Chapter 13 Flashcards
What does ‘Thatcherism’ refer to?
A style of leadership and ideology characterized by conviction politics and a rejection of the post-war consensus.
Who described Thatcher as a conviction politician?
Margaret Thatcher herself.
What is a conviction politician?
Someone who follows policies based on their own beliefs rather than popularity or tradition.
What was Thatcher’s view on the post-war consensus?
She dismissed it as responsible for Britain’s ills.
What influenced Thatcher’s political beliefs?
Her upbringing, emphasizing self-reliance and self-improvement.
Fill in the blank: ‘Compassion depends upon how much you and I, as an individual, are prepared to do ______.’
[for others].
What did Thatcher study at Oxford?
Chemistry.
How did Thatcher’s background differ from traditional Tories?
She was from a suburban, trade background and was a woman.
What was the significance of Thatcher’s statement, ‘The lady’s not for turning’?
It reinforced her image as a conviction politician and criticized those who changed their policies.
What is the New Right?
A collective name for organizations challenging Keynesian orthodoxy, promoting free-market policies.
Who were influential figures in the New Right?
Milton Friedman and Friedrich von Hayek.
What did the New Right reject in favor of monetarism?
Keynesian economics.
What moral perspective did Thatcherites hold regarding the free market?
They believed it encouraged individual responsibility.
Fill in the blank: ‘A ______ is an organization that researches potential social, political and economic policies.’
[think tank].
What was the Centre for Policy Studies?
An organization established by Keith Joseph after the 1974 election defeat.
Which think tank was formed in 1977 to promote free-market policies?
The Adam Smith Institute.
What was the relationship between Thatcherism and New Right ideology regarding economic policy?
Thatcher’s conviction politics aligned with New Right principles advocating free-market economics.
What did Thatcher believe about social services?
They should exist, but individuals must also contribute to society.
What is the term used to describe a member of the Conservative Party who is seen as soft on social consequences of monetarist policies?
wet
A derisive nickname used by Mrs. Thatcher and her supporters.
What economic policies are explored in detail in Chapter 14?
Thatcher’s economic policies, monetarism, and free-market economics.
According to Thatcherism, what is linked to economic decline?
moral decline.
Who was Rhodes Boyson and what was his stance on discipline in schools?
A former headteacher and junior minister who argued for the use of the cane in schools and reinstatement of capital punishment.
What did Norman Tebbit argue was the trigger for crime and violence in society?
The attitudes of the ‘Permissive Society’ that emerged post-war.
How did Thatcherites view the family in relation to society?
As the bulwark of order in society.
What did Margaret Thatcher famously say about society?
‘Who is society? There is no such thing as that!’
What was a significant aspect of the Thatcherite manifesto in 1979?
Support for law and order and the police.
What accusation arose regarding the police during Thatcher’s premiership?
That the police had become politicised.
Did the Conservative Party in 1979 truly represent Thatcherism?
No, many senior Tories were still considered ‘wets’.
Who was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer during Thatcher’s first cabinet?
Geoffrey Howe.
What did the term ‘dry’ refer to in the context of the Conservative Party?
Conservatives who were firm and uncompromising in their support for monetarism.
What was the Westland affair?
A significant challenge to Thatcher’s authority involving Michael Heseltine resigning and claiming she acted unconstitutionally.
Who were two key economic figures in Thatcher’s government known for their dry approach?
John Biffen and Nigel Lawson.
What was the ‘Lawson boom’?
Economic expansion resulting from Nigel Lawson’s budgets in 1987 and 1988.
Who was Norman Tebbit and what was his political role?
An outspoken Essex MP, Trade Secretary in Thatcher’s first cabinet, and party chairman.
What led to the marginalization of the ‘wets’ in the Conservative Party?
Success at the 1983 general election consolidated Thatcher’s position.
Fill in the blank: The nickname given to Conservatives who were seen as supportive of monetarism is _______.
dry.
True or False: Thatcher faced no opposition from her ministers during her premiership.
False.
What happened to lim Prior, a ‘wet’ minister in Thatcher’s government?
He was demoted to the Northern Ireland Office in 1981.
What was the political significance of Geoffrey Howe’s resignation speech in 1990?
It helped to cause Thatcher’s fall from power.
