After World War II, Europe's economic boom in the 1950s and 1960s pulled in migrant workers from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa, which reshaped the continent's religious and cultural makeup. When the economy slowed in the 1970s, those same workers and their families often faced anti-immigrant backlash and the rise of extreme nationalist parties.
Why This Matters for the AP European History Exam
Migration ties together several big threads in Unit 9: economic growth and stagnation, decolonization, national and European identity, and the role of religion in public life. On the exam, you may need to explain the causes and effects of postwar migration, or use it as evidence in arguments about how everyday life and identity changed in contemporary Europe.
This topic works well for causation and continuity/change reasoning. You can connect it to economic shifts (the postwar "economic miracle" and the 1970s downturn), to decolonization (people moving from former colonies to European metropoles), and to debates over what it means to be European. Knowing the difference between required content and useful examples helps you write precise, supported responses.
Key Takeaways
- Economic growth in the 1950s and 1960s created labor shortages, drawing migrant workers from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa into western and central Europe.
- The economic downturn of the 1970s shifted public opinion, and migrant workers and their families often became targets of anti-immigrant agitation and extreme nationalist parties.
- Increased immigration altered Europe's religious makeup, fueling debate and conflict over the role of religion in social and political life.
- The French National Front and the Austrian Freedom Party are examples of anti-immigration conservative parties, not required terms you must memorize.
- Migration connects to decolonization, economic change, and questions of national and European identity, which makes it strong evidence for continuity/change and causation arguments.
Migration During Postwar Recovery (1950s and 1960s)
Causes of Increased Immigration
Europe's economic recovery in the 1950s and 1960s created labor shortages. As industries and cities grew, western and central European countries needed more workers, so migrant workers came from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many of these migrants came from former colonies, connecting this movement to decolonization.
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Labor shortages | Booming economies needed more workers than the local population could supply |
| Decolonization | People from former colonies migrated to European metropoles |
| Refugees from the East | People fleeing communist rule in the Soviet bloc sought safety in the West |
| Family reunification | Earlier migrants helped relatives move, forming established immigrant communities |
| Postwar displacement | World War II left millions displaced, and migration offered a chance to rebuild |
The core required idea here is straightforward: because of the economic growth of the 1950s and 1960s, migrant workers from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa immigrated to western and central Europe.
Cultural and Religious Impact
As immigrants arrived, they brought different religions, languages, and customs. This altered Europe's religious makeup and raised debates over the role of religion in social and political life. Growing Muslim communities in major European cities prompted questions about secularism, integration, and identity.
At the same time, secularization continued in much of Western Europe as younger generations distanced themselves from organized religion. These two trends together made religion a contested topic in public debate.
Backlash and Nationalist Responses (1970s to Present)
Economic Downturn and Changing Sentiment
The economic downturn of the 1970s brought rising unemployment and social anxiety. Workers who had been welcomed during the boom were now sometimes seen as economic burdens or cultural outsiders. This shift fueled anti-immigrant agitation and support for extreme nationalist political parties.
The following parties are examples of anti-immigration conservative parties. They are useful illustrations, not required AP terms.
| Political Party (example) | Country | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| French National Front | France | Anti-immigration, Euroskepticism, conservative nationalism |
| Austrian Freedom Party | Austria | Anti-immigration, populist nationalism |
- The French National Front gained support by blaming immigrants for economic and social problems and calling for reduced immigration and stricter asylum policies.
- The Austrian Freedom Party became increasingly vocal against immigration in the 1980s and 1990s and promoted Euroskepticism.
The pattern to remember: when economic confidence declined, immigrants often became scapegoats, which boosted extreme nationalist movements.
Continued Migration and Ongoing Debate
Migration continued past the 1970s. Conflicts and authoritarian regimes elsewhere pushed people to seek asylum in Europe, and easier travel and broader European integration encouraged movement across borders. Many immigrants integrated successfully, but tensions persisted over national identity, social cohesion, and multiculturalism. Debates over religious symbols, religious education, and urban segregation shaped policy and political discourse.
