Margaret thatcher Flashcards
Explain what happened in 1979
- Wins first election (44 seat majority)
- relations became very strained around the time of the 1981 budget- spending cuts
- first cabinet is a mix of ‘Thatchents’ and ‘wets’
Explain what happened in 1983
- wins second election after Falklands war- majority increased to 144
-economic policy- dealing with the recession + monetanism - privatisation + deregulation
- education, SATS, league tables + national curriculum
- Taxation and local government- poll tax
What caused the Falklands war?
Argentina claimed Islas Malvina because of its natural proximity to the South American mainland
- Britain wanted to recover the Falklands island for Britain
What was Margaret thatcher like at the start ?
- political future was in serious question
- faced criticism from her cabinet and the public in response of her domestic policies
- spending cuts- a declining manufacturing industry and high unemployment
What was Margaret thatcher’s turning point?
The Falklands war - 1982 lasted 74 days
Why was the Falklands war Margaret thatcher’s turning point?
- quick response made her popular
-Britain’s longest- serving prime minister of 20th century
1979-1990
How was Margaret thatcher described?
’ Iron lady’- she was strong, made of steel
‘restored the Great in Great Britain’
What and where was Margaret thatcher’s majorites?
1979- 44
1983-144
What is poll tax?
- system of local taxation where each tax player paid the same fixed sum
Why was Margaret Thatcher seen as a presidential government?
- dominated over her cabinet
- had an early stand off with the ‘wets’(opps) with her cabinet and stood firm
- used powers of patronage o sack ad demote them + promoted supporters
-lack of codified constitution- seemed to be in complete control of government
What are ‘wets’?
Those who opposed her policies
What are ‘dries’?
her supporters
