1970 - 79 Flashcards
1
Q
CONS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What were Heath’s original aims?
A
He intended to reduce unemployment, reduce the rise in prices and increase productivity.
2
Q
CONS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What did Heath’s government decide economically?
A
To abandon the prices and income and policy, no wage for salary freezes and simply allowing market forces to act. However, to make such an economy fair trade unions must not have an unequal start. This led to the industrial relations act.
3
Q
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
Who introduced the industrial relations act?
A
Employment secretary Robert Carr
4
Q
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What actions were taken?
A
Industrial relations court set up and a distinction was made between official and wildcat strikes
5
Q
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
Did the TUC oppose the project and if so who were they supported by?
A
Yes, supported by the Labour party
6
Q
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What happened in February 1971?
A
140,000 union members marched through London shouting “kill the bill”
7
Q
MINERS STRIKES
Why was there an inflationary spiral?
A
Inflation increased, trade unions demanded higher wages so industries would raise good prices to allow this
8
Q
MINERS STRIKES
Why was the national coal board growing discontented?
A
The industry was nationalised and gradually shrinking in size and it’s average pay was less than the national average
9
Q
MINERS STRIKES
What pay rise did union leader Joe Gormley manage to secure for the NUC in 1971?
A
14%
10
Q
MINERS STRIKES
What happened when in 1972 a further NUC pay rise was refused?
A
The first ever miners strike, which quickly succeeded in creating a fuel crisis
11
Q
MINERS STRIKES
Why was a state of emergency declared in 1972?
A
A power shortage coincided with bad winter weather
12
Q
MINERS STRIKES
What happened after 7 weeks of striking?
A
The NUC accepted an improved offer
13
Q
MINERS STRIKES
Why was this pay rise undermined?
A
High rates of inflation
14
Q
MINERS STRIKES
Why did the 1972 strike become worse?
A
It coincided with the international oil price rise, meaning power was significantly reduced causing the imposition of the three day week
15
Q
THE THREE DAY WEEK
Rather than give into the miners what did Heath decide to do?
A
Defeat them by imposing severe limits on the use of fuel, Heath calculated that the government could outlast the miners on strike
16
Q
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What restrictive measures were introduced?
A
Limits on the amount of electricity which could be used by industries
17
Q
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What were the results of the three day week?
A
Restrictive measures similar to war time austerity, electricity blackouts interfered with industrial production and ordinary people often were going without electricity
18
Q
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What percentage pay rise did the miners get once disputes were settled?
A
21%, 3x what they were originally going to get, major defeat for the Heath government
19
Q
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What happened because of their success?
A
The NUM again went on strike in pursuit of further wage increases
20
Q
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What did Heath resultantly do because of the strike in 1974?
A
Called an election
21
Q
THE TROUBLES
What was Heath’s aim in Northern Ireland?
A
“An acceptable level of violence”
22
Q
THE TROUBLES
What was Heath’s first policy?
A
Internment: 342 suspected IRA members were detained, caused riots, violence and more hostility
23
Q
THE TROUBLES
Why were there protests?
A
Due to the effective disenfranchisement and socio-economic disadvantages suffered by Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland
24
Q
THE TROUBLES
What happened in 1968?
A
A planned demonstration in London Derry, police attacked protestors which highlighted discrimination
25
THE TROUBLES
| Describe bloody sunday
- January 1972
- PM of NI banned protests for the year
- Despite, a demonstration amounted and an estimated 12,000 people took part in London Derry
- A minority broke away and threw stones at British paratroopers
- Paratroopers fired back and killed 14 civilians
26
THE TROUBLES
| What did the government conclude about bloody sunday?
The soldiers had responded to gun and bomb attacks, caused anger from catholic MPs such as Bernadette Devin
27
THE TROUBLES
| What did the PIRA demand after bloody sunday?
NI to have political sovereignty, for the British army to be publicly withdrawn and political prisoners released
28
THE TROUBLES
| What were Diplock courts and why were they created?
They aided internment and made it easier to arrest the convicted
29
THE TROUBLES
| What was recognised in 1973?
Ireland presented a political, policing and security threat
30
THE TROUBLES
| Describe the Sunningdale agreement
Parliament agreed a devolution plan for NI, proportional representation to replace the Stormont parliament and a consutive council of Ireland allowed all members of the political divide to meet
31
THE TROUBLES
| Did both sides agree to the Sunningdale agreement?
Yes
32
THE TROUBLES
| What did the Sunningdale agreement lead to?
The negotiations led to an executive bringing together of Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance party
33
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
| What percentage of votes did the Conservatives lose?
8.5%
34
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
| What did the election results show?
Moving away from both Conservative and Labour and movement towards the liberals
35
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
| What was Labour's election campaign?
Increased central planning
36
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
| What was the Liberals campaign?
Jeremy Thorpe: "change the face of Britain"
37
LABOUR'S RETURN TO POWER
| What were the 5 problems Labour had when they came to power?
- Dire economic situation: inflation at 15% and £3 billion balance of deficits
- Northern Ireland
- Trade unions
- Labour party less united
- Wilson much older
38
LABOUR'S RETURN TO POWER
| Did the Labour government have a minority or majority?
