Early Modern Migration to Britain: Diverse Groups and Their Experiences
The Early Modern period in Britain 1500−1750 saw a significant influx of various migrant groups, each with their own unique reasons for coming and subsequent experiences. This page provides a comprehensive overview of these groups, their motivations, impacts, and experiences in Britain.
Hansa Merchants
Hansa merchants came to Britain primarily to expand trade and control the wool trade. They were granted a charter by Henry III in 1266, which allowed them to establish a strong presence in London.
Highlight: Hansa merchants integrated London into the North European Hanseatic trading network, significantly impacting Britain's economic landscape.
However, their success also led to jealousy among English merchants, who pressured the government to remove their privileges. Despite becoming very wealthy, the Hansa merchants were eventually expelled in 1597.
Example: Hans Holbein, the famous painter, lived among the Hansa merchants and painted their portraits, indicating their wealth and status.
Gypsies
Gypsies migrated to Britain due to war in Eastern Europe, particularly the Turkish invasion of the Balkans. They saw England as a relatively peaceful country.
Vocabulary: Gypsies, also known as Roma or Romani people, are an ethnic group with Indian origins who have been present in Europe for centuries.
Their impact on the British economy was limited, mainly trading as pedlars, pot-menders, and animal dealers. However, they faced significant persecution and harsh laws under Tudor authorities.
Highlight: Despite facing execution in the 1590s, Gypsies managed to remain in England, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Jews
Jews were invited to return to Britain in 1655 by Oliver Cromwell, who believed they would help the English economy. They came seeking religious tolerance after facing persecution and hostility in Europe, including Spain.
Definition: Denizen status, offered by Charles II in 1681, granted certain rights to foreigners, including Jews, allowing them to live and work in England.
Jews had a significant economic impact, opening banks and establishing themselves as traders and financiers. However, they also faced restrictions and anti-Semitic attitudes.
Example: Moses Hart, a Jewish immigrant, made a fortune trading at London's Royal Exchange, exemplifying the economic success some Jews achieved.
Huguenots
Huguenots fled to Britain due to Catholic persecution in France, particularly after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572 and when Protestantism was made illegal in France in 1685.
Quote: "Huguenots migration to Britain played a crucial role in Britain's transformation into an industrial nation."
They had a profound economic impact, developing the silk industry and providing 10% of the financial backing for the new Bank of England. Socially, they settled in areas like Spitalfields in London, leaving lasting cultural imprints.
Highlight: Many Huguenots flourished over time, integrating into English society by anglicizing their names and intermarrying with the local population.
Palatines
The Palatines came to England in 1709 due to warfare, religious persecution, and bad harvests in Germany. They saw England as a Protestant safe haven and a stepping stone to America.
Vocabulary: Palatines were German Protestants from the Rhineland-Palatinate region.
Their economic impact was limited, as most were peasant farmers reliant on relief funds. They faced significant hardships, including failed attempts to settle in America and disastrous deportation to Catholic Ireland.
Africans and Asians
Africans were forcibly brought to England from the 1650s onwards, primarily as servants after being enslaved in the West Indies. Asians came mainly as East India Company employees or as lascars sailors and ayahs nannies.
Definition: Lascars were sailors or militiamen from the Indian Subcontinent or other countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, employed on European ships.
Their presence led to the beginnings of racism in England, with attitudes of white superiority developing. However, some Africans were given freedom and even inherited wealth or property.
Highlight: Before the 1650s, Africans were more accepted in society, but later, most were considered property and some were even sold back into slavery in the West Indies.
This comprehensive overview of Early Modern Migration to Britain demonstrates the complex and varied experiences of different migrant groups, their contributions to British society, and the challenges they faced in their new home.