Between the 1880s and 1914, around 150,000 Jews fled to Britain from the Russian Empire (including modern Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus), driven by violent pogroms — organised massacres and expulsions. They settled mainly in London's East End (especially Whitechapel), Leeds, and Manchester, working in tailoring, boot-making, and small trades. By 1914, Britain had a Jewish population of approximately 300,000.
Their arrival triggered the Aliens Act 1905 — the first immigration control law in British history. Before 1905, Britain had no immigration restrictions. The Act introduced a system requiring inspection of migrants arriving on ships, with power to refuse entry to those deemed "undesirable." It was passed under pressure from anti-immigrant campaigners, particularly in the East End, and marked the end of Britain's era of genuinely open borders.
This deep dive covers Late 19th Century: Eastern European Jewish Refugees within Migrants to Britain, c.1250-present for GCSE History. Revise Migrants to Britain, c.1250-present in Component Group 1 — Thematic Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 17 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Migrants to Britain, c.1250-present
Describe two features of migration to Britain in the medieval period.
Describe two features of Jewish communities in medieval England before 1290.