Thatcher and the political and social divisions within Britain - COLONIALISM Flashcards
What does colonialism refer to?
refers to a from of government that has imperial power ( such as the British Empire) has over people who have become a part of that colony.
what did some people belive with regards to how the white police officers acted in certain areas of the UK?
they felt they were acting as colonial army against black people in Brixton and Nottinghill.
what happened between 1918-1979?
millions of people from across the world began moving to Britain and making it their home, this saw the emergence of fight for rights groups amongsts asians and blacks.
what did the rise in black and asian protest reflect?
- racial discrimination, especially in housing and employment
- Thatcher’s stress on the importance of cultural uniformity - emphasising that black and Asian people needed to assimilate into society and adopt “British values.”
- Thatcher’s economic policy disadvantaged Black and Asian’s the most due to them being more deprived than white people.
what was the “new cross fire”?
18th January 1981 a fire swept through a house in london . a party was being held attended by black teenagers. a fire was started and 13 party-goers were killed. this was thought to be the cause of a racial attack by the national front and led to the establishment of the new cross massacre action comittee.
how did Thatcher respond to the New cross fire?
she issued no statement and parents of the kids that had died thought the police had mishandled the situation.
what did the New cross massacre action committee do is response to the lack of police help?
they started a black people’s day of action on the 2nd of March 1981, 20,000 marched through London and demanded justice for the dead. - this led to the government having to acknowledge what happened.
what police action was enforced after the protest?
swamp 81 which extended stop and search rights of black people in london leading to riots in 1981.
why were the riots in 1981 triggered?
rummours broke out that young black teenage Micheal Bailey died in police custody. 300 black and white youths clashed with 1,000 police men - cars were destroyed and shops looted.
what was the Scarman report?
after the riots and protests it forced the government to look into police investigations - therefore Lord Scarman made an inquiry and found :
- disproportionate and unecessary stop and searches
- complex political, social and economic factors played a role in the cause of the riots - he recognised the significant social divisions.
was Scarman’s proposal’s implemented?
no thatcher rejected them to be the cause of riots and there was little improvement in urban area’s.
was there a changing attitudes during the Thatcher period?
during thatcher and major the time was becoming more multi-cultural and blacks and Asians were better represented in society. for example there was a significant increase in the number of black and asian MP’s; including Dianne Abbott.
what did thatcher believe about the IRA >
?
that there could be no negotiating with them and the only way of dealing with them was by force.
who was Bobby Sands?
he was one of Britains highest profile IRA prisoners and had bee nsenteced to 14 years in prison for his [art in the IRA bomobing of Dunmurry.
why did Sands later become heard again?
he was on hunger strike protesting for:
- the right not to wear a prison uniform
- the right not to do prison work
- right of free association with other prisoners
- organise educational and recreational pursuits
- right to one visit one letter one parcel a week,
he believed he was treated differently for being a political criminal.
