Final Flashcards
Gold Standard (post WWI)
Winston Churchill, as Exchequer, brings it back at the same value as before ($4.86). It was included in the 1924 budget and was a disastrous mistake. Many initially supported it, though John Meynard Keynes was an economist that warned about the world depression it would cause. Effect of the gold standard: Increased interest rates, wages drop, housing stagnates, declining industries.
Cyclical VS structural unemployment (add notes to this)
Structural unemployment is caused by shifts in the economy, improvement in technology and workers’ lack of prerequisite job skills, which makes it difficult for workers to find employment. This is shown in areas of Ireland and Scotland with outdated manufacturing. Conversely, swings in companies’ business cycles cause cyclical unemployment. Gov. may pay more during bust to maintain work, but stop paying once economy is doing well.
John Maynard Keynes
He was a British economist whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments. He built on and greatly refined earlier work on the causes of business cycles. In the 1920’s he was the one of the only figures who spoke out against Churchill’s ideas for economic repair: the Gold Standard.
General Strike
1926: Started by the TUC leader Ernest Bevin in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for 1.2 million locked-out coal miners. It lasted 9 days and had little impact on trade union activity or industrial relations. It did show the discontent by working class on the outdated system of repairing economy. This strike was a key tool of labour party to bring down gov. Causes: The reintroduction of the gold standard in 1925 by Winston Churchill, which made the British pound too strong for effective exporting to take place from Britain and (because of the economic processes involved in maintaining a strong currency) raised interest rates, hurting some businesses. Miners pay was reduced to help the economy pick back up. WWI: Britain exported less coal in the war than it would have done in peacetime, allowing other countries to fill the gap.
The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money
1936: Book by Keynes, it challenged the established classical economics. New economic idea post WWI to have rich trading partners, minimal reparations for Germany, and loans from the US to Europe. For fixing economy, Keynes says to devalue currency, raise interest rates, increase debt for electricity to drive market with new goods.
Harold McMillan
One nation conservatism belief. Wants to help out unemployed. Despite him being conservative, he agreed with Keynes showing that this is an issue among multiple parties.
Neville Chambelain (Exchequer)
Chancellor of the Exchequer in the National Gov. starting in 1931. Things he did as Exchequer: ended free trade (1931), cultivated local industries, put a 10% tarriff on imports, go off gold standard (1931). In 1932, he was able to get the pound to a normal level. Britain begins to do well economically in the 1930’s.
National Government
After Ramsay McDonald’s Labour government fell apart, this was formed.Formed to deal with Great Depression. It was a coalition of the major political parties; the governments of Ramsay MacDonald (Labour, 1931-1935), Stanley Baldwin (conservative, 1935-1937) and Neville Chamberlain (conservative, 1937-1940). This was the transition away from labour support to conservative support: while McDonald was left in power he was essentially powerless.
British Union of Fascists
Formed by Oswald Mosely in 1932: Mosley was the youngest elected Conservative MP before crossing the floor in 1922, joining first Labour and, shortly afterwards, the Independent Labour Party. He became a minister in Ramsay MacDonald’s Labour government, advising on rising unemployment. He left the Labour party and formed the New Party based on his ideals. During 1931, the New Party became increasingly influenced by Fascism. The next year, after a January 1932 visit to Benito Mussolini in Italy, Mosley’s own conversion to fascism was confirmed. The BUF initially had a sizable following (up to 50,000 members at one point), as the party became increasingly radical, support declined. Violence and antisemitism caused numbers to drop quickly. A lot of nazi-sympathizers stayed. Growing British hostility towards Nazi Germany, with which the British press persistently associated the BUF, further contributed to the decline of the movement’s membership. It was finally banned by the British government in 1940 after the start of the Second World War, amid suspicion that its remaining supporters might form a pro-Nazi “fifth column”
National Unemployed Worker’s Movement (NUWM)
Communist party in Britain. Set up in 1921. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression. Angry unemployed people against labour unions, because those unions only focused on the rights of the already employed. Had about 20,000 members in the 1920’s. Though they weren’t a very large group, they still caused unease in British people.
