Key Vocabulary Flashcards
First-Past-The-Post
A voting system whereby the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins a seat in Parliament.
Great Depression
Started in the USA with the Wall Street crash when the value of shares on the stock exchange collapsed, economic activity was reduced across the world which led to mass unemployment in the 1930s- In Britain unemployment affected 25% of the workforce
One Nation Conservative
Believes that all classes in society have obligations to one another and that there is a particular responsibility for those who are better off to ensure the well being of those who are worse off.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Government minister responsible for economic and financial policy, the chancellor is often the most powerful person in the government after the Prime minister .
Appeasement
A policy of making concessions in order to avoid conflict, In the 1930s the British Government had aimed to prevent war with the Nazis by following this policy but failed.
Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament
The policy of removing the use and procession of nuclear weapons without waiting for any international consultation or agreement
Nationalisation
State ownership of key industries; the demand for state to control had been a central principle of the labour party from its beginning.
Bevenite
People who support Nye Bevin
CND
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, founded in 1958
Unilateralists
People who want Britain to give up Nuclear Weapons independently.
Productivity
efficiency i.e. getting more produced per worker, per shift, per hourly wage. In this way costs are reduced, profits are increased and workers are freed up for other uses.
Inflation
The increase in the price of goods and services which occurs when people have more money to spend than there are goods Some inflation can help an economy because it encourages manufacturers to expand businesses and employ more people, but too much can lead to an economy overheating as workers demand, higher wages.
Deflation
fall in the price of goods and services. Inflation controls that curb spending such as freezing wage rises, increasing taxation or making boring harder so the goods can not be bought on credit bring down prices. can lead to unemployment.
Stop- Go economics
the economics of stop go derived its name from the tensions between an expanding economy with low investment rates and consumer spending ‘go’ and the results of the economy overheating with wages and imports exceeding productivity and exports, necessitating a deliberate slowing down, or deflation of economy ‘Stop’
Balance of trade
the difference between the goods and country imports and exports. More imports than exports- trade deficit. More exports than imports- trade surplus.
Balance of payments
Includes invisible imports and exports i.e. services like shipping and banking. Balance of trade is part of balance of payments.
Run on the pound
A rapid fall in value of pound in international currency markets, especially in relation to US dollar.
Festival of Britain
Held a century after the great exhibition of 1851, intended to mark Britains recovery from the war and to look forward to the future celebrating new design, culture and industry.
Baby boom
in the years after the end of the Second World War there was a rise in the number of babies born, those born between 1946 and 1964 are usually seen as the baby boomers.
Infrastructure
the physical environment of a modern developed society including the network of communications such as roads, railways, airports and telecommunications, the industrial base, the public buildings, the schools and the housing stock.
Council houses
houses built by local authorities to house the working class, often replace slums; rents tended to be lower than in privately rented accommodation
Butlins
Chain of holiday camps founded by Billy Butlin in 1936, camps built at popular seaside resorts like Skegness, Clacton and Blackpool; guests stayed in chalets and entertainment and activities were provided.
Family Allowances
A weekly benefits paid for each child in a family; it was renamed child benefit in 1977
New commonwealth
Those countries which had recently gained independence, India, Pakistan and West Indies and so on, as compared to the old commonwealth countries such as Australia, NewZealand, Canada and South Africa; the term became a useful, indirect way of differentiating between nonwhite and white population
Repatriation
Returning someone to their place of origin
National service
This Conscripted young men for 2 years in military uniform, it was introduced in 1947 and lasted until 1960
Arguments for comprehensive system
-selection process such as 11 plus exams was psychologically dubious and unreliable
-greater share of public money went to top tier schools leaving lower tiers impoverished
-bright pupils performed as well academically in comprehensive as in grammar schools
Arguments against comprehensive system
-comprehensive schools had denied able students from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to benefit from a specialist school education fitted to their needs
-since quality of schools dependent on area in which they were situated, there was no alternative in a deprived area to a poor comprehensive now that grammar schools were being abolished
-wealthy parents had choice of moving to a better area so that their children could go to a better comprehensive school. Poorer parents had no such choice. The result was not therefore greater educational fairness and opportunity but less. Selection by ability replaced by selection according to parental income.
The establishment
- Refers not to a specific social class but to those individuals or groups whose background and status or control of the media gave them the means to influence government policy and shape public opinion and attitudes. Conservative Party were seen to be run by the establishment.
Social mobility
- individuals and households moving between the perceived class system. This increased in the 1950s due to the economic boom.
Deference
polite submission and respect to those considered superior.
Wolfenden committee
established in august 1954 to enquire into the legality of homosexuality.
