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History- Britain > Thatcher 1979-90 > Flashcards

Thatcher 1979-90 Flashcards

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1
Q

Why did voters prefer to vote for the conservatives in the 1979 election?

A
  • Punish labour for its failure to deal with inflation, unemployment and Trade Unions. (winter of discontent.)
  • Middle class were resentful about strikes and trade union power.
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2
Q

What happened to the liberal democrats in the 1979 election?

A

Held most of their seats but lost over a million votes due to people associating them with keeping Callaghan’s gov in office.
- This gave more votes to the conservatives.

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3
Q

What happened to Labour in the 1979 election?

A
  • They maintained their votes from the industrial north, wales and Scotland
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4
Q

How popular were the conservatives by 1981? What happened despite this?

A

Not as popular due to the rise in unemployment and economic problems such as the recession.

Conservatives won the 1983 election despite a reduced popular vote.

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5
Q

What did the Falklands war show?

A

British victory showed confidence and unity

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6
Q

Why did the labour party to split in 1981?

A

The SDP formed an alliance with the Liberals.
- this split the anti-thatcher votes and allowed the conservatives to gain some labour seats.

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7
Q

What is significant about the 1987 election?

A

The conservatives won more seats than in 1979 or 1983, but lost 21 seats.

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8
Q

Why did the conservatives lose 21 seats in 1987?

A

The weaknesses of the labour party and their split wasn’t important anymore, the same with the Falklands victory and the winter of discontent.

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9
Q

Why were the conservatives leading in the opinion polls?

A
  • Government policy of selling off council houses was popular to middle class voters.
  • This caused the belief that the government supported their desire to gain wealth and status.
  • Decrease in unemployment and strong pound.
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10
Q

Who was Neil Kinnock and what did he do?

A

The new labour party leader, gained Labour 1.5 mil more votes than in 1983 and won 20 more seats.

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11
Q

What were Thatcher’s economic policies?

A
  • Privatisation of industries.
  • Government no longer supported failing industries and they were to close despite causing unemployment.
  • Less gov spending and raised taxes to reduce money circulation.
  • Value of £ rose (more valuable for investors abroad.)
  • Taxes on businesses reduced to increase investment.
  • High interest rates.
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12
Q

What was the impact of Thatcher’s economic policies?

A
  • Prices fell by 13.5% in 3 years.
  • Unemployment rose to 3 million by 1983.
  • Increased foreign investment (Nissan established a plant in the north east)
  • New businesses didn’t reduce unemployment.
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13
Q

Was there an economic revolution?

A
  • Shift from public sector to private sector.
  • Encouragement of enterprise, small business and stock market investment.
  • More homeowning
  • Businesses were more competitive.
  • More consumer choice.
  • Employment moved away from traditional industries.
    BUT:
  • Encourages a ‘get rich quick’ culture which meant less concern for the rights of workers.
  • Lost 15% of its manufacturing base.
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14
Q

What legislation did Thatcher put in place to tackle TU’s?

A
  • 1980 employment act: outlawed secondary picketing, gave more rights to workers not in unions and encouraged secret ballots in unions.
  • 1982 employment act: restricted sympathy strikes, compensation to anyone fired for not wanting to be in a union.
  • 1984 Trade union act: required unions to hold secret ballots on industrial action.
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15
Q

Why did the miners strike of 1984-85 happen?

A
  • National Coal Board was making a £250 million loss between 1983-84 alone.
  • Government were serious about shutting down loss-making industries.
  • Coal strike began in March 1984 after announcement that there would be 20,000 job losses.
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16
Q

Who was Arthur Scargill?

A
  • Leader of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
  • He wnated a national strike but some miners in different area voted against strike action.
  • He sent flying pickets to stop people from working and prevent coal movement.
  • Caused violence between workers and the police.
17
Q

How did the government prepare for the strikes?

A
  • A secret gov committee was set up in 1981 to stockpile coal.
  • Home secretary, Leon Brittan, set up the National Reporting centre to ensure the control of policing and to move police to troubled areas.
18
Q

Why was the miners strike defeated?

A
  • Miners weren’t united, the Union of Democratic Mineworkers was created in Dec 1984.
  • Strike in Spring and Summer when there was less demand for coal.
  • Violence undermined publics support for the strike.
19
Q

What was the impact of the Miners strike?

A
  • NUM membership dropped by 150,000 in 8 years.
  • Bankrupt.
  • Divided opinion on Thatcher.
20
Q

What was Thatcher’s social policy involving council houses?

A
  • She believed if people owned something then they were less likely to be socilalist
  • 1980 housing act allowed long term council tenants the right to buy their homes.
  • Tax relief on mortgages for people who own their house.
  • Government subsidies for mortgages doubled.
  • Property ownership grew by 12%.
21
Q

What was Thatcher’s social policy involving the NHS?

A
  • Hospitals were allowed become self governing NHS trusts and control their own budget.
  • GP’s controlled their own budgets.
22
Q

What was Thatcher’s social policy involving schools?

A
  • 1986: O levels and CSE’s were replaced with GCSE’s.
  • 1988: national curriculum established.
  • State schools given option to be self controlled and have their own budgets.
23
Q

What was Thatcher’s social policies involving Universities?

A
  • 1981: cut in University budgets, forced to seek more revenue and accept more students.
  • University Funding Committee created in 1988 to ensure education focused on benefiting the economy and not research.
  • Removal of polytechnics.
  • Grants for young people to attend uni.
24
Q

Was Thatcher popular within the party?

A
  • Didn’t have backings of senior members.
  • Many were loyal to Heath and disliked Thatcher.
  • Established a small band of loyalists.
25
Q

Who were the wets and dries?

A

Wets: those older ministers who were concerned about her economic policies and action against TU’s.
Dries: Thatcher’s allies.

26
Q

How was Thatcher’s relationship with US president Reagan?

A

Strong political and personal relationship.

27
Q

What was the Brighton bombing?

A

Irish terrorist group tried to kill Thatcher and her cabinet by bombing the hotel they stayed at for a conference
- Unsuccessful at killing her.
- Continued to make the speech at conference.

28
Q

Why was Thatcher called the ‘iron lady’?

A

For her leadership style and economic policies and her action against Trade Unions.

29
Q

Why did the poll tax cause Thatcher to resign in November 1990?

A

The Poll tax: introduced a flat rate tax on home ownership regardless of income etc.
- Many people in the party disagreed with the tax as they saw it to be very unpopular.
- Demonstration in Trafalgar Square London where 300 people were arrested and 400 policemen hurt.
- Thatcher went ahead with the policy regardless.

History- Britain (8 decks)

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