Marie Stopes
In a time of improving public health in the 1920’s/1930’s, Stopes was an important figure in the women’s movement. She was renowned for her scientific work, and took a biological approach to women’s rights and education. She wrote “Married Love” in 1918, which is about having a healthy sex life with one’s partner and understanding methods of birth control. It also taught women the importance of spacing pregnancies apart (could be an impact on avg # of children declining). This book broke the Victorian image that classy women don’t talk about sex. Stopes founded the first birth control clinic in 1921, and the Catholic Church sued her for that and “Married Love”. Stat: families had 5-6 children on avg before WWI, and it lowered to roughly 2.2 on avg in the 1930’s.
Treaty of Versailles
was the most important of the peace treaties that brought World War I to an end. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919. Dealt with reparations post-war: Germany is heavily punished but not entirely handicapped. Britain make gains that will build them up. German navy abolished, Germany loses colonies, can now lose Rhineland if they mis-step. Britain leaves with a lot of strategic advantages.
League of Nations
Formed by Woodrow Wilson. founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace.
Secret Diplomacy
An international agreement in which the contracting parties have agreed, either in the treaty instrument or separately, to conceal its existence or at least its substance from other states and the public. Some important secret treaties of this era include the important secret treaty was the Treaty of London, concluded on April 26, 1915, in which Italy was promised certain territorial concessions in exchange for joining the war on the Triple Entente (Allied) side. After the war: All treaties must now be open, honest, and available to be seen by the public. Established in the LoN.
Iraq Mandate
Created in 1921: Puts Faisal ibn Husayn (prev: Syrian king) in power to rule Iraq as a kingdom, with the British Royal Air Force (RAF) retaining certain military control, the territory remained under British administration until 1932. Britain claimed it wanted to make Iraq a proper independent state. Good intentions but similar to ideas of colonialism
Washington Naval Conference
1921: It was the first international conference held in the United States and the first arms control conference in history. Wanted to prevent arms race via limitations: US and UK can have navies of 525,000 tons, Japan can have 350,000 tons. Germany’s navy abolished. France and Italy restricted to 175,000 tons. Much of the worry is Japan’s rising industrial power.
Mussolini and Abyssinia
The Abyssinia Crisis was a crisis in 1935. ongoing conflict between the Kingdom of Italy and the Empire of Ethiopia (then commonly known as “Abyssinia” in Europe). The League of Nations ruled against Italy and voted for economic sanctions, but they were not fully applied. Italy ignored the sanctions, quit the League, made special deals with Britain and France and ultimately established control of Ethiopia. The crisis discredited the League and moved Fascist Italy closer to an alliance with Nazi Germany.
Rhineland Re-occupation
1936: Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by sending German military forces into the Rhineland, a demilitarized zone in western Germany. Britain, France, and others wanted to prevent Germany but didn’t have the resources to do so. Had they sent in troops, it would’ve prevented WWII. Without punishment, Germany moves on to occupy Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Sudetenland Crisis
Sudetenland is areas of Czechoslovakia which were inhabited primarily by ethnic German speakers. Hitler invades March 1938, claiming he wanted to take back the German-speaking population. Still he is not stopped, and now he has Czech mountains as barrier for protection.
The Phony War
was an eight-month period at the start of World War II, during which there were no major military land operations on the Western Front. It began with the declaration of war by the United Kingdom and France against Nazi Germany on 3 September 1939, following the German invasion of Poland, and ended with the German attack on France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940.
Even though Poland was overrun in about five weeks in the German Invasion of Poland beginning on 1 September 1939 and Soviet invasion beginning on 17 September 1939, the Western Allies did nothing. War had been declared by each side, but no Western power committed to launching a significant land offensive, notwithstanding the terms of the Anglo-Polish and Franco-Polish military alliances which obliged the United Kingdom and France to assist Poland.
Maginot Line
was a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany. Constructed on the French side of its borders with Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg, the line did not extend to the English Channel because the French military did not want to offend neutral Belgium. However these 90 miles of concrete barrier was a defensive move, leaving initiative to Germany.
