ABSTRACT
The race riots which occurred in the British ports in 1919 can be understood in a broader context - the multiple conflicts which struck the British Empire in the aftermath of the First World War. The First World War had eliminated its most powerful imperial competitor as a serious force and the other major powers were allies; along with France, Britain was the only significant allied beneficiary from the redistribution of colonies which inevitably followed on from the end of hostilities. Understanding the race riots which disturbed the British ports in 1919 requires a wider context and explanatory framework. The labour revolt was rooted in long term trends as well as the more transient concerns of the post-war crisis. There were formal entry restrictions for coloured British subjects. In the 1960s the Institute of Race Relations marked the passing of the ‘Liberal Hour’ in British immigration policy.
