22 - The Impact Of Thatcherism On Society Flashcards
What impact did Mrs Thatcher’s government have on society? What were 2 feelings the government created?
A divisive impact
Beneficiary and alienation feelings
What was one of Thatcher’s most popular capitalist policies? What was the idea behind this?
Selling of council houses to tenants
Tenants would have more stake in society
How much money did the sales of council houses raise? How many homes were sold?
£18 billion
1.24 million
What was a downside to the sales of council houses? Why was this?
Shortage of public sector stock
Many tenants could’ve bought new houses on the open market
What were the early years of Thatcher’s 2nd ministry dominated by? What had Thatcher called to be closed down?
Miners’ strike
Unprofitable pits
How long had unprofitable pits really been closing down for? What was this an example of in society?
20 years
Continuity over change
What did the closure of pits present the breaking down of? Who had the NUM recently elected as their new President?
Union power
Left-wing Arthur Scargill
What was Scargill responsible for in the 1972 miners’ strike? Who did Thatcher appoint as Chairman of the NCB?
Flying pickets
Ian McGregor
What was Ian McGregor appointed to modernise? What was he to close down?
Modernise industry
Unprofitable pits
What company had McGregor done a similar job in?
British Steel
Where were many pit areas closed down? Where did most local men work there?
Close-knit communities
In the mines
Why would pit closures be devastating in close-knit communities? What was the miners’ scene set for?
There wasn’t a lot of other employment
Bitter confrontation
What did the NUM call for without a ballot? Why?
Strikes
Fear of losing the ballot
What did Employment Acts in the 1980s reduce? What 2 things became illegal?
Union power
Mass picketing and closed shop
What did strikes have to undergo under the Employment Act? What was the government stockpiling in case of a strike/emergency?
A formal ballot
Coal
Who chose the time for union confrontation?
The government
Why did the government shut down mines in the spring and summer? What did this mean?
Coal demand was at its lowest
Confrontation would take place then
What 2 ways did the government use the law to freeze union assets? Why were union assets frozen by the latter?
Police and courts
The strike was illegal
What is one reason the strike never succeeded? What area particularly refused to join?
There was no solid support
Nottinghamshire
What 2 reasons did some miners drift back to work by January 1985?
Families faced hardship
The strike was called off
What happened to union power after the strike? Who emerged victoriously?
It declined
Government
Why did print workers strike in 1986? What was making their typewriting skills obsolete?
Modernisation
Technology
Why were TV technicians dismissed by TV-am in 1987?
They protested over new working conditions
Why did workers have to come to terms with new conditions? What began to see its demise?
Modernisation
Manual production
What did Home Secretary Leon Brittan say in the House of Commons about strike intimidation?
“Detectives are being formed to combat intimidation of working miners”
What did Mrs Thatcher declare to News of the World Journalist Paul Potts about the miners’ violence?
“We will not let violence win the day”