Who was Michael Heseltine?
A leading Conservative politician in the 1980s known for his long hair and flamboyant style
Heseltine was nicknamed ‘Tarzan’ and resigned from Thatcher’s cabinet in 1986
What were Michael Heseltine’s views that conflicted with Thatcher?
‘One Nation’ and pro-European views
This conflict contributed to his resignation and later criticisms from Thatcherites
What significant event led to Michael Heseltine’s resignation from Thatcher’s cabinet?
The Westland affair
This incident involved a controversial helicopter company and political maneuvering
What was the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and when was it formed?
A new political party formed in 1981 by a group of Labour politicians
The SDP was established by the ‘Gang of Four’ in response to internal divisions within the Labour Party
Who were the ‘Gang of Four’ that formed the SDP?
David Owen, Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, and Bill Rodgers
They issued the Limehouse declaration to announce the formation of the SDP
What was the political climate for the Labour Party between 1979 and 1983?
The Labour Party faced internal divisions and nearly political oblivion
This period included catastrophic defeats in the 1983 and 1987 elections
Who was elected as Labour leader in 1980, leading to internal conflict?
Michael Foot
Foot was a Bevanite who supported unilateral nuclear disarmament
What was the outcome of the Blackpool party conference in September 1981?
Denis Healey narrowly defeated Tony Benn for deputy leadership
The conference was marked by hostility from hard-left hecklers
What was the significance of Shirley Williams’ by-election win in November 1981?
It marked the SDP’s impact on national politics by winning in a Conservative seat
This victory was seen as a shift in the political landscape
What was the Alliance formed between the SDP and another party called?
The Liberal Alliance
This alliance aimed to work together in the 1983 and 1987 elections
What demographic changes affected the Labour Party’s traditional support?
Loss of traditional working-class support and hostile press coverage
Many Labour voters shifted to the Conservatives, Liberals, or the far Left
Who succeeded Michael Foot as Labour leader in 1983?
Neil Kinnock
Kinnock aimed to move the party towards the political middle ground
What key changes did Neil Kinnock implement in the Labour Party?
Attacked the hard Left, modernized party organizations, and improved party discipline
His leadership was aimed at restoring Labour’s political credibility
True or False: The Labour Party was widely regarded as electable during the 1983 and 1987 elections.
False
The Labour Party was seen as unelectable during this time
What did pundits speculate about the Labour Party during its decline?
A fundamental realignment of British politics
Concerns were raised about Labour’s viability as a potential party of government
Fill in the blank: The ‘Bennite Left’ refers to supporters of _______.
Tony Benn
The Bennite Left was a faction within the Labour Party that contributed to internal conflicts
What does the term Trotskyite refer to?
Those on the Left who follow the ideas of Leon Trotsky
Who was Leon Trotsky?
One of the leaders of the Russian Revolution in 1917, a Marxist who believed in a permanent international revolution of the working classes
What happened to Trotsky in 1927?
He was expelled from the Communist party
What was the outcome of Trotsky’s power struggle with Stalin?
He was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1929 and assassinated on Stalin’s orders in 1940
What was the political situation for Labour when Kinnock became leader in 1983?
Labour was in danger of being marginalised by Thatcherism and the rise of the SDP
Which group did Kinnock take on within the Labour Party?
The extremists Militant Tendency and the ‘Bennites, and the union leaders
How did Kinnock criticize Arthur Scargill during the miners’ strike?
For failing to hold a strike ballot
What did Kinnock condemn at the 1985 Labour Party conference?
The Militant Tendency-controlled Liverpool City Council
What was the slogan of the Militant Tendency?
‘Better to break the law than break the poor
What was the impact of the Falklands War on Thatcher’s political standing?
It was seen as a vindication of Thatcher’s bold leadership
What was the political landscape like for the Conservatives in 1982?
Margaret Thatcher was one of the most unpopular prime ministers
What was the ‘Falklands factor’?
The wave of patriotism and support for Thatcher after the successful military effort to recover the Falklands
What did Michael Foot struggle with as Labour leader?
Divisions within the Labour Party and performing poorly on television
Fill in the blank: The 1983 Labour election manifesto was dominated by _______.
left wing promises
What was Gerald Kaufman’s description of the Labour manifesto?