Norway Debate
May 7-8, 1940: Background- Chamberlain as PM hates general Churchill and wants to give him enough military power to mess up. Churchill leads the The Norwegian Campaign (9 April to 10 June 1940), which was fought in Norway between Norway, the Allies and Germany in World War II after the latter’s invasion of the country. In April, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway’s aid with an expeditionary force. Despite moderate success in the northern parts of Norway, Germany’s invasion of France in May eventually compelled the Allies to withdraw and the Norwegian government to seek exile in London. The campaign ended with the occupation of Norway by Germany, and the continued fighting by exiled Norwegian forces from abroad.
Debate: Churchill admits to his error and gives a passionate speech about the importance of him at least trying. His speech wins over MPs, and Chamberlain resigns in favor of Churchill as new PM.
General Petain
Was part of the political civil war in France. During World War II, with the imminent fall of France in June 1940, Pétain was appointed Prime Minister of France by President Lebrun at Bordeaux, and the Cabinet resolved to make peace with Germany.
Dunkirk
As part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and Allied forces in Europe from 26 May to 4 June 1940. The German army was able to effectively flank and corner the Allies. In a controversial move, the German forces were ordered to “halt” and allow for evacuation of the French, British, Belgian and Canadian troops known as the “Dunkirk evacuation”. This was dubbed a miracle and allowed for 330,000 Allied troops to evacuate. There was a lot of supply loss, however. This was shortly before France admits defeat.
Operation Sea lion
Operation Sealion was the name given by Hitler for the planned invasion of Great Britain in 1940. Operation Sealion was never carried out during the war as the Germans lost the Battle of Britain and it is now believed that Hitler was more interested in the forthcoming attack on Russia as opposed to invading Britain.
Battle of Britain
when the Royal Air Force (RAF) defended the United Kingdom (UK) against the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) attacks from the end of June 1940. It is described as the first major campaign fought entirely by air forces. Germans want to knock out the RAF and are successful. Hitler starts commanding day raids in London Set 7, then later night raids. During these raids, the RAF were able to repair. Death count in London during first month was high but lower than expected (20,000). 76 nights of continuous bombing: 2 million homes destroyed. House of Commons was hit.
Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel
In the North Africa campaign:The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had colonial interests in Africa dating from the late 19th century. This was the height of the Blitz, and it started with Italy’s movement to take Cairo. Brits were able to control and defeat them. German army sent in under Erwin Rommel “Desert Fox”, against British Commonwealth forces under Bernard Montgomery fighting over areas like Libya and Egypt. This moment between these two forces was romanticized as a moment when Britain stood alone against the Nazis. British forces won, and soon after America came in to help.
Casablanca Conference
It was a meeting between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the city of Casablanca, Morocco that took place from January 14–24, 1943. While Stalin was invited, he was unable to attend because the Red Army was engaged in a major offensive against the German Army at the time. The Conference took place just two months after the American landings in French North Africa in November 1942. At this meeting, Roosevelt and Churchill focused on coordinating Allied military strategy against the Axis powers over the course of the coming year. They resolved to concentrate their efforts against Germany in the hopes of drawing German forces away from the Eastern Front, and to increase shipments of supplies to the Soviet Union. While they would begin concentrating forces in England in preparation for an eventual landing in northern France, they decided that first they would concentrate their efforts in the Mediterranean by launching an invasion of Sicily and the Italian mainland designed to knock Italy out of the war. They also agreed to strengthen their strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Finally, the leaders agreed on a military effort to eject Japan from Papua New Guinea and to open up new supply lines to China through Japanese-occupied Burma. This was at a time when Rommel was running out of ammo, and it also marks the end of Britain’s war.
Tehran Conference
was a strategy meeting of Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill from 28 November to 1 December 1943, after the Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran. It was held in the Soviet Union’s embassy in Tehran, Iran. It was the first of the World War II conferences of the “Big Three” Allied leaders. The main outcome of the Tehran Conference was the Western Allies’ commitment to open a second front against Nazi Germany. Discussed British control of the Mediterranean and Russia’s worries about German pressure. They want France to have a large front to deter.
Lend-lease agreement
passed in March 1941, the Lend-Lease Act was the principal means for providing U.S. military aid to foreign nations during World War II. Britain has to spend all of the overseas assets to stay in the War, needs funds bad. U.S agrees to lend Britain £10 billion. This sustained Britain through the war but crippled their economy post-war.