A majority government
39
LABOUR'S RETURN TO POWER
| What did Wilson do in October 1974?
He called a new election, Labour gained 18 more seats, overall majority was just 3
40
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: LABOUR
| What did Wilson do quickly?
Demonstrate that the Labour party was more equipped to deal with trade unions, gave them what they wanted
41
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: LABOUR
| What was Wilson able to end?
The three day week :)
42
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
| What did Ford lorry drivers achieve after a nine week strike?
A 15% pay rise
43
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
| What did the lorry pay rise cause?
Outrage from other unions... train drivers, hospital porters, binmen, grave diggers etc. They all went on strike.
44
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
| What was the impact of all the strikes?
Rubbish piled up and bodies went unburied, the psychological impact of the winter of discontent deeply scarred public mood and remained with Labour for many years to come.
45
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
| How did the winter of discontempt end?
In March 1979 the average pay was increased by 10%
46
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What did Heath's government seem to show?
Some progress seemed to have been made, but the Sunningdale agreement itself was precarious and insecure
47
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| Describe the collapse of the Sunningdale agreement
- The IRA campaign persisted
- Within days loyalist paramilitary groups formed a coalition under the name "Ulster Army Council"
- The unionists voted against continued participation in the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Loyalist workers called a general strike which led to rioting
48
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What did the IRA begin moving to?
Attacking mainland Britain, setting of bombs in Birmingham, Guildford and Woolwich.
49
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What happened to the NIIC?
It could not reach agreements and soon lapsed
50
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| How was some new optimism created?
1976: The development of a grassroots peace movement led by two catholic women, caused peace movements all over the world
51
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| How many people were held without trial by 1975?
Over 2000 people
52
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What did the Conservative government initially agree with the provisional IRA?
It would allow "special category status" to prisoners
53
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What does "special category status" denote to?
- Prisoners have more free association time
- More visits
- No uniform
54
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What did Labour do to the "special category status"?
Labour left this in place for existing detainees but reversed it for new ones
55
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
| What did the PIRA leaders decide?
To treat British prison officers as assassination targets
56
THE 1979 GENERAL ELECTION
| What happened to the Labour government in the March of 1979?
A vote of no confidence on the issue of Scottish devolution
57
THE 1979 GENERAL ELECTION
| What did the Conservatives achieve?
A comfortable working majority of 43 seats
58
THE 1979 GENERAL ELECTION
| How much did the Labour vote dip by?
Only 3%
59
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| When did Britain enter the EEC?
1973
60
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Describe Harold Wilson's position on the EEC
- Uncommitted to European membership
| - Worried about maintaining unity within the Labour party
61
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Describe Heath's position on Europe
- Passionately pro Europe
| - He saw European cooperation as a key to preventing any repetition of the Nazi regime
62
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Who replaced Charles Degaulle and what was his position on Britain joining the EEC?
Georges Pompidou, a man convinced the EEC needed Britain as much as Britain needed the EEC
63
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Which other countries joined the EEC in 1973?
Denmark and Ireland
64
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Who was one of the most vociferous critics of European membership in the Conservatives?
Enoch Powell
65
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Name a commited pro-European in Wilson's cabinet
Roy Jenkins
66
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| What did Wilson become obsessed with doing?
Trying to maintain party unity
67
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| Who in Labour were more hostile towards the EEC?
The labour left
68
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| What did Wilson realise was the only way to keep his party together?
Renegotiating entry terms and calling a referendum
69
BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO & RELATIONS W EUROPE
| What did Heath's commitment and persistence do?
Finally bring Britain into Europe
70
THE EUROPEAN REFERENDUM
| When was the referendum?
1974
71
THE EUROPEAN REFERENDUM
| What was Wilson's main aim?
Party unity
72
THE EUROPEAN REFERENDUM
| What was Wilson's strategy?
Remain neutral and let both sides of his party campaign to not ensure a party line
73
THE EUROPEAN REFERENDUM
| Describe the yes campaign
- The economic state of the country, particularly in comparison to the EEC countries
- Well financed by business men
- Included most of the Labour cabinet, Edward Heath and the Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe\
74
THE EUROPEAN REFERENDUM
| Describe the no campaign
- Wanted to protect British workers
| - Wanted to maintain Britain's independence
75
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| Who was Heath more orientated towards?
Europe, less inclined to strengthen the Atlantic Alliance
76
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| Who did Heath personally get on with?
The US president Richard Nixon
77
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| What was Heath's stance on Vietnam?
More forthright support for the war than Harold Wilson had given
78
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| When and why did relations worsen?
October 1973 during the Yom Kippur War
79
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| Why did the Yom Kippur War increase tensions?
The US wanted to use NATO bases in Europe for an airlift of supplies into Israel. Most European states refused, including Britain, because they feared the supplies of middle eastern oil would be put at risk
80
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| Were Wilson and Callaghan still keen on the Atlantic Alliance?
Yes
81
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
| Who did Callaghan form a strong personal relationship with?
Kissinger
82
COLD WAR ATTITUDES
| Why did the US and Britain remain working together?
