Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Britain > Thatcher (1979-1990) > Flashcards

Thatcher (1979-1990) Flashcards

1
Q

How many seats switched from Labour to Conservative in the 1979 election?

A

40

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What was the falklands war and when was it?

A

1982
Argentinian dictator sent forces to capture British colony the Falkland Islands
Thatcher immediately sent forces and the Argentinian forces surrendered in June
655 Argentinians and 255 British died

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What events ensured a Conservative victory in the 1983 election?

A

• Victory in the Falklands war
• Appointment of Michael Foot as Labour leader (wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament) made Labour support decline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was the Labour manifesto described as in the 1983 election?

A

“The longest suicide note in history”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why did Thatcher win again in the 1987 election?

A

People were better off under her policies, gained votes from middle and working classes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What were the issues facing Britain economically in 1979?

A

• Nationalised industries were costly and unprofitable
• Prices had doubled since the start of the 1970s
• Lack of investment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

When did Thatchers privatisation begin and in what industry?

A

October 1979 with the sale of British Petroleum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How did Thatcher hope to solve inflation?

A

By reducing the amount of money in circulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What did the budgets of 1980 and 1981 do in the joes of reducing the amount of money in circulation?

A

Reduced government spending and increased indirect taxation
The value of the £ rose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How did Thatcher encourage investment?

A

• Direct taxation on businesses reduced
• Financial services act of 1986

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What did the 1986 Financial Services act do?

A

Deregulated dealing in stocks and shares -> opened up share trading

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How much did prices fall from 1983 to 1980?

A

18% -> 4.5%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How much did unemployment increase from 1980 to 1983?

A

1.5 million -> 3 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How many were unemployed in 1990?

A

2 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which foreign plant came to the north east?

A

Japanese car firm Nissan in 1986

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What percentage of its British manufacturing base did Britain lose and why?

A

15%
Due to a decline in the manufacturing industry as not all industries were profitable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What did the 1980 employment act declare?

A

• Outlawed secondary picketing
• Increased rights of workers who weren’t in a union
• Encouraged unions to hold secret ballots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is secondary picketing?

A

When another workplace that is not linked to a dispute also pickets (protests)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What did the 1982 employment act declare?

A

• Closed shops would only be allowed to workplaces with an 85% majority vote
• Restricted Sympathy strikes
• Gave compensation to workers who were sacked for not joining a union

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are sympathy strikes?

A

Workers who were not involved in a strike would take part in support of the strikers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What were closed shops?

A

When a workplace requires its workers to join a union

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What did the 1984 Trade Union act declare?

A

Required unions to hold a secret ballot before industrial action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

When was the miners strike?

A

1984-1985

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Who was the leader of the NUM?