Clement Atlee (during WWII)
He took Labour into the Churchill war ministry in 1940. Initially serving as Lord Privy Seal, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in 1942. Attlee and Churchill worked together very smoothly, with Attlee working backstage to handle much of the detail and organisational work in Parliament, as Churchill took centre stage with his attention on diplomacy, military policy, and broader issues. With victory in Europe in May 1945, the coalition government was dissolved. Attlee led Labour to win a huge majority in the ensuing 1945 general election two months later.
Minister of labour
In 1940 Winston Churchill formed an all-party coalition government to run the country during the crisis of World War II. Churchill was impressed by Ernest Bevin’s opposition to trade-union pacifism and his appetite for work, and appointed Bevin to the position of Minister for Labour and National Service. Bevin as Minister of Labour kept the war effort moving and was credited for the gaining attention and support for the Labour Party mid and post-war.
Sir William Beverage
Socialist economist who wrote “The Beverage Committee Report” in Nov. 1942. It was an influential document in the founding of the welfare state in the United Kingdom. who identified five “Giant Evils” in society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease, and went on to propose widespread reform to the system of social welfare to address these. The Report came in the midst of war, and promised a reward for the sacrifices undertaken by everyone. Highly popular with the public, the report formed the basis for the post-war reforms known as the Welfare State, which include the expansion of National Insurance and the creation of the National Health Service.
Election of 1945
The 1945 election marked a watershed in British history. The successful Conservative wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, was defeated by Clement Attlee’s Labour Party. This was a historical swing in post-war elections, as Labour got 393 MPs, Conservatives got 213 MPs, and Liberals got 12 MPs. The vote represented more a rejection of the Conservative Party than of Winston Churchill’s performance as a war-leader.
Mixed economy
“an economic system combining private and public enterprise.” Atlee used it for State planning with free economy
National Insurance Act
(1946): In the first year and a half there is over 75 pieces of legislation passed to create the infrastructure for the welfare state. Raised all unemployment rates to a certain level. Said all workers had to pay 4 shillings a week (5% on average). Guaranteed pension upon retirement, unemployment insurance, and maternity benefits. Any shortcomings are covered through taxes instead of just giving everyone less.
National Health Service
(1948): Basically single payer healthcare. No insurance companies no quibbling about what things cost. Everyone is assigned a general practitioner and that doctor decided what you need and theres no charge. Out of 45k doctors only 4700 agreed with it.1946; a British Act of Parliament which established a comprehensive system of social security throughout the United Kingdom. All persons of working age had to pay a weekly contribution and in return were entitled to a wide range of benefits
Hugh Dalton, Chancellor of the exchequer
Second most powerful person in the government. Has to try to figure out how to pay for all these services. He diverts resources from home building to factory building so they can make things and improve foreign exchange. Attempts to withdraw soldiers because of the lack of workers so he opens immigration from the empire. 20% of the industry is controlled by the government at this point. Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1945-1947; proposed the condition that a transfer of income from a richer to a poorer person, so long as that transfer does not reverse the ranking of the two, will result in greater equity
Nationalization of the Steel Industry:
: When they decided to nationalize steel its controversy because its modern and profitable. Government took it over because they said a lot of industries needed steel.
Richard Butler, chancellor of the exchequer:
Churchill’s chancellor to the exchequer and he’s the one who keeps most of the labor parties nationalization. Lowers income taxes twice and un-nationalization of steel.
Harold Macmillan
AKA supermac and wrote the book ‘Supermac’. Great PM. Junior officer in ww1. Believed in capitalism but not in unregulated capitalism. Dynamic leader who cast a relaxed and wordy style. British Prime Minister, 1957 - 1963. Rebuilt “special relationship” with USA after Suez Crisis and renewed the world map.
The Middle Way
The publication that harold macmillan did in the 30s. Becomes PM after suez crisis but is a figurehead for the conservatives. The middle way was the book he wrote int he interwar period of the 1930s and picking a way between the social welfare state and conservatism
Warfare state
Post-war: Second-best industry in the world. Also rival the U.S with military rank. Defense spending is 30% of budget, Welfare is 27% of budget. Britain is developing a military role, and still at this point is fighting wars to maintain colonies. Absorbs 2/3rds of war productions into government control. Develops a military industrial complex through this: private companies funded by gov.