They both shared the same foreign policy objective of holding back communism
83
COLD WAR ATTITUDES
| Describe attitudes towards the USSR
- Detente
- Cuban Missile Crisis, a cool off period, no side wanted to go into direct conflict
- Still fears about the Eastern Europe influence
84
COLD WAR ATTITUDES
| Describe attitudes towards China
- Heath made a personal relationship with Chinese leader Mao Zedong
- Chinese government visited Britain for the first time since the communist revolution
85
THE INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICE RISE
| What did the Arabs do in retaliation to the west's support of Israel?
Drastically reduce the oil supply to supporting Western countries
86
THE INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICE RISE
| What did the price of oil increase from per barrel?
£2 to £35
87
THE INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICE RISE
| What were the economic effects in Britain?
- Balance of payments deficit rose to £1 million
- Annual inflation rate rose to 16%
- Value of sterling dropped
88
THE INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICE RISE
| When was the international oil price rise?
1973
89
HEATH'S ECONOMY
| What did the Selsdon manifesto complain about?
"The Labour governments about turns in economic policy"
90
HEATH'S ECONOMY
| What did the government initially work to impose?
A free market agenda
91
HEATH'S ECONOMY
| Why did Heath back down from his initial aim?
He could not face the repercussions of rising unemployment
92
HEATH'S ECONOMY
| What did the unemployment rate reach at the beginning of 1972?
£1 million
93
HEATH'S ECONOMY
| What was the Barber Boom?
- Increased pensions and benefits
- Reduction in tax
- Keynesian intentions
- Put £2.5 billion into the economy
94
HEATH'S ECONOMY
| What did the Barber Boom result in?
Inflation, led to a deflationary budge, wage freezes, resulted in the miners strike
95
LABOUR'S ECONOMY
| What was the first major problem?
A surge in inflation due to a rush of large wage increases that were deemed necessary to get out of the industrial crisis that bought down Heath
96
LABOUR'S ECONOMY
| What did Healey's 1975 budget impose?
Steep rises in inflation and public spending cuts
97
LABOUR'S ECONOMY
| What was set up in 1974 under Tony Benn?
The national enterprise board which administered the governments shareholding of private companies and could provide financial aid
98
LABOUR'S ECONOMY
| What was the result of Labour saving a failing car manufacturer?
Controversy, "lame duck industries", caused internal divides
99
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What percentage did women make up in the houses of commons?
Only 3% at the start of the decade
100
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What percentage of the workforce was made up by women?
1/3
101
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| In what fields did women tend to be limited?
Politics, law, the civil service
102
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What was there much protest against?
The Miss London pageant of 1970
103
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What did Erin Pizzey found?
Chiswick's women aid: to support women facing domestic violence
104
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| In 1970, what did women earn?
Little over half what men did
105
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What did a 1968 strike by women sewer machinists achieve?
The Equal Pay Act of 1970
106
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What did the Equal Pay Act state?
Equal pay for equal work
107
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| Describe the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act
Protected men and women on the grounds of gender and maritial status in employment
108
PROGRESS IN FEMINISM
| What did the Equal Opportunities Commission provide?
A place where people could appeal cases of discrimination on a gender basis in the work place
109
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What was formed in the 1960s and what was it's policies?
The National Front, primarily to oppose immigration. It also adopted other right-wing and nationalist policies.
110
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What did the National Front argue?
The presence of immigrants led to more robbery, unemployment and crime
111
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What did the NF want to do?
Not just stop immigration but send the immigrants back
112
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What organisation was formed in 1977?
The ANL, campaigned against the far right policies of groups such as the NF, it formally ended in the late 1970s when the NF was no longer the threat it had appeared to be
113
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What did both parties look to do?
Pass some laws that would regulate the rate of arrival of immigrants and others that regulated how immigrants were treated
114
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| In what year did the government impose further immigration restrictions?
1971
115
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What did the 1976 Act extend?
The race relations act, making it illegal for the discrimination in the workplace and education in regards to ethnicity
116
RACE AND IMMIGRATION
| What was set up in 1976?
A monitoring body: the commission for racial equality
117
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| Describe the CPRE
- Supported the development of national parks and areas of outstanding national beauty
- Enjoyed support of politicians, celebrities and the royal family
118
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| Was the environment considered a political priority by politicians?
No, any environmental legislation passed was stimulated by human need
119
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| Under Edward Heath, what was the Ministry of Housing and Local Government replaced with?
The Department of the Environment
120
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| What did Harold Wilson establish?
The Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution: advised the government on rural and urban matters for 40 years
121
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| What act was passed in 1974?
The Water Act
122
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| What act was passed in 1976?
The endangered species act
123
ENVIRONMENTALISM
| Was media coverage of the environment infrequent?
Yes :(
124
YOUTH
| What music did prog rockers and glam rockers listen to?
Pink Floyd and Genisis
125
YOUTH
| Describe punks
Anti society, sex pistols, political
126
YOUTH
| Describe skinheads
- Right wing
| - Football hooligans
127
YOUTH
| What was London for a while?
The fashion capital of the world
