Migration History

A succession of invading forces brought new people and their cultures to what is modern-day Britain. 

These include:

• Romans
• Jutes
• Angles
• Saxons
• Vikings

The Normans invade Britain and become the dominant force. Their legacy laid the foundations of the Britain we live in today.

Religious persecution forces 100,000 Huguenots (French protestants) to leave France for Britain

Widespread famine forces thousands of people to leave Ireland. Many come to Britain.

With a spate of revolutions breaking out in mainland Europe, Britain becomes the destination of choice for many refugees.

Fleeing oppression in Europe, hundreds of thousands of Jews seek sanctuary in Britain

The First World War creates huge numbers of refugees, many of whom choose to escape mainland Europe and come to Britain.

Again with the outbreak of the Second World War, refugees seek to escape Nazi rule and the fighting by travelling to the UK.

Hundreds of thousands of people from across Eastern Europe seek refuge in the UK following the establishment of Communism.

Many West Indians decide to settle in Britain, which needs to boost its depleted workforce after WW2.

28,000 Ugandan Asians settle in the UK after being expelled from Uganda.

Political unrest and war in South-East Asia results in many seeking a new life in Britain.

Attracted by opportunities for those with specialist skills and professional training, large numbers of Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans move to the UK.

Ethnic disputes in the Balkans force thousands to seek refuge in Western Europe. Many seek asylum in the UK.

During these years 45,000 people arrive from Africa, 22,700 from the Indian sub-continent and 25,000 from Asia

[Note: Sorry about not including the date. I missed it out in my notes.]

Asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iraq, economic migrants from Eastern Europe due to E.U. enlargement.