Ernest Bevin, Foreign Secretary
From 1945-1951. Labour Gov. He aided with creation of NATO.
1935 Gov of India Act
Over time has given India more and more voting rights, In 1935, Britain allowed India to have elected legislatures for all 17 providences of India. Problem: allowed Brits to control at center while creating an institution that seems like its sharing power
Commonwealth
Still under some British control. Consists of India, Canada, Australia and NZ, parts of Africa and South East Asia.
Kenya and Malaya
1940s: Britain proves that they can defeat uprisings here. This is a very costly procedure. Communism is a major ideology which needed to be defeated. Decolonization was possible but unlikely.
Suez Crisis
1956: Egypt goes through military national shift through the Free Officers Movement (Gamel Abdel Nasser was a prominent member) in the early 1950’s. Egypt wants to limit foreign influence in 1952 which is an issue for the British since they own a part of the Suez canal. Nasser, as new leader, moves to nationalize the Suez Canal on July 1956. Britain and France are both worried about their ownership of the Canal. Anthony Eden, Britain’s Prime Minister at this time (key term) works together with France to negotiate with Israel. Israel agrees to invade Egypt through East while Britain and France invade in the NW to take the canal zone. This was classic imperialism-style aggression that was successful in that aspect, but this is a different time. USSR threatens to send missiles to Britain and France, the UN wants B/F to pull out, the U.S disagrees and threatens economical actions. Some but not all of Britain’s colonies support them. Britain backs down in 1956. Result: The EEC forms in 1957, B/F lose close ally relation with each other and Germany/France begin theirs. Iraqi revolution begins. Britain loses a lot of prestige.
British Atomic Program
1960-1969: Purchased missiles from the US. It was incredibly expensive, and used a poor delivery service (a WWII bomber, which could have been shot down).
Konrad Adenauer
was a German statesman who served as the first post-war Chancellor of Germany (West Germany) from 1949 to 1963. He led his country from the ruins of World War II to a productive and prosperous nation that forged close relations with France, the United Kingdom and the United States. During his years in power West Germany achieved democracy, stability, international respect and economic prosperity. He was the first leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), a Christian Democratic party that under his leadership became one of the most influential parties in the country. He wants to work with the US because he believes Germany was responsible for WWII and wants to repair Germany and keep it from becoming 2nd class. Adenauer led to political revival and liberal democracy in Germany —-> kept out communism.
Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC)
Coordinates the Marshall Plan aid, in which the US will lend $17 billion to Europe for repairs and economic balance. $1.4 billion went to Germany alone. Bretton Woods was also coordinated by the EEOC, which allowed for a new stable monetary system. These two things allowed for economic revival.
John Monnet
was a French political economist and diplomat. An influential supporter of European unity, he is considered as one of the founding fathers of the European Union. Jean Monnet has been called “The Father of Europe” by those who see his innovative and pioneering efforts in the 1950s as the key to establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, the predecessor of today’s European Union.
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Founded by John Monnet in 1951, united the heart of production in Europe to regulate their industrial production under a centralized authority.This includes Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The ECSC was the first international organisation to be based on the principles of supranationalism.
Supranational Organizations
A congregation in which one forgets about national identity to help the world as a whole. This encourages working together and allows Germany to build up production without scaring others.
council of ministry
is the EU’s main decision-making and legislative body. In conjunction with the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers forms the EU’s legislature.The Council of Ministers comprises ministers from each member state with responsibility for the policy area under discussion. Acts as a check- must pass what commisssion proposes. States can send a minister which relates to the issue at hand (ie if a financial issue can send a minister of finance)
Council of Europe
Began around the same time as the ECSC. The Council of Europe is an international organisation whose stated aim is to uphold human rights, democracy, rule of law in Europe and promote European culture. They wanted council of Ministry to have legal enforcement.