Atlantic Alliance
term used to refer to NATO, formed in 1949 to defend Western alliance in the Cold War, it was made up of 12 countries, it created a collective defence policy ie if one of the members was attacked it would be defended by all of them.
Superpower
an extremely powerful nation with influence over other countries
EEC
European Economics Community- an economic union often known as the common market, first established by the treaty of Rome in 1957. 6 founder members were France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) became known as the European Union in 1992
Cold War
term used to describe tensions between the West and the Communist states after WW2. It lasted until the collapse of communism in 1989-90 and had great impact on British foreign policy throughout this period
Special relationship
term describing close relation between UK and USA based off historical, diplomatic, cultural, economic and military ties between the 2 countries, strengthened by being key allies during the Cold War.
EFTA
European free trade association- created 1960 by Britain, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland as an alternative to the EEC, sometimes referred to as the outer seven as an oppose to the inner six of the EEC. Created a free trade area, although each EFTA member could negotiate separately with non EFTA members.
GDP
(Gross domestic product) - a term used by economists for the total value of a nations economy
Devaluation
Lowers the value of a currency in comparison to others in a fixed exchange system
Prices and incomes policy
Government intervention to set limits on price rises and to call for wage restraint in negotiations between unions and employers
‘wildcat’ strikes
Sudden unofficial local disputes begun without reference to the national leadership
White paper
A document written by the govt that sets out a possible policy direction but makes no commitments
Unionist
Supporter of the union of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to form the UK
Nationalist
In the British context this usually means someone who supports independence from Scotland or Wales or is in favour of a United Ireland
Irish Republican Army
(IRA) organisation that fought for independence in the Irish war of independence ; it did not accept the partition of Ireland
Parliamentary
a non- state military force
Apprentice boys
a loyalist organisation that marches annually to commemorate the closing of the gates to the city of Derry to Catholic forces in 1688 by the 13 apprentice boys
1921 Treaty
The Anglo-Irish agreement that had partitioned the island of Ireland between an independent south Ireland and Northern Ireland (loosely referred to as ulster) which remained part of the UK.
Gerrymandering
Manipulating constituency boundaries
B specials
A wholly protestant reserve police force on which the full time police could call
Royal Ulster constabulary
RUC, an almost exclusively protestant armed police force
Free vote
Individual MPs can vote according to their own conscience rather than following an official party line
Unanimity
This meant that all 12 jurors had to agree on the verdict; majority verdicts meant that a decision could be reached if at least 10 jurors agreed
Decriminalisation
Removing an action or behaviour from the scope of the Law so that the action or behaviour can no longer be subjected to prosecution or be liable to fines or imprisonment
Comprehensive school
One which provides secondary education for all the children in a given area, it does not select its pupils.
Direct Grant School
Mostly old endowed grammar schools which admitted a substantial proportion of pupils on scholarships from the LEAs ; they were phased out from 1976
Private members bills
Bill introduced by an MP who isn’t a government minister
“lame duck’ industry
one that is unable to compete and survive without support from the State
decimalisation
this had been agreed in 1965 but came into force in
1971; the new British currency would have 100 new pence, rather than 144 old pennies in the pound, bringing it more in line with the currencies of other European countries
stagflation
a word invented by economists to describe the unusual combination of inflation and stagnant economic growth (which often produces unemployment) occurring at the same time
U- turn
a reversal of a previous policy;
Edward Heath’s U-turn in 1971 to 1972 was his retreat from the free-enterprise economic principles his government had tried to follow from 1970
OPEC
(Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries): led by Saudi Arabia this aimed to protect the interests of its members; OPEC agreed to fix levels of production to prevent prices from falling too low
hung parliament
a situation where no political party has an overall majority in the House of Commons
minority government
a government that doesn’t have an overall majority in Parliament
sectarian
relating to divisions in society which in Northern Ireland were based on religion
internment
locking up suspects
without trial
direct rule
Northern Ireland would be ruled from London rather than having its own separate parliament
proportional representation
a system of voting whereby those elected are in proportion to the number of votes received
sectarian
relating to divisions in society which in Northern Ireland were based on religion
Internment
locking up suspects without trial
Direct rule
Northern Ireland would be ruled from London rather than having its own separate parliament
Social Contract
This would involve voluntary pay restraint by the trade unions and in return the government would repeal Heaths Industrial Act and pay board.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Formed at the end of the second world war, it was designed to promote economic stability and growth across the world
Vote of no confidence
A vote on whether the government is considered able to continue governing ; if it is lost then the government must call a general election
Devolution
The transfer of powers to a lower level of government
Referendum
A public vote held on a particular issue
Patriarchy
A solid structure that privileges men
Reproductive rights
The rights to have information about, and ability to make decisions regarding, having children ; this would include both contraception and abortion
Conviction Politician
Someone who follows policies based on their own beliefs rather than because they are popular or to follow what had gone before.