Religious Change in European Society
Migration diversified Europe's religious landscape and connected directly to debates over public life:
- Islam grew as a major religion in several Western European countries.
- Christian church attendance continued to decline in much of Western Europe.
- Secularism became more standard in public institutions like schools and courts.
These shifts challenged traditional ideas of European identity and led to legal and cultural battles over religious symbols, public expression, and citizenship.
How to Use This on the AP European History Exam
Free Response
When a prompt asks about postwar social or demographic change, migration is strong evidence. Tie the causes (labor shortages, decolonization, fleeing conflict) to the effects (religious change, identity debates, nationalist backlash). For causation prompts, show the chain: economic growth pulled workers in, then the 1970s downturn turned sentiment against them.
Continuity and Change
Use migration to show change over time. Before the 1970s, migrant workers were largely welcomed as a solution to labor shortages. After the downturn, the same populations faced anti-immigrant agitation. The continuity is that immigration kept reshaping European society and religion across the whole period.
Using Sources Effectively
On document or stimulus questions, watch for point of view. A speech from a nationalist party leader and a statement from an immigrant community will frame the same migration differently. Use that contrast to analyze purpose, audience, and bias.
Common Trap
Do not treat named parties as required content you must recall. The required idea is the broader pattern of postwar labor migration and the later anti-immigrant backlash. Use specific parties only as supporting examples.
Common Misconceptions
- Migration only became a major issue recently. It started reshaping Europe right after World War II, driven by the economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s.
- Most postwar migrants were refugees. Many were labor migrants recruited because booming economies needed workers, though refugees and displaced people were also part of the picture.
- The backlash came from random prejudice. The anti-immigrant turn lined up closely with the economic downturn of the 1970s, when unemployment and anxiety rose.
- You must memorize the French National Front and Austrian Freedom Party. These are illustrative examples of anti-immigration parties, not required terms.
- Immigration only changed culture, not religion. It specifically altered Europe's religious makeup and sparked conflict over the role of religion in social and political life.
Related AP European History Guides
Vocabulary
The following words are mentioned explicitly in the College Board Course and Exam Description for this topic.Term | Definition |
|---|---|
anti-immigrant agitation | Political and social opposition to immigration, including protests and campaigns against immigrants and their presence in a country. |
extreme nationalist political parties | Political parties that emphasize national identity and sovereignty, often opposing immigration and promoting the interests of native-born citizens. |
immigration | The process of people moving into a country or region to settle, particularly into Europe after World War II. |
migrant workers | People who move from their home country to work in another country, often temporarily, such as those from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa who moved to western and central Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. |
migration | The movement of people from one place to another, particularly within Europe during the post-World War II period. |
religious makeup | The composition of religious groups and denominations within a population or society. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused migrations within and to Europe after 1945?
Postwar migration was driven by economic growth, labor shortages, decolonization, conflict, and family reunification. Western and central Europe drew workers from southern Europe, Asia, and Africa during the 1950s and 1960s.
What were guest workers in postwar Europe?
Guest workers were migrants recruited to fill labor needs during the postwar economic boom. They are useful examples for AP Euro because they show how economic growth changed population patterns and public debates in western and central Europe.
How did decolonization affect European immigration?
Decolonization encouraged movement from former colonies to European countries with political, legal, linguistic, or economic ties. This helped reshape the populations and identities of several postwar European societies.
How did immigration change religion in Europe?
Increased immigration altered Europes religious makeup and fueled debates about religion in public and political life. This is one of the explicit AP Euro effects for Topic 9.11.
Why did anti-immigrant politics grow after the 1970s?
After the economic downturn of the 1970s, migrant workers and their families often became targets of anti-immigrant agitation and extreme nationalist parties. The French National Front and Austrian Freedom Party are illustrative AP examples.
How should I use migration evidence on the AP Euro exam?
Use migration as evidence for causation and continuity/change arguments. Connect economic growth, decolonization, religious change, identity debates, and anti-immigrant politics to the prompt instead of listing examples by themselves.