Kennedys final book, a nation of immigrants, is a most worthy and relevant contribution to the contemporary debate on immigration reform. Over seven million people made the voyage to america, mostly from northern and western europe. British nationality act 1948 to the commonwealth immigrants act 1962. Commonwealth of australia numbered acts commonwealth electoral act 1962 no. A second wave of american immigration took place from 18201870. An act declaring and constituting the people of england to be a commonwealth and free state 19 may 1649. Over the past twenty years, a similar story has played out. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 ended the right of entry for. Definitions of commonwealth immigrants act 1968, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives of commonwealth immigrants act 1968, analogical dictionary of commonwealth immigrants act 1968 english. But race riots in nottingham and london led the conservative government under harold macmillan to introduce the commonwealth immigrants act in 1962. Overview new arrivals to britain, waiting on the dockside changes to the naturalisation laws were made in 1870. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom. The act was the first to curtail severely the right of commonwealth citizens to settle in the uk. Immigrants regulation amendment act the omalley archives.
This act may be cited as the commonwealth electoral act 1962. Immigration act 1971 ex wiki quote the immigration act 1971 is an act of the parliament of the united kingdom concerning immigration. Jan 02, 20 this links back to my previous post where i argued that the idea of immigrationborder control was a concept promoted by successive governments to ensure they looked tough on immigration, which has impacted harshly on certain groups of migrants particularly those from the new commonwealth and other developing andor noneec countries, but in reality, hundreds of thousands of. The passage of the 1962 commonwealth immigrants act, a case. Immigration remained a controversial issue until a series of reforms by successive governments curtailed commonwealth migration rights, a process completed by the british nationality act of 1981 hansen, 2002. Uk immigration law affecting commonwealth citizens who. Written by this, the youngest president in american history, readers of this treatise were amazed by his grasp of the immigrant situation. In response to a perceived heavy influx of immigrants, the conservative party government tightened the regulations, permitting only those with governmentissued employment vouchers, limited in. Forty years ago today or yesterday, the uk border control. Commonwealth immigrants act 1962 wikimili, the free. Immigration represented a key issue for the conservative party during the 1960s, a period when the parliamentary committee system gave backbench members a path to significant prestige and. The immigration act 1971 is an act of the parliament of the united kingdom concerning immigration. The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 was an act of the parliament of the united kingdom before the act was passed, citizens of british commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the uk. Apr 24, 2018 think of the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, custombuilt to restrict black migration and condemned by hugh gaitskell as cruel and brutal anticolour legislation.
This controlled the immigration of all commonwealth passport holders except those. Family history research timeline events on the migration timeline. South asian, arab, muslim, and sikh immigrants shape our multiracial future whiteness of a different. Perrine, i should briefly explain the practical working of the commonwealth immigration control, so that we can see this in perspective. Certainly, in july 1962, the commonwealth immigrants act passed into law. This item of legislation is only available to download and view as pdf. The commonwealth electoral act 1918 1961 is in this act referred to as the principal act. Before the act was passed, citizens of commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the uk. Butler oversaw the production of the bill that became the commonwealth immigration act of 1962.
Any person who 1 was a citizen of the commonwealth. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. You see, during the administration of president john f. His vision was unique in that he was born into a family of immigrants. The act, as with the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, and that of 1968, restricts immigration, especially primary immigration into the uk.
Parallels and differences between ending commonwealth and eu. An act declaring and constituting the people of england. In 1960, the home secretary, richard rab butler, pressed for legislation, and the cabinet appointed a committee. The commonwealth immigrants act, 1962, which provides authority for the exercise of the control, confers a legal right of entry on certain categories of commonwealth. Carmen bryan and the commonwealth immigrants act 1962 12th january 20 marjorie morgan 3 comments as an insight to the 1960s was a period of rapid social, political and moral change i have written about a case that changed the political landscape of 1960s britain.
Thus butler adopted a carrot and stick approach to ireland, allowing free entry to. Mail relating to naturalization transmitted free of postage and regis tered. Commonwealth immigrants act 1968 this act took effect from 2 march 1968. Carmen bryan and the commonwealth immigrants act 1962. The act, as with the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, and that of 1968, restricted immigration, especially primary immigration into the uk. It introduced the concept of patriality or right of abode. The passage of the 1962 commonwealth immigrants act, a. Immigration bill is anticommonwealth and anticolour.
Kennedy was passionate about the issue of immigration reform. Posts about commonwealth immigrants act written by hatfulofhistory. The kenyan asians, british politics, and the commonwealth immigrants act, 1968. About a third of these immigrants were irish people trying to 1 persecution the act of continually treating someone cruelly and unfairly 2 convicts persons serving a prison sentence. It would provide for the needs of refugees and serve our traditionaj. Commonwealth immigrants act 1962 read ebooks online free. In the second week of january 1962, a pakistani man arrived at london.
The principal act, as amended by this act, may be cited as the commonwealth electoral act 1918 1962. More restrictive legislation was enacted with the immigration act 1971 and under margaret thatcher with the british nationality act 1981. Immigrants regulation amendment act the act provided that. These required applicants to have served the crown or to have lived in britain for. Kennedy, he wrote a brief but stirring book, a nation of immigrants. For instance, in the sparsely populated frontier area of san tin in hong kong, 8590 percent of the ablebodied males left for the united kingdom between 1955 and 1962 to work in british factories, foundries, railways, buses, hotels, and restaurants. Commonwealth immigrants act new historical express.
The commonwealth immigrants act 1962 distinguished between the citizens of the uk and the citizens of the independent commonwealth countries. An act to amend sections 1 and 2 of the commonwealth immigrants act 1962, and schedule 1 to that act, and to make further provision as to commonwealth citizens landing in the united kingdom, the channel islands or the isle of man. Letters on irish immigrants and irishmen generally. The people have no more love left for the commonwealth. Information published by his majestys commissioners for.