Figure 1.--.

England is a country composed of many different ethnic groups. This anounted to a series of comquerors so these various groups do not really fit into the modern concept of minorities. There were no important ethnic group to enter England during the middle ages except a small number of Jews who were eventually expelled in the late Middle Ages. but gradually returned in small numbers. Larger numbers arrived with the Russian anti-Semetic campaigns (late-19th century). A small number of Hugenoughts sought refuge in England during at the end of the French religious wars (17th century). The numbers were small, but they brought skills and technology to Englabnd that proved of considerable ecionomic importance. Large numbers of Irish people emigrated to England as a result of the Potato Famine (1840s). This was followed by a steady flow of Irish people seeking work during the rest of the century. Small numbes of Europeans entered England after World War II, the greatest number came from Poland. Only with the advent of Empire did new minorities appear (19th centuy). Interestingly, the numbers did not become sizeable until after World War II and the British began disasebling their Empire (20th century). The largest group came from South Asia, including what is now Bangladash, India, and Palistan. Others mostly blacks came from the Caribbean. Other blacks came from Africa itself. Liverpool as the major Atlantic port city had England's first black community (1730s). Other minorities came in small numbers, including the Chinese. Again England's first Chinese community was in Liverpool. These minority groups in recent years have expanded. Actual immigratiion has been reduced, but the minority generally have a higher birth rate the native-born English.

English Ethnicity

The English are at amalgum of the various people who settled in southern and central Britain since the Neolithic period. Very little is known about the original Neolithic inhabitants. DNA analysis have provided some interesting information. Recent tudies suggest that the majority of the traceable ancestors of the modern English people reached the British Isles in the Neolithic era (13,000-5,500 BC). These people were related to the Basque people. More is known about the subsquent groups that entered the British Isles during antiquity, including the Celts and Romans as wll as the Anglo-Saxons, Norse, and Normans who reached the British Isles during the Middle Ages. On the perifery of England were the Irish to the east and the Picts to the north in what is now Scotland. These different groups were unevenly mixed. he Celtic tribes controlled what is now England. The DNA evidence suggests that the Celtic tribes who conquered the original Neolithic inhabitants, came in relatively small numbers, but suceeded in imposing their culture. This changed with the Roman invasion (1st century AD). The Romans were concentrated in the cities and the Celts in the countryside. These two groups weee beginning to increasongly mix at the time of the Anglo-Saxon invasions (6th century. The anbglo-Saxons pushed the Romano-Celts to the preifery in Cornwall and Wales and dominated much of modern England. The Norse appeared and raids turned into conquest (9th century). The Norse almost totally defeated the Abnglo-Saxons, but Alftred the great managed to defeat the Norse (9th century). England gradually emerged as a mixture of the Anlo-Saxon and Norse people. The final invasion was the Normans, a Franofile-Norse people (11th century). They left only a minor ethnic imprint, but a major cultural legacy. Over the next several centuries these various ethnic groups inter-married to form the English people. Through the 19th century

Jews

England is a country composed of many different ethnic groups. This anounted to a series of comquerors so these various groups do not really fit into the modern concept of minorities. There were no important ethnic group to enter England during the middle ages except a small number of Jews who were eventually expelled in the late Middle Ages. but gradually returned in small numbers. Larger numbers arrived with the Russian anti-Semetic campaigns (late-19th century). As in many countries, Jews played a role in English life far greater than the small Jewish population would suggest.

Europeans

A small number of Hugenoughts sought refuge in England during at the end of the French religious wars (17th century). The numbers were small, but they brought skills and technology to England that proved of considerable economic importance. We are not aware of large numbers of Europeans entering Britain in the 18th or 19th centuries. Europeans primarily wanted to reach America. We notice some Italians, but not in large numbers. The largest group was Poles who until after World War were Russian subjects. As a result the British sometimes refer to them as Russian Poles. Most thought they were boarding ships to America, bt found themselves in England and Scotland. Britain was a major coal exporter to Continental Europe. This caused a problem for the Germans in both world wars, espcially World Wwar II because serious coal shotages developed within the Grossraum. Poles were an important support for Britain during the War beginning with the Battle Of Britain. Some Europeans entered England after World War II, the greatest number came from Poland. The Poles that fought with Britain during World War II were afraid to return home after the Communists seized control and for good reason. The Soviets during the War treated many Poles brutally. The best known incident was the Katyn atrocity and after the war Poles who fought in the ant-NAZI Resistance (Home Army) were arrested by the NKVD and executed. After the fall of Communism and Poland ebtering the European Union, large numbers of Poles emigrated to Britain.

Irish

Large numbers of Irish people emigrated to England as a result of the Potato Famine (1840s). This was followed by a steady flow of Irish people seeking work during the rest of the century. Small numbes of Europeans entered England after World War II, the greatest number came from Poland.

British Empire

Only with the advent of Empire did new minorities appear (19th centuy). Interestingly, the numbers did not become sizeable until after World War II and the British began disasebling their Empire (20th century). The largest group came from South Asia, including what is now Bangladash, India, and Palistan. The preponderance of the South Asians were Muslims. Many settled in textile-producing areas in Britain, wiiling to woek for low wages. Gradually they began setting up small shops. Others mostly blacks came from the Caribbean. Other blacks came from Africa itself. Liverpool as the major Atlantic port city had England's first black community (1730s). Large numbers of West Indiand came after World War II (1950s). Wages and social benefits were substantially higher than in the West Indies. Unlike the South Asians, there was a grwater willingness to assimilate in British society. Other minorities came in small numbers, including the Chinese. Again England's first Chinese community was in Liverpool. These minority groups in recent years have expanded. Actual immigratiion has been reduced, but the minority generally have a higher birth rate the native-born English.

Created: 12:17 AM 11/26/2010
Last updated: 12:27 PM 9/25/2017