that reason it cant be entirely trusted. Source 14 is an advert from around the time of the Windrush and it shows a picture of a little black boy getting in the bath and then another one of him getting out but he is white again, this shows that British people were intolerant and making joke at black people even through everyday things like advertising. This source is reliable because we know what it was used for and when it was used. Source 15 shows the front cover of a Beano comic in 1938, on the front cover there’s a hairy black man with bananas in his pocket, he has been drawn with big white eyes and massive lips, again showing Britain’s intolerance and racial abuse through advertising, this source is very reliable because its dated and we know exactly when it was used and how it was used. Source 16 says “All people living in Britain, British colonies and the Commonwealth have equal rights of citizenship.” this shows that the British government was trying to treat everybody the same and being tolerant of immigrants. This source is very reliable because its just facts. Source 17 tals about the immigration act of 1962, this was basically what they used to make sure that people weren’t coming over and being unskilled and not being able to get jobs, in order to do this they made it so that you had to have an employment voucher before you could enter the country, to get a voucher you had to have a job offer in Britain already, have specialist skills or have good enough qualifications to Britain’s standards. The source also says “The act applied only to black Caribbean African and black Asian people and not to the Irish or other white minority ethnic groups and immigrants, such as Australians. This shows intolerance toward the black people because they were being singled out and other white immigrants weren’t. this source is very reliable because it is a law that was passed and therefore a fact. Source 18 tells us about the 1968 commonwealth immigration act and how it stopped Kenyan Asians with British passports from entering the country, yet it also says “A clause in the act, however, did allow entry to white Kenyans with British passports.” this shows intolerance again against black people immigrating but tolerance for white people immigrating. This source is reliable because its facts. In conclusion I think that overall Britain was pretty intolerant towards most people immigrating and especially black and Asian people, and when they got here they weren’t treated with the respect or same rights that every other British person got, they were made to live in poor housing and take rubbish jobs the sources show this and I’ve used the evidence to prove this.