Question

Difficulty: MediumPost-War Migration and the Windrush Generation

Following the Second World War, the British government faced a severe shortage of labour for the country's reconstruction and encouraged people from the Commonwealth to migrate and fill these roles. While many arrived from India, Pakistan, and the West Indies, one specific ship became a symbol of this era. In which year did the SS Empire Windrush arrive at Tilbury Docks, bringing a significant group of workers from the West Indies to help rebuild Britain?

  1. A
    1945
  2. 1948Answer
  3. C
    1951
  4. D
    1962

Answer

The SS Empire Windrush arrived in the year 1948.
The year 1948 is historically significant as the date the SS Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury, bringing hundreds of people from the West Indies to assist in the reconstruction of post-war Britain. This event is a landmark in the history of the modern UK.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context
The UK needed workers to rebuild after World War II (post-1945).
The labor shortage was a direct result of the war's impact on the workforce and infrastructure.
2
Relate the specific event to the timeline
The arrival of the SS Empire Windrush is the symbolic start of this migration period.
The ship brought 492 passengers from the West Indies to Tilbury Docks in June 1948.

Key Concept

The arrival of the SS Empire Windrush in 1948 marked a turning point in British social history and the start of large-scale post-war migration from the Commonwealth.
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question