What has been the long-term impact of migration on Britain, and how do we judge it?
The economic, cultural and social impact of migration across the whole period, the factors that shaped migrants' experience, change and continuity in attitudes to migration, and how to weigh interpretations of migration's significance.
A focused case study within OCR's Migrants to Britain thematic study, examining the economic, cultural and social impact of migration across the whole period, the factors shaping migrants' experience, change and continuity in attitudes, and how to weigh interpretations of migration's significance.
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What this dot point is asking
This case study draws the whole thematic study together, examining the long-term impact of migration on Britain and how to judge it. You need the economic, cultural and social impact across all four periods, the factors that shaped migrants' experience, the patterns of change and continuity in attitudes, and how to weigh interpretations of migration's significance. It is built for the interpretations and 16-mark essay questions that run across the whole period.
The economic impact
The cultural and social impact
The factors shaping migrants' experience
Change, continuity and interpretations
Try this
Q1. Name two factors that shaped migrants' experience in every period. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Any two: the economy (whether migrants were needed), government and the law (invitation or restriction), religion and race (tolerance or prejudice), and the attitudes of the time.
Q2. Explain one strong continuity and one major change in migration across the whole period. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Continuity: migration has been constant and migrants have always faced both welcome and hostility. Change: the scale of migration grew enormously and its origins shifted from Europe to the wider world and Empire, while laws moved from open movement towards restriction.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR SHP 201912 marksStudy Interpretations A and B about the impact of migration on Britain. What is the main difference between these interpretations, and why might they differ?Show worked answer →
The thematic study interpretations question (12 marks, AO4). Identify the main difference, then explain why the interpretations differ, using provenance and context.
The difference. Identify the core contrast, for example one interpretation stressing migration's positive economic and cultural contribution, the other stressing tension, competition and prejudice.
Why they differ. Explain reasons: different evidence or focus (different groups or periods), different purposes or viewpoints (a celebratory account versus a critical one), and the fact that migration is a contested, emotive topic on which views genuinely differ.
Top band. Clearly state the difference and give developed reasons for it, using the nature and context of each interpretation.
OCR SHP 202116 marks'Migration has always brought more benefit than harm to Britain.' How far do you agree with this statement?Show worked answer →
The thematic study extended judgement (16 marks plus 4 SPaG marks on this thematic essay). Argue both sides across the whole period and reach a clear judgement.
For benefit. Across all periods, migrants brought skills, labour and credit (medieval moneylenders and weavers, Huguenot silk-workers, Irish industrial labour, Windrush NHS workers) and enriched the economy and culture.
Against (the harm and tension). Migration also brought competition for work, poverty, and outbreaks of prejudice and violence (antisemitism, anti-Irish feeling, the 1958 riots), and some migration was tied to slavery and exploitation.
Judgement. Weigh benefit against tension across the whole period, concluding (for example) that migration brought great economic and cultural benefit overall, while acknowledging real tension and injustice, with a supported judgement. Write accurately for the SPaG marks.
Related dot points
- Medieval migrants including Jews, Flemish weavers, Italian bankers and Hanseatic merchants, the reasons they came, their contribution to the economy, the experience of welcome and hostility, and the expulsion of the Jews in 1290.
A focused answer to the medieval section of OCR's Migrants to Britain thematic study, covering Jewish, Flemish, Italian and Hanseatic migrants, the reasons they came, their economic contribution, the experience of welcome and hostility, and the expulsion of the Jews in 1290.
- Early modern migrants including Huguenot refugees, the Dutch, the readmission of the Jews, and the beginnings of a Black presence, the reasons they came, their economic and cultural contribution, and the experience of refuge and prejudice.
A focused answer to the early modern section of OCR's Migrants to Britain thematic study, covering Huguenot and Dutch migrants, the readmission of the Jews, the early Black presence, the reasons for migration, the economic and cultural contribution, and the experience of refuge and prejudice.
- Migration in the age of empire and industry, including Irish, Jewish and Black migrants and people from across the Empire, the role of industrialisation and empire, their contribution to towns and industry, and the experience of poverty and prejudice.
A focused answer to the industrial and imperial section of OCR's Migrants to Britain thematic study, covering Irish, Jewish, Black and imperial migrants, the role of industrialisation and empire, their contribution to industry and towns, and the experience of poverty and prejudice c.1700 to 1900.
- Modern migration including post-war Commonwealth migration and the Windrush generation, refugees, European and other migrants, the role of war, empire and labour shortages, the experience of integration and discrimination, and changing immigration laws.
A focused answer to the modern section of OCR's Migrants to Britain thematic study, covering post-war Commonwealth migration and the Windrush generation, refugees, European and other migrants, the role of war, empire and labour shortages, the experience of integration and discrimination, and changing immigration laws.