Margaret Thatcher & the Enterprise (1979–1990) Flashcards
The 1970s saw the beginning of economic stagnation and declining competitiveness of key British industries in international markets. True or False
True
In spite of the economic difficulties experienced in Britain during the first part of the 1970s, trade unions were willing to compromise and demanded that government step forward to minimize the rising class tensions. True or False
False*
According to Margaret Thatcher, it was collectivism that had contributed to Britain’s decline by sapping British industry and permitting powerful and self-serving unions to hold the country for ransom. True or False
True
When New Labour took office in 1997, the British government began to look and feel like a dual executive, with Brown in charge of domestic policies and Blair responsible for foreign affairs. True or False
True
Tony Blair’s decision to support the U.S.-led war in Iraq was very popular because of the historical close friendship between the two countries. True or False
False
A highly regarded finance minister, Gordon Brown never mastered the political skills required for a successful prime minister. True or False
True
To assure a clear difference between New Labour and his form of conservatism, David Cameron consciously rejected, both in style and substance, much of Tony Blair’s early appeal. True or False
False
The Big Society argues for wide-ranging initiatives to empower ordinary citizens to take control over their lives and shift the balance of power downward from the state to communities and individual citizens. True or False
True
He headed the Conservative government in Britain from 1970 to 1974 that failed to the resolve the economic problems and political tensions that arose: a) John Major, b) Harold Wilson, c) James Callaghan, d) Edward Heath
d) Edward Heath
Britain underwent a rash of strikes throughout the winter of 1978–1979, referred to as: a) winter of labor solitude, b) winter of discontent, c) winter of disillusionment, d) winter of reversal.
b) winter of discontent
The neoliberal, rightwing regime of Margaret Thatcher came to be characterized by some as: a) authoritarian populism, b) radical liberalism, c) classical authoritarianism, d) social darwinism.
a) authoritarian populism
What brought down Margaret Thatcher in 1990? a) the election, b) corruption charges, c) a high-handed leadership style, d) personal scandal with her secretary.
c) a high-handed leadership style
What was the main reason Gordon Brown lost the election of 2010: a) horrible speaker and dreadful politician, b) inept economic leader that kept scapegoating the labor unions, c) revelations of his alcoholism destroyed his credibility, d) the dreary economic climate that prevailed and with the bitter aftertaste of the Iraq War.
d) the dreary economic climate that prevailed and with the bitter aftertaste of the Iraq War.
An outcome after a general election when no party can by itself control a majority of the seats in the British parliament: a) polarized parliament, b) hung parliament, c) sequestered parliament, d) constricted parliament.
b) hung parliament
In what ideological area were the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Britain able to find common ground? a) the days of big government are over, b) the House of Lords must be democratized, removing all forms of religion and the nobility, c) although the private sector must be encouraged, government and should support critical industries to assure future job growth, d) the public health care system must be scrapped because it is woefully bureaucratic and inefficient.
a) the days of big government are over,