The longest suicide note in history
What was a key factor in the Conservative’s majority in the 1983 election?
The splintering of political opposition
What percentage of the vote did the Alliance receive in the 1987 election?
24 percent
What was one reason for the decline of the SDP?
Kinnock’s grip on the Labour Party reduced the need for moderate socialists to leave
True or False: The Labour Party had a unified front in the 1983 election.
False
What was the result of the 1983 general election for the Conservative Party?
A huge landslide victory
What major issue did the Conservative Party campaign on in the 1987 election?
Strong defence, growing economy, and lower taxes
What political parties merged to form the Liberal Democrats in 1988?
The Liberal Party and the SDP
The merger was controversial, with David Owen resigning in disagreement.
Who became the president of Sinn Fein in 1983?
Gerry Adams
Adams utilized a strategy of combining electoral politics with armed struggle.
What significant event occurred in October 1984 during the Conservative Party conference?
The IRA exploded a bomb in the Grand Hotel in Brighton
The bomb targeted Margaret Thatcher, who was unharmed, but five people were killed.
What was the goal of the IRA prisoners during the hunger strikes in 1980?
To gain Special Category Status as political prisoners
Bobby Sands led the hunger strikes, which gained significant media attention.
What was the outcome of the hunger strikes led by Bobby Sands?
Sands was elected as the Anti-H-Block candidate but died shortly after winning
Nine more hunger strikers died before the protest ended in October 1981.
What did Margaret Thatcher claim regarding the hunger strikes?
She claimed they were a defeat for the IRA
This was because their main aim, Special Category Status, was not granted.
What was the Anglo-Irish Agreement signed in November 1985?
It established permanent intergovernmental cooperation between the UK and the Republic of Ireland
The agreement aimed to enhance security cooperation and strengthen moderate nationalists.
What was the reaction of unionists to the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
There was a furious backlash, including a large protest rally in Belfast
The leader of the DUP, Iain Paisley, vocally opposed the agreement.
Who was Bobby Sands and what was his significance?
A member of the IRA who became a martyr for the republican movement after dying on hunger strike
Sands’ experiences growing up in Belfast influenced his commitment to the IRA.
Fill in the blank: The political strategy used by Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein is known as the _______.
twin-track strategy
This strategy involved using both electoral politics and armed struggle.
True or False: Thatcher’s government had a policy of negotiating with terrorists.
False
Despite her public stance, there were always secret contacts for negotiations.
What was the impact of Margaret Thatcher’s economic policies according to Paul Hirst?
They blended new economic doctrine with opportunism, affecting the party’s electoral success
Hirst noted a shift away from monetarism when it became politically unviable.
What was the percentage of votes for Liberal and SDP seats in the June 1987 general election?
30.8%
This was part of the broader electoral landscape at the time.
What was the significance of the Brighton bomb in terms of public sentiment?
It caused national outrage in Britain
The attack highlighted the ongoing conflict and violence surrounding the Troubles.
What event occurred in July 1982 during the Troubles?
Hyde Park/Regent Park bombings, London - 11 soldiers killed by IRA
What was the outcome of the Droppin Well bomb in December 1982?
11 soldiers and 6 civilians killed by INLA
What happened during the Harrods bombing in December 1983?
6 people killed by IRA
What was the impact of the Brighton bomb in October 1984?
5 people killed by IRA at Conservative Party conference
How many RUC officers were killed in the IRA mortar attack in February 1985?
9 RUC officers killed
What occurred in May 1987 involving IRA volunteers?
8 IRA volunteers and 1 civilian shot by SAS
What was the result of the Remembrance Day bomb in November 1987?
12 people killed by IRA in Enniskillen, N. Ireland
Assess the view: ‘The Conservative government’s policies in Northern Ireland between 1979 and 1987 made The Troubles worse.’
Validity of the view is to be assessed
What should you identify when studying the Conservative government’s actions in Northern Ireland?
What the Conservative government did in Northern Ireland during 1979-1987
What activity is suggested for understanding Conservative electoral success between 1979 and 1987?
Make a list of reasons for their electoral success and decide on the most significant
Fill in the blank: The act of Thatcherism occurred between _______.
[1979-87]