Think Tank
An organisation that researches potential social, political and economic policies, it can be attached to a particular ideology or be natural.
Wet
A derisive nickname given to a member of the Conservative Party by Mrs Thatcher and her supporters for being soft and squeamish about the social consequences of monetarist economic policies; they could also be seen as one-nation conservatives.
Dry
A nickname given to Conservatives who were firm and uncompromising in their support for monetarism.
Norman Tebbit
was an outspoken Essex MP who was appointed Trade Secretary in Margaret
Thatcher’s first cabinet and later became party chairman. His down-to-earth and abrasive style made him very popular with the new Thatcherites though not their opponents; Michael Foot described him as a semi-house-trained polecat. In 1987, he left the government, though he remained loyal to Thatcherite ideals.
Sir Geoffrey Howe
served as trade minister in Heath’s government until 1974 and was Mrs
Thatcher’s first Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1979 to 1983. He presided over the application of monetarist principles to economic policies. From 1983 to 1989, he was foreign minister but his views on Europe came into conflict with Thatcher’s. His resignation speech in 1990 helped to cause her fall from power.
Nigel Lawson
served in Thatcher’s first term as Howe’s number two at the Treasury and replaced Howe as Chancellor in 1983. His expansionary budgets of 1987 and 1988 created the
‘Lawson boom. In 1989, Lawson resigned from the government, furious about the excessive influence wielded by Thatcher’s private economic adviser,
Professor Alan Walters.
Micheal Heseltine
was a millionaire who became a leading Conservative politician in the 1980s. Because of his long hair and flamboyant style, his nickname was “Tarzan. His ‘One Nation’ and pro-European views brought him into conflict with Thatcher and he resigned from her cabinet in 1986 over the Westland affair. Many Thatcherites blamed him for the fall of Thatcher in 1990. He was later deputy prime minister to John Major.
INLA
Irish National
Liberation Army, whose republicanism was part of its programme for Marxist world revolution.
SAS
Special Air Service, a special forces regiment of the British army whose duties include counterterrorist operations.
Bobby Sands
joined the IRA as a teenager in 1972.
He said he did this because of his experiences growing up in Belfast.
His family was moved three times as Protestants used violence and intimidation to force Catholics out of their houses. The final straw came when he was forced by gunmen to leave his job. He was arrested in 1972 for possession of firearms; after his release in 1976 he was involved in the bombing of a furniture showroom and sentenced to 14 years in prison. While in prison he wrote poetry and articles about the IRA prisoners. His death, at the age of 27, made him a martyr for the republican movement.
Gerry Adams
became leader of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, in 1981. He was elected MP for West Belfast in 1983 but refused to attend the English parliament’ because this would entail swearing an oath of allegiance to the queen. Adams was one of the architects of Sinn Fein’s twin-track strategy, using “the armalite and the ballot box. In the 1990s, he played a leading role in the IRA ceasefires and the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement
Monetarism
an economic theory promoted by Milton Friedman and the ‘Chicago School’ of economists; they argued that the best way for governments to control inflation was by restraint of government spending and borrowing and, above all, by strict curbs on the money supply, i.e. the amount of currency in circulation
Rates
local taxation charged by local councils on all privately owned business and houses; the controversial Community Charge was introduced to replace domestic rates in 1990
PSBR
Public sector borrowing requirement.
The public sector includes the whole of national and local government and the nationalised industries. The costs of running these is met from government revenue.
If the revenue is insufficient, the difference is made up by borrowing. The gap between government revenue and government needs is known as the PSBR.
‘Sus’ Law
A regulation that allowed police to stop and search’ people suspected of criminal behaviour.
‘Wets’
Applied during the Thatcher years to those in the government and Conservative Party who opposed or were uncertain about the tough measures that Mrs Thatcher adopted.
Ken Livingstone
made his name as a left-wing activist on Lambeth Borough Council. In 1981, he became leader of the GLC and remained leader until the GLC was abolished in 1986. He was the first elected Mayor of London from 2001 to 2008. Livingstone was regarded as an unreliable maverick by the Labour Party leadership, who tried to block his election in 2001. After he proved popular and successful, he was allowed to rejoin the party in 2005.
Privatisation
Privatisation The selling of nationalised (government-owned) concerns fully or in part to private buyers and investors.