European Economic Community (EEC)
The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation which aimed to bring about economic integration among its member states. It was created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957. Goal: creating a common market and customs union, among its six founding members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany
Treaty of Rome
Signed 1957: an international agreement that brought about the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC), the best-known of the European Communities (EC). It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany and came into force on 1 January 1958. It remains one of the two most important treaties in the modern-day European Union (EU).
Charles de Gaulle
he opposed efforts by fellow EEC member countries to move toward some form of political integration that, in de Gaulle’s thinking, would impinge on the sovereignty of France, both internally and externally. De Gaulle vetoed the British application to join the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1963. In 1966, he forces the Luxembourg Compromise (key note) which states that a member state can block something if it went against national interest. He got this signed through the empty chair policy. He vetoed Britain’s entry into the EEC a second time, in June 1967. This ended the supranational movement.
Stimulus and breaks
1960s: When a country imports more than it exports, gov needs to fix balance of payments crisis. To fix this, conservative gov raises taxes and tariffs to curb imports, This causes slow growth rate, so before election will lower taxes drastically to look good. When re-elected, will raise them again.
Sick man of Europe
Britain’s new namein the 1970’s, because of industrial strife and poor economic performance compared to other European countries, culminating with the Winter of Discontent of 1978–9.
Harold Wilson
Final straw for Wilson was his reforms that didn’t do anything. In 1958 the Life Peer act. Minorities and disbarred members of the communities as well as people with major achievements. Hereditary Peers lose their right to vote. His own party rebels from him because the far left wants to just abolish it all. Could put it down but doesn’t and makes him look week in 1970 election.PM: 64-70 and 74-76. Labor PM and he tried to invest heavily in military R and D and use that to boost the civilian economy.
Plaid Cymru
Formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966; the nationalist party in Wales that advocates more rights for the Welsh people, including use of the Welsh language is a social-democratic political party in Wales advocating for Welsh independence from the United Kingdom within the European Union.[16][17]
Plaid Cymru was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966. Plaid Cymru by 2017 had 1 of 4 Welsh seats in the European Parliament, 3 of 40 Welsh seats in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 11 of 60 seats in the National Assembly for Wales, and 206 of 1,264 principal local authority councillors.[18] Plaid is a member of the European Free Alliance.
Welsh Nationalists and Scottish Nationalists
Two growing domestic nationalisms. Has a small amount of representation in the 1970 election- notable because they’re there.Scottish National Party: 1934 what gives it teeth is the economic decline. These regions start to feel more and more from west minister and London. Feel they’re being sacrificed in exchange for London. 1934; centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence, most popular party in scotland.
Welsh Nationalist Party: 1925 About preserving the Welsh Languag
Campaign Nuclear Disarmament
Most of the nuclear development was done during the conservatives were in power. Many people wanted the Labor Party to repudiate the nuclear armament. Refuses and is accused of supporting the vietnam war. an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It opposes military action that may result in the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and the building of nuclear power stations in the UK.
Edward Heath
Known for having a series of strikes set up by the union in retaliation to his policies. Unions want to break the Heath government. Declares a rolling emergency and has phased blackouts because of the lack of coal available. Oversaw UK’s entry into the European Economic Community, the peak of violence in Northern Ireland; cut a lot of spending on electricity due to a coal miner strike, Conservative Party; served 1970-1974
Industrial Relations Act
highly controversial
- Workers were given the right to belong to a registered trade union or not to belong to a registered or unregistered trade union.
- Only registered trade unions had legal rights and to enjoy legal immunities
- A worker under a normal contract of employment could receive compensation for unfair dismissal to encourage the development of dismissal procedures.
- Repealed in 1974
National Union of mineworkers
is a trade union for coal miners in Great Britain, formed in 1945. The NUM took part in three national miners’ strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 1984–85. After the 1984–85 strike and the subsequent closure of most of Britain’s coal mines, it became a much smaller union. Their strikes caused a rolling blackout epidemic from coal shortage. No politician knows how to handle this until Thatcher takes on a different approach.
