PUSH: Religious persecution — Jews expelled from European states; Huguenots fled Catholic France after 1685; Eastern European Jews fled pogroms 1880s-1914

PUSH: Economic hardship and famine — Irish famine 1845-52 killed one million; Caribbean and South Asian poverty drove workers to seek higher wages

PUSH: War and political violence — 20th and 21st century asylum seekers from Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Syria fled conflict

PULL: Labour demand — Post-war reconstruction demanded workers; Edward III recruited Flemish weavers for the cloth industry; NHS needed nurses

PULL: Legal right and invitation — BNA 1948 gave Commonwealth citizens right to settle; EU free movement from 1973; Crown invitations to Jews, Flemish weavers, Huguenots

PULL: Family and community networks — Chain migration: once one community established, relatives followed — reduces risk and cost of moving

CONTINUITY: Migration has always happened — what changes across time is the specific groups involved, the government response, and the degree of hostility or welcome they receive

Quick Check: What were the push and pull factors that brought Caribbean migrants to Britain after 1945?

This causation covers Why Have People Migrated to Britain? 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 9 of 17 in this topic. Use this causation to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Quick recall flashcards

What is a push factor in migration?

A reason that forces or encourages people to LEAVE their home country. Examples: persecution (Jews in medieval England), famine (Ireland 1845-52), war (20th century asylum seekers), poverty (Caribbean and South Asian migrants post-1945).

What is a pull factor in migration?

A reason that attracts people TO a specific country. Examples: labour demand (post-war NHS, London Transport), legal right to settle (British Nationality Act 1948), higher wages than home country, family and community networks (chain migration).

Why Have People Migrated to Britain?

Practice questions for Migrants to Britain, c.1250-present

Quick recall flashcards

14 questions on Migrants to Britain, c.1250-present: practise free