Shareholders
Shareholders Investors in companies or public utilities, such as electricity and gas
North Sea oil
North Sea oil This resource had begun to be tapped in the late 1970s and turned Britain from a net importer to a net exporter of oil
denationalisation
the selling off of publicly owned industries to the private sector
financial deregulation
the loosening of controls on banks and financial markets, which led to a massive boom in investment banking and financial speculation; the issue of deregulation became very controversial in the Great Crash of 2008
the City or the Square Mile
shorthand for the financial district of London in which the London Stock Exchange and the Bank of England are based, as well as the headquarters of many multinational corporations; the City is governed by the City of London Corporation which is headed by the Lord Mayor and it has its own police force separate to the Metropolitan Police
Yuppie
short for young urban professional; in the 1980s it was used to describe people working in cities with large amounts of disposable income which was spent on consumer goods such as cars and the very first mobile phones
Secondary Picketing
Picketing a location not directly involved in the dispute i.e. might supply or sell the products involved.
Edwina Currie
Edwina Currie (b. 1946) was elected as a Conservative MP for Derbyshire South in 1986. She was a strong supporter of Thatcher and served as junior health minister between 1986 and 1988. She was famous for making controversial statements and had to resign her ministerial post after claiming that most egg production was affected with salmonella; it was later shown that she was right. She lost her seat at the 1997 election.
NCB
National Coal Board
NUM
National Union of Mineworkers
UDM
Union of Democratic Mineworkers
Junta
A military group that rules a country after taking power by force.
Handbag Diplomacy
A term used to describe Thatcehrs more abrasive style of negotiation in comparison to the more measured and patient negotiation that was more usual for Foreign Office diplomats
European Monetary Union
A Shared currency across the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty set out the conditions for this. It came into being in 1999.
Eurosceptic
A term used to describe someone who is opposed to the increasing influence and power of the European Economic Community ( EU after 1992); Eurosceptics are usually contrasted to Europhiles - pro-europeans
Ronald Reagan
President of the USA 1981-89, supported the extension of supply side economics and his economic policies were nicknamed ‘Reagonomics’ in the USA. He also shared Thatchers dislike for trade unions.
Pope John Paul II
Stauch anti communist and his influence was greatly feared by the communist leadership in Poland and USSR
Mikhail Gorbachev
Tried to reform the soviet communist system in order to save it. Leader of USSR in 1985 and from 1987 promoted ideas of modernisation and openness. Willing to end cold war and let soviet satellite states in east central Europe go their own way.
Micheal Heseltine
Defence secretary who resigned over Westland helicopter company being allowed to go to the USA
Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM)
Set up in 1979, it aimed to stabilise the exchange rates between different currencies
in the European Economic
Community by limiting how much their value could change
Clause IV
One of the iconic socialist principles that had been enshrined in Labour’s constitution - the commitment to state ownership of key industries; the rewriting of Clause IV meant that the Labour Party was no longer committed to nationalisation; in effect they had accepted the privatisations of Thatcher and Major
New Labour
The term used by
Labour modernisers after 1994 to demonstrate to the electorate that the party was different to the Labour Party of the past which had failed to attract sufficient voter support to win an election between 1979 and 1992.
Spin Doctor
A spokesperson employed to give a favourable interpretation of events to the media, especially on behalf of a political party
Closed Shop
Workers all have to be members of a particular union in order to work in a particular job
One Member, One Vote (OMOV)
Individual members of the Labour Party would vote on the selection of parliamentary candidates. This lessened the influence of the trade unions
Social liberalism
Endorses social justice, want to make society fairer and support individual rights and freedoms
Social conservatism
Believe traditional values should be protected and promoted by the government and society
Anti Establishment
Opposes traditional powers and authority
Establishment
Refers to powerful and influential groups that hold control or authority , such as the monarchy
Federalism
Political system where power is distributed between a central govt and smaller parts of state
Social Chater
Part of Maastricht Treaty aimed to regulate working conditions such as max hours in a working week and employment rights for part time workers.
The Third Way
Middle way between ‘Old’ labour which championed the role of the state and the Thatcherite policies of the Tories post 1979 which favoured the market. Influential in Blairs New Labour and Clinton’s USA.
Euro
A common European Currency was set up by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992; Britain had negotiated an opt-out and chose not to join when it launched in 1999
Liberal Interventionism
a belief that a country should intervene in another country for liberal’ aims i.e. to support human rights
Taliban
Taliban: a fundamentalist Islamic movement; the Taliban had taken over Afghanistan in the aftermath of the civil war which followed the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organisation made up of a loose conglomeration of fighting cells with no clear chain of command. Before 2001 they had attacked the World Trade Center in New York in 1993 and had also carried out bomb attacks on US embassies in Africa in 1996.
Weapons of mass destruction
(WMD): nuclear, chemical or biological weapons; Saddam Hussein was known to have used chemical weapons previously but had expelled UN weapons inspection teams in 1997
Isolationism
a foreign policy strategy whereby a country does not get involved in the affairs of other countries