James Callahan
Prime minister: :Labour Party; served 1976-1979
-Oversaw UK’s entry into International Monetary Fund; entered into the Lib-Lab Pact with the Liberal Party in 1977 when facing a vote of no confidence
Margaret Thatcher
first woman to serve as Prime Minister (from 1979-1990)
-British stateswoman, leader of conservatives in Great Britain who came to power. Pledged to limit social welfare, restrict union power, and end inflation. Formed Thatcherism, in which her economic policy was termed, and improved the British economic situation. She dominated British politics in 1980s, and her government tried to replace local property taxes with a flat-rate tax payable by every adult. Her popularity fell when she opposed the pound following the D-mark, and she resigned.
Monetarism
You have to control inflation first. Cornerstone of Thatcher’s policy. An economic theory holding that variations in unemployment and the rate of inflation are usually caused by changes in the supply of money
-A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation. Contrasts keynesian economics.
Sir Geoffery Howe
Chancellor of the Exchequer under Thatcher from 1979-1983. He helps her weather turmoil with inflation, economy, and recession in 1981.
income vs. consumption taxes
A consumption tax (also known as a cash-flow tax, expenditure tax, or consumed income tax) is levied on goods and services that are consumed. While an income tax is based upon income earned from labor or capital, a consumption tax is solely based upon consumption. Thatcher quietly raises consumption tax (which hits everyone equally) while lowering income tax (which hits the wealthiest the hardest)
Docklands Redevelopment
During 19th Century-port of London busiest in the world. Surrounding the docks were many industries using imported goods and high-density, poor quality housing (typical old inner-city area). In the 1950s-ships become bigger = unable to reach London’s docks. Declined and became abandoned. Thatcher opened up the docks to the free market and developers in early 1980’s.
Falkland Islands War
Falkland Islands are in South America, colonies to Britain and are expensive to maintain. Argentine Republic attempts to seize the islands in 1982, and this led to a 10 week war between Britain and (today’s) Argentina. Thatcher was betrayed with Reagan’s dissaproval of this “colonialist” move. Roughly 250 Brits died, and roughly 600 Argentinians died. This was a public success for Thatcher and led to her victory in the 1983 election.
Social Democratic Party
Formed in 1981. Broke away form labour party to make their own party.a balance of a degree of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy or social inequality. Formed a close alliance with liberals. In 1987, social dems got 25% of the vote. Liberals, their ally party, also got 25%. Thatcher’s conservative party got 42%.
“Poll Tax”
Thatcher implemented this in 1989, it was a way to change tax from property to a flat rate, This is because she felt that at a local level, less wealthy were voting for socialist ideas that were being paid for with money from the upper class. This had an incredible amount of backlash and led to riots across the country. Many citizens refused to pay taxes. This hurt her image badly.
Exchange Rate Mechanism
Initiated after the Berlin Wall fell. ERM allowed all European countries to shadow the D-Mark (German currency). Thatcher is strongly opposed to the idea of the pound following the D-mark, and loses the confidence vote in the House of Commons. This leads to her resignation.
Greece, Spain and Portugal
These three countries joined the EEC to solidify their democratic credentials (all 3 had military regimes previously). There wasn’t much economic benefit for them.
Jacques Delors
From 1985-1995 he was in charge of the EEC. Wanted to relaunch since it had been declining recently. Creates SEA to do so. This had support from France and Germany, since they wanted the EEC to grow. SEA went into effect and the EEC changed its name to the EC.
Single European Act (SEA)
Act used to revamp the EEC: made by Jacques Delors. The Act set the European Community an objective of establishing a single market by invoking the 4 freedoms: freedoms of goods, capital, service, and people. Up until that point had only focused on goods.
Project 1992
To join the EC, a country’s legislation must pass 300 laws. This was a large commitment and some felt that certain requirements went against their sovereign rights. This legislation was the first things that made people wonder if this was moving too quickly.
Maastricht Treaty
1991: The treaty led to the creation of the euro. Convergence criteria (key term) of the treaty for the members was to keep “sound fiscal policies, with debt limited to 60% of GDP and annual deficits no greater than 3% of GDP”- will make the currency weak otherwise. Britain doesn’t want to join the Euro. France wants Germany to weaken their strict policy and to let more European countries be considered for membership. Austria, Finland, and Sweden become members in 1995.
Monetary Union
France’s plan to deal with German unification. 1990: the D mark, the most valuable currency, will be exchanged one for one with the East German marks (very weak currency).
