how successful was thatcher 1979-90

Question 1

social

Answer 1

1. 1980 Housing Act: sale of council houses. aims to create “home-owning democracy”
   1990 65% of British population owned own homes.
2. 1980 Assisted Places Scheme: allows intelligent children from poor families to enter private schools.
3. cut university funding
4. 1988 Clause 28: promotion of homosexuality in schools unacceptable
5. market principles brought into NHS: aimed to make it more efficient, now had control over own budgets
6. 1987-1988 Education Reform Act: introduces National Curriculum in schools across UK, introduced GCSE’s.

Question 2

political

Answer 2

1. Victory in Falklands War (1982) = support. massively contributed towards electoral success in 1983.
2. Labour less popular due to leadership of Michael Foot (negative media)
3. Wet Tory MPs e.g. Carrington allow Thatcher to follow through more radical policies.
4. Westland Affair 1985-86 (public dispute)
   resignation of defence minister Michael Heseltine
   damaged reputation and embarrassed gov
5. Chancellor Lawson resigns 1989
   accused of starting the inflationary spirit.
6. Poll tax 1989/1990
   intended to replace the existing system of local rates. meant everyone had to pay not just householders. unpopular over 250,000 protested in Trafalgar Square.
7. Labour- modernisation slowly continues.

Question 3

economic

Answer 3

1. aimed to replace Keynesian economics with monetarist policies, which greatly reduced government spending.
2. Rise in unemployment
   Expenditure increases
   Productive capacity fell rapidly e.g. oil industry company BP
3. 3 million unemployed
4. Prices rise by 8% 1980
5. growth rate of 4%
6. gap between rich and poor polarises
7. Chancellor Lawson uses supply side economics to create feel-good factor.
8. Prosperity rose largely due to North Sea oil.
9. privatisation 1st term Amersham international 2nd term BT
10. Oct 1987- Black Monday stock market crash.
11. 1988 March budget = income tax bands cut to 40% and 25%.
12. 1989 inflation back to 8.3%.
13. Interest rates rise to 15%.
14. Labour’s economic programme accepted the market principles implemented by Thatcher.

Question 4

1st term?
2nd term?
3rd term?

Answer 4

1979-1982
1983-1987
1987-1990