A

Arthur Scargill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
How much did the National Coal Board lose from 1983-1984 alone? What did this prove?
£250 million Proved that the mining industry was not cost efficient
26
When did the government announce a pit closing programme?
March 1984
27
How many pits were to be closed and how many jobs would be lost following the pit closing programme?
20 pits closed 20,000 jobs lost
28
How was Arthur Scargill seen as ‘extremist’?
• Wanted a national strike, but not all mines voted in favour. In response he sent flying pickets to these mines to prevent coal moving out of them, often resulted in violence. • The Sun created a front cover featuring Arthur Scargill gesturing the Nazi salute with the headline “Mine Fuhrer”, however this was not published
29
How did the government prepare for this strike?
• 1981: The Central Elecrricity Board stock piled coal and oil in power stations • Home Secretary, Leon Brittan, set up a National Reporting Centre in New Scotland Yard which gave him central control of police in order to send officers to trouble spots
30
Why did the miner’s strike fail?
• Miners weren’t united • Less demand for coal in the spring and Sumer • Scargill too extremist • Scargill refused to hold a ballot - strike was legally illegitimate • Violent incidents on picket lines undermined public support for the miners
31
What union was set up for miners who didn’t want to strike?
Union of democratic workers set up in December 1984
32
When did the miners strike end?
3 March 1985
33
By how much did NUM membership fall from 1979 to 1987?
250,000 -> 100,000 Union ended the strike virtually bankrupt
34
What was the 1980 Housing Act?
Allowed long term residents of council houses (5 years) the right to buy their homes
35
How much did property ownership grow under Thatcher?
12%
36
How did Thatcher reform schools?
1986: O levels and CSEs replaced by GCSEs which were open to people of all abilities 1988: National curriculum and regular testing put in place
37
Why did thatcher reform education?
The quality of education had been an issue for a while, and many believed that Britain was falling behind other countries
38
How did the NHS become more cost effective?
Applied business principles which made hospitals compete with each other, self organising spending in the most effective way
39
When was there a cut in university budgets and what did this encourage?
1981 Had to accept more students to maintain income
40
What did the University Funding Council do?
Set up in 1988 Ensures universities reflected the needs of the economy - Increased funding to universities - Universities made accountable for their performances - Aligned funding with workplace needs (gave more funding the jobs in high demand to encourage students)
41
Who did thatcher describe as the “wets”?
Ministers in the Conservative Party who did not support thatchers harsh economic policies
42
Who did thatcher describe as “dries”?
Her supporters and allies
43
Which president did thatcher have a strong political relationship with?
President Ronald Reagan
44
Which iconic phrase did thatcher coin and what does it suggest?
“The lady is not for turning” She refused to make a U turn in her economic policies, made her appear strong and enforce her ‘iron lady’ image
45
What was the Brighton bombing and when did it happen?
12th October 1984 The IRA tried to kill Thatcher and her cabinet in the Grand Hotel in Brighton during a conference
46
How many people died in the Brighton bombing?
5 died 31 injured
47
How was Thatchers response to the bombing significant?
Won admiration for her courage as she continued to make speeches at the conference
48
What did the local government finance act of 1988 introduce?
The community charge which become known as the “poll tax”
49
What did the community charge do?
Replaced tax rates white a flat rate tax on every individual (with concessions for the least well off)
50
What was the response to the community charge in Scotland in 1989?
Millions refused to pay the tax (encouraged by the Scottish Nationalist Party)
51
When were there protests in Trafalgar square against the community charge?
31st March 1990 The day before the community charge was to be issued in England and wales Turned violent
52
How many were arrested and injured in the Trafalgar Square riots?
300 arrested 400 policemen injured
53
What did the community charge suggest about thatcher?
That she was becoming increasingly dictatorial, as many Tory MPs disagreed with the tax but thatcher continued to push it through
54
Who was the chancellor of the exchequer in 1987?
Nigel Lawson
55
When was the stock market crash and how did it affect share prices?
October 1986 Share prices wiped by 24%
56
What happened when Lawson reduced tax rates in the 1988 budget?
Triggered a boom in consumer spending which only pushed up prices
57
What was the rate of inflation in June 1989?
8.3%
58
What was the interest rate in October 1989? How did this affect home owners?
15% Home owners now had to pay heavily on their mortgages for houses they had been encouraged to buy
59
How did economic difficulties damage thatchers image?
Her “economic revolution” now looked less convincing
60
How did Thatcher’s opinion on the EEC make her unpopular?
Caused rift with her cabinet, demoting MPs who previously supported her. Weakened her authority and made her more isolated
61
Which MPs did Thatcher demote during EEC talks?
Demoted Howe from foreign office Lawson resigned as chancellor after losing faith in thatcher
62
Which by-elections saw a shift to Labour majority?
• Vale of Glamorgan in April 1989 • Mid Staffordshire by-election in March 1990 14,600 Conservative majority -> 9400 labour majority
63
How many MPs voted for Anthony Meyer to take over from Thatcher as PM in 1989?
33
64
What did the ballot of conservative MPs show about Thatchers leadership?
Showed how she was unpopular as a PM and that she would face challenges when going up against a legitimate candidate

Britain (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions