The Impact of Thatcherism 1979-1987 Flashcards
1
Q
What were the main challenges facing Thatcher in 1979?
A
-Following the winter of discontent > industrial relations low
-Inflation and the value of the pound
-Devolution
-Cold war > Britains diminishing world status
-Northern Ireland
-Unemployment was high
2
Q
What is Thatcherism?
A
-New harsh shift to the right with a strong stance on free market economics, the unions and the welfare state.
-Focus on the individual
-Small state
-The job is to get out of the way
3
Q
Who was Keith Joseph?
A
-Leading conservative thinker
-Introduced Thatcher to the ideas of liberalism and free-market economics
4
Q
What did Keith Joseph believe?
A
-Believed that the role of the state > provides conditions in which individuals are free to make their own choices > Individualism and liberalism
5
Q
How could Thatcherism address the problems of 1979?
A
-Inflation > The dismantling of stop-and-go economics creates the ability to allow free-market economics and reduces the inability for economic planning
-Firm stance against the unions > challenge union leaders authority
6
Q
Who was Michael Heseltine?
A
-Wet
-Secretary of state for the environment 1979
-Promoted “right to buy” campaign > allowed people to purchase their council houses
7
Q
Who was Jim Prior?
A
-Wet
-1979 > Employment secretary > Norman Tebbit took over in 1981
-1981 > NI secretary
8
Q
Who was Francis Pym?
A
-Wet
-Defence secretary and then foreign secretary
9
Q
Who was Geoffrey Howe?
A
-Dry
-1979 > Chancellor in the first cabinet
-Foreign secretary in 1983
-1989 > demoted to leader of the commons
10
Q
What was said about debating with Howe?
A
‘like being savaged by a dead sheep’
11
Q
Who was Willie Whitelaw?
A
-Dry
-Deputy PM, Home Secretary until the 1983 election where was made the leader of the HOL
12
Q
Who was Keith Joseph in the cabinet?
A
-Dry
-Appointed Trade secretary in 1979
-seen as an intellectual > driving force of Thatcherism
-dubbed the ‘mad monk’
-by 1981 he had moved to education
13
Q
Why did Thatcher struggle to assert her authority when she first took over as PM?
A
-Did not have the backing of many senior members of the party
-Loyalties to heath from the more experienced MPs
14
Q
What characterised the ‘wets’ in Thatchers cabinet?
A
-They were one nation tories
15
Q
What characterised the ‘dries’ in Thatcher’s cabinet?
A
-They were ideologically aligned with the basis of Thatcherism
16
Q
How did Thatcher begin to overcome the challenges within her party 1979-1982?
A
-Established a small band of loyalists
-Backed in the commons by an energetic group pf supportive MPs
-Very popular with grassroots members
17
Q
What role did the ‘dries’ play in Thatcher’s management of cabinet?
A
-Key ministerial roles
-Sacked ‘wets’ to push her ideas to the forefront
18
Q
How was Thatcher successful in reducing inflation through her economic policy 1979 to 1983?
A
-Interest rates were increased > discourage spending > 1981 VAT rose from 8% to 15%
-1981 Indirect taxation increased > duty on petrol increased 20p per gallon, duty on cigarettes increased by 13p
-By 1983 inflation fell from 22% to 5%
-Interest rates were raised to 17% in 1979
19
Q
How can Thatcher’s economic policy of 1979-1983 be seen as a failure in reducing inflation?
A
-Tax burden in the early 1980s was higher under Thatcher than any Labour govt
-By 1980 inflation was above 15% > stagflation was back
-May 1979 Inflation hit 22%
20
Q
How did Thatcher successfully support the Private sector through her economic policy from 1979 to 1983?
A
-The govt cut direct taxation > 1979 top rate of tax was cut to 75% > standard rate fell from 33% to 30%
-redistributed indirect taxation > favoured the wealthy
-Outsourcing > more common > local govt encouraged to give contracts to private companies
-BP privatised in 1979 > British Aerospace privatised in 1980
-Housing Act 1980 > Right to buy scheme > 2million bought their homes
21
Q
How can Thatcher’s economic policy of 1979-1983 be seen as a failure in supporting the private sector?
A
-Enterprise Allowance Scheme 1983 > One in six of the start-up businesses failed in the first year
-Not able to pursue privatisation fully due to unemployment
-£ 9 million to save the maiden motorcycle corporation
-£200million was given to the computer giant ICL to prevent liquidation
-£13million was assigned to write off the debts of the National film finance
22
Q
How can Thatcher’s economic policy of 1979-1983 be seen as a failure in reducing govt spending?
A
-Govt borrowing continued to rise > Howe aimed to reduce govt borrowing from £9.25billion to £8.25billion by 1980
-January 1881 Govt borrowing was revealed to hit £14.5billion
-Led to the 1981 budget cuts > “most unpopular budget in history” > The Times > 1981 364 economists wrote to the Times highly critical of Thatcher
-Public spending as a proportion of GDP jumped from 44.8% to 47.3% between 1980-1981 due to cost of unemployment benefits
23
Q
How did Thatcher successfully create jobs through her economic policy from 1979 to 1983?
A
-Enterprise Allowance scheme 1981 > Creating new businesses > seen to create new jobs
-EAS > £40 per week to unemployed people who set up their own business
-Youth unemployment schemes created > encouraged employment to take on young people
24
Q
How can Thatcher’s economic policy of 1979-1983 be seen as a failure in creating jobs?
A
-EAS > seen not to help those lower down in society
-Unemployment by 1980 was above 2 million
-By 1983 unemployment reached 3 million> 13.5% of the workforce > Liverpool 25% unemployed
25
How did Thatcher successfully control the unions through her economic policy from 1979 to 1983?
-Employment acts in 1980 and 1982 outlawed secondary picketing > made closed shops illegal and declared industrial action illegal unless the workers voted
26
How did the Economic policy lead to increased riots and resistance?
-Economic policy led to increased unemployment and hardship > Brixton 13% unemployment > Unemployment for ethnic minority groups 25% in Brixton > Unemployment for Black school leavers in Brixton was 50%
-Riots broke out in Brixton, Toxteth, Moss Side
-Thatcher used Police repression > 'Sus laws'
27
What were the 'SUS' laws?
-Stop and search for a suspicious person
-Mainly aimed at young black men
28
What happened on the 18th of January 1981 which suggests poor relations between ethnic minorities and the govt?
-Fire broke out in New Cross (SE London) > killing 13 black teenagers celebrating a 16th birthday
-There were no messages or condolences sent by public figures > "13 dead and nothing said" became the slogan > accusations of a police cover up > peaceful protests
29
What happened in April 1981 which suggests poor relations between ethnic minorities and the govt?
-Campaign in Brixton to bring law and order by the police called "Swamp 81"
-Violence between the community and the police > 279 police injured, 45 members of the public, 82 arrested and 28 buildings torched
30
What happened in July 1981 which suggests poor relations between ethnic minorities and the govt?
-Rioting broke out in Bristol, Toxteth (Liverpool), Birmingham, Blackpool, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Preston and Wolverhampton
31
When was the Falklands war?
April to June 1982
32
What was significant about the Falklands?
-Under British rule since 1833
-small population > 80% supported British rule
-400 miles off the coast of Argentina
33
What did the Foreign secretary do in 1981regarding the Falklands?
-Withdrew Britain's only ship in the South Atlantic > HMS Endurance
34
What happened during the Falklands conflict?
-British airstrikes on Argentine forces on the island
-200 mile exclusion zone enforced
-The US allowed GB to use bases but did not support it with troops or resources
-Belgrano snak by the British submarine, HMS Sheffield destroyed by an Argentine missile
-UN worked on a peace treaty > undermined by the conflict from both sides
35
When did British forces reclaim port stanley?
14th June 1982
36
What were the political benefits of the Falkland war for Thatcher?
-Celebrated war leader > likened to Churchill
-Military victory overseas was popular > "Falklands factor"
-Personal approval ratings of Thatcher increased
-42.4% voted for conservative in the 1983 election (397 seats) > only 27.6% for labour (209 seats)
37
How did the Falklands strengthen Thatcher's position?
-Could exploit the FF for full political gain > personalisation of politics
-Member state of the UN > She felt she was defending the UN
-Used Lord Carrington's resignation (foreign sec) to lessen blame for the invasion
The military heavily supported Thatcher's approach
-Seen to dominate the world stage
-Blame foreign and commonwealth offices for corrupting views "Rent a spine"
-War cabinet agreed with Thatcher > Declined Pym and Hague's peace proposals
38
What significant quotes were said by Thatcher regarding the Falklands war?
-' Britain held its head high'
-' You can't negotiate the freedom of your people
39
What was the Falklands war impact on Britain's relationship with Britain?
-America stood ready to support 'peace and honour'
-Alan Hagues (Secretary of State) > wanted a negotiated peace settlement
-Foreign sec > Pym and Hagues met in Washington > Thatcher did not like Hague's proposals of conceding to the Argentines
-Thatcher ignores the US > tensions rise > rejection of American proposals > Thatcher stands her ground
40
What did the Falklands do to weaken opposition to the Conservatives?
-Labour party divided
-Labour fully supports the UN and wants to settle peace treaty > difficult as thatcher won the war > Cannot criticise too much > British deaths and British patriotism
41
What characterised the 'Looney left'?
-Heavily influenced by Marxism
-Tied to radical Trade Unions
-Strong in Local councils > especially in London and Liverpool
-Factions within the Labour Party
-Militant tendency > far left, radical, Trotskyist branch of the Labour party > held some labour local councils
-Barmy Bernie > Bernie Grant
-Red Ken > Ken Livingstone
-Red Pete > Peter Tatchall
42
Who were the Labour leaders during Thatcher's time in office?
-Callaghan until Nov 1980
-Micheal foot from Nov 1980 till Oct 1983
-Neil Kinnock Oct 1983
43
Why was the Labour party it's own worst enemy from 1979-1987?
-divided party more concerned with its own internal wrangles than preparing itself for govt
-Split between right and left of the party
44
What was the significance of Tony Benn in the Labour Party?
-Right-wing tabloids > portrayed him as a dangerous representative of the Looney left
-opposed EEc and EU > saw them as undemocratic
-couldn't convert his popularity into a successful bid for leadership
-More left-wing than Foot and had support of MIlitant tendency
45
Why was Foot deemed as unsuccessful as a leader?
-Led the 1983 campaign in an uninspiring way
46
What did Benn do in the 1980 and 1981?
-Led a campaign to change the party constitution > resolutions that required all Labour MPs to seek reselection by their constituencies > forcing g through left policies > hijacked left
47
What were elements in Labour's 1983 manifesto which enabled them to come close to 'political oblivion'?
-5 year plan
-Improve industrial relations through union democracy
-Increase nationalisation
-Ban arms sales to oppressive regimes
-leave the EEC
48
What was the gang of four?
-Four main labour MPs who broke away to form the SDP
49
Who were the four MPs who created the SDP?
-William's, Owens, Jenkins, Rogers
50
Why did the four leave the Labour Party?
-Unhappy with Trade Unions
51
What was the aim of SDP?
-aimed to attract disaffected conservative and labour voters
52
What was the SDP's effect on labour?
-Damaged them through divisions and took labour voters
53
What was the Lime House declaration in regards to the SDP?
-Announced the formation of the Council for social democracy > SDP
-28 Labour MPs followed
54
What was the Wembley Conference in regards to the SDP?
-Notorious for the hostility to the speakers from left-wing and hard left hecklers
55
Who from the SDP won a by-election in Crosby November 1981?
-Shirley Williams
56
When did Roy Jenkins win a by-election for the SDP?
-Glasgow 1982
57
What was the SDP and Lib dem alliance?
-Lib Dem and SDP merged in 1983
58
How much of the popular vote did the Alliance gain?
25% in 1983
59
How did the Alliance help tory success in the 1983 election?
-Took loads of support from Labour
60
What was the Anti-conservative vote?
16million > 3million mofe than the pro-conservative vote
61
How were labour weaknesses amplified by demographic changes?
-Labour could no longer rely on traditional working-class supporters
-Rise in national pride for the Tories
-Labour supporters > some became conservatives, SDP or liberal > Thatcherite conservative voters
62
What legislation did Thatcher put in place to deal with Industrial relations?
-Employment act of 1980
-Employment act 1982
-Trade Union Act 1984
63
What was the Employment act of 1980?
-Outlawed picketing & increased the rights of employees who refused to join unions
64
What was the 1982 Employment act?
-Restricted sympathy strikes & allowed closed shops only if a ballot showed 83% support > anyone sacked for not joining a union became entitled to high rates of compensation
65
What was the Trade Unions act of 1984?
-Required unions to hold secret ballots of their members before launching industrial action
66
What were the successes of Thatcher's legislation to tackle Industrial relations?
-Number of working days lost to strikes dropped > 29.5million in 1979 to 11.9million in 1980 and 4.2million in 1981
67
What were the other reasons for the success for Thatcher's legislation to tackle Industrial relations?
-High levels of unemployment deterred strike action
-worker were less ready to strike knowing they could easily be replaced by the large pool of unemployed
-Union membership continued to fall > more difficult for the unions to mobilise strike action
68
When was the Miner's strike?
1984-1985
69
What were the reasons for the Miner strikes?
-1st march 1984 > massive pit closure programme was introduced by Thatcher > 20 uneconomic pits would be closed > loss of 20,000 jobs
-National Coal Board was facing a loss of £250 million 1983-1984 > govt could not prop up a loss-making industry
-Scargil > persuaded NUM leadership to strike in order to prevent job losses and to bring down the conservative govt as they had done in 1974
70
What were the strike tactics used by the NUM and Scargill during the Miner's strikes?
-Scargill > scaremongering> more than 20,000 jobs would be lost
-miners who didn't strike > 'scabs' > ostracised by their communities
-flying pickets were used
-Strike set out as a fight for survival against a govt set to destroy them
71
What were the strike tactics used by the govt during the Miner's strikes?
-When NUM called a national strike without a ballot > govt able to take legal action - fines and seize assets
-govt refused to pay state benefits to many miners
-Police > roadblocks
-Govt used media to spread rumours of NUM corruption > stories of violence against the police
-Divide and Conquer > govt promised the miners of Nottinghamshire that their jobs and pits were safe
72
When was the Battle of Orgreave?
18th June 1984
73
What was the Battle of Orgreave?
-Confrontation between 5000 miners and 5000 police
-The police charged Miners while on horseback with truncheons drawn
-The miners hurled rocks, bricks and bottles at the police
-51 Picketers and 72 police were injured
-Events were misrepresented by the BBC > footage showed the police being provoked by Miner violence
- Full footage had shown the police attacking a peaceful picket line, with the miners fighting back after this initial attack
74
Which areas were on strike on the 6th of March?
-Miners from Yorkshire and Scottish pits
75
Which areas were on strike by the 12th of March?
-Half the country's miners were on strike > 187,000 > 50% of the workforce
76
What happened the 29th of March during the strikes?
-Transport unions banned the movement of coal on trucks and rail
77
What happened on the 12th of April during the strikes?
-Strike Declared official by the NUM despite the lack of a national ballot
78
what happened by May 1984 during the strike?
-some 40,000 striking miners had marched to Nottinghamshire
-80% miners were on strike
79
How was the Miners strike defeated by the Thatcher govt?
-September 1984 > The high court ruled the strike illegal > Striking miners refused benefits > NUM fined and refused to pay - £5million of their assets were siezed
-From September 1984> some miners returned to work > NCB began offering bonuses and higher wages for those who returned to work
80
What happened on the 3rd March 1985 during the strikes?
-NUM voted 98 to 91 to end the strike and go back to work
81
What happened on the 5th of march 1985 during the strikes?
-Miners went back to work > all of Scargills predictions about pit closure plans were proved correct
82
What was the impact of the Miners strike 1984-1985?
-NUM membership dropped from 250,000 in 1979 to 100,000 by 1987
-The union ended the strike virtually bankrupt by the end of it
-The miners strike divided opinions about Thatcher more than any other issue
-Destroyed livelihoods and historic communities
83
What significant quote did Thatcher say about the Miners striking?
'we had to fight the enemy without( abroad) in the Falklands.... should be aware of the enemy within' > compares to the unions to fascist dictator in Argentina
84
How many police turned up to keep the yorkshire picketers away?
3000
85
Why was Scargill controversial in his approach to the miners strike?
He should've done a national strike ballot > he would've achieved a large enough majority
86
What were Scargill's aims through the miner strikes?
To bring down the conservative government like they had done to Heath's government
87
When did Supply side economics begin under Thatcher?
mid 1980s
88
What did Supply side economics aim to do?
-aimed to correct the artificial demand created by Keynesian economics
-aimed to incentivise people to work harder mainly through wages
89
When was British Telecom Privatised?
1984
90
What percentage of British Telecom shares were sold on the London stock exchange?
50%
91
How many people bought shares of British Telecom?
2million
92
What were the positives of privatising british Telecom?
-before privatisation it could take upto 3months for a BT engineer to visit your home and install a phone > this reduced
-Prices fell, telephones were available on demand and the no. of working public telephone boxes increased
93
What was the 'Big Bang'?
the Deregulation of the Stock Exchange
94
When was the 'Big Bang'?
1986
95
What was achieved through deregulation of the stock exchange?
-Start of the financial sector forming a major part of the British economy
-London switched from face-to-face share dealing to electronic trading
-London became a draw for american investment banks
-Believed to have created 1,500 millionaires
96
What was the Housing Act of 1980?
-gave tenants of council homes of more than 3 years the right to buy their home at a discounted price
97
What was the Right to Buy discount by 1988?
44%
98
By 1997 how many council dwellings had been sold off due to the RTB scheme?
1.7million
99
What did the proportion of homes that were occupied by owner increase to between 1979 and 1989?
55% to 67%
100
Who was Sinn Fein?
-Political party in NI
-Republican, social democracy
-Gerry Adams was leader from 1983
101
Who was Gerry Adams affiliated with?
the IRA
102
What strategy did Sinn Fein use when campaigning?
'Twin-Track strategy' > using the armalite and the ballot box
103
What signifficant event during the troubles before Thatcher was Pm impacted Thatcher's approach?
-Assasination of Airey Neave > Shadow secretary of state for NI
104
What was signifficant about the assasination of Airey Neave?
-Was at the HOC > car bomb
-Targeted British security
-Targets home of deomocracy
-Media interests increase > attack on British soil
-Thatcher lost a close friend and advisor > hardened her view
-IRA > murderers and criminals
105
What was Thatcher's stance on NI?
-Unionist > anti-republican
-Less willing to let the republic have a say in NI matters
106
When was the assasination of Lord Mountbatten?
August 1979
107
What was signifficant about the assasination of Lord Mountbatten?
He was a beloved member of the royal Family
108
How did the IRA respond to the assasination of Lord Mountbatten?
-Called it an 'execution' > wanted this to be a sign for the british to leave NI
109
What was signifficant about the Maze Prison : H block?
The dirty protest led to hunger strikes
110
When did Bobby sands go on Hunger strike?
March 1981
111
How did Sands organise the hunger strikes?
-Believed that other prisoners would go on hunger strike at staggered intervals > deteriorating over 7months
112
What were the H block hunger strikes a continuation of?
The 1976-1978 Dirty protests
113
Who was the leader of the 1981 hunger strikes?
Bobby Sands
114
What happened in 1981 regarding a NI by-election?
-Bobby Sands was nominated as the nationalist "Anti H-block political prisoner' candidate
-Sands won the by-election from within prison > died just a moth after he became MP
115
What did Bobby Sand's death prompt?
-Days of rioting in nationalist areas oh NI > more than 100,000 people attended his funeral
116
What was Parliament's reaction to Bobby Sands By-election win in 1981?
-New legislation > bar convicted felons from standing for election > as a result another hunger striker could not be elected
117
What bombing took place in 1984?
The Brighton Hotel Bombing
118
What was going on at the time of the brighton bombing?
-Conservative conference
119
How many deaths were as a result of the Brighton Hotel Bombing?
5 > Norman Tebbit died
120
What did Thatcher do the day after the Brighton Hotel Bombing?
-She held the conservative party conference on time > presented conservative party unity
121
What was signifficant about Thatcher's speech at the 1984 conservative party confeernce?
She exclaimed that 'Democracy will prevai'
122
When was the Anglo-Irish agreement?
November 1985
123
What was the Anglo-Irish agreement?
-Thatcher attempt to achieve security
-irish govt would have an advisory role in NI > security, intelligence and economics
124
Who influenced Thatchers decision to sign the Anglo-Irish agreement?
-Ragen > 'The American's made me do it'
125
What was the backlash to the Anglo-Irish agreement?
-200,000 protested in Belfast
-Jeopridised Thatchers relationship with the unionists
126
What did Ian Paisley say in response to the Anglo-Irish agreement?
'Where do terrorists operate from ? From the Irish Republic......... We say never, never, never, never'
127
What happened 8 days after the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement, November 15th 1985?
Between 100,000 and 200,000 Unionists demonstrated outside Belfast City Hall.
128
What happened in Parliament following Thatchers signing of the 1985 Anglo-Irish agreement?
-Ian Gow (Thatcher's trusted parliamentary aide) resigned > loss acknowledged as a 'personal blow'
- All 15 Unionist MPS resigned from the Commons > Forced By-elections > 14 were reelected on the 14th January 1986
129
What did the IRA do in November 1987?
-On November 8th, a Bomb went off during a remembrance day ceremony > 11 were killed and 63 were injured > It did more damage to the IRA's reputation than any other atrocity committed in the 80s
130
What were the issues facing Labour in 1983 that needed to be solved by Kinnock?
-1983 Manifesto > 'longest suicide note', 5 Year Plans, Nationalisation
- Militant tendency > Taking over local councils > Aiming for Socialist revolution
-Demographic changes > diluted Labour base
-Tony Benn > Reselection of Candidates > Wembley conference 1981
-The SDP > Gang of Four > Lime House Declaration
-Leadership > Foot failed to unite the party > 'looney left'
131
What led to Militants' control over Liverpool City Council caused a crisis in 1985?
-Cons cut funding to local councils between 1979-1983 > Councils had to choose between cutting costs or increasing rates of council tax
132
How did Militant respond to the Cons cutting local govt funding in Liverpool?
-Set a budget which required rates to go up in line with inflation but made no cuts > "Better to break the law than to break the poor"
133
How did the Conservative government respond to Liverpool City Council's budget?
Eventually gave Liverpool an additional £ 20 million to avoid bankruptcy
134
What did the Cons govt do in 1984 to restrict the power of local councils and limit the ability of MIlitant council in Liverpool?
-Made it illegal for a council to set a rate higher than the government-mandated 'rate-capping'
-This impacted the Cons govt as well as Labour held councils and was designed to curb local govt spending
135
What did Militant do in response to the 1984 'rate-capping'?
-Passed an illegal budget in June 1985, in which spending exceeded income by £ 30 million
136
What did the Cons government do in response to the Militant Council's illegal budget in June 1985?
Central govt refused to fund the deficit > demanded Liverpool cut costs
137
What did Militant do when Central govt refused to fund the deficit in Liverpool 1985?
-Did not back down > Liverpool councillors were advised in late august that the council was about to break its legal obligations > would not be able to pay wages by December
- The Council leader adopted a 'tactic' of sending 31,000 redundancy notices to council staff
138
What was the Labour party's response to Militants actions in Liverpool 1985?
-Kinnock attacked Militant during his conference speech October 1985 > Militant were expelled
139
What was the Conservatives approach to Militants actions in Liverpool 1985?
Continue rate rate-capping policy
140
Why were Militant Tendency a problem for the Labour Party?
- They were a far-left, Trotskyist socialist group
- They operated as a party within a party
- They had 140 paid staff > suggesting their strength and size
- They were investigated under the Callaghan govt > Documents found proving MT was a party within a party > The Callaghan govt did nothing
- They had intentions for the 1983 election > stood in key constituencies
- They focused on the Youth of the Labour party > The young socialists
141
What was Red Wedge and how did it form opposition to the govt in the 1980s?
- Music collective > included Billy Bragg, Paul Weller and Madness.
-Campaigned against Thatcher in the late 80s
- They attempted to educate the youth with Labour policies
-They were on many TV programmes where they highlighted the social consequences of Thatcherite policies > Boys from the Blackstuff > 'Gizza job'
142
Why was Red Wedge signifficant in challenging the Thatcher govt?
- Leading up to the 1987 election, they supported the Labour campaign > especially through educating the youth
-Critically referenced the Falklands war > 'Island of no return'
- They were credited at the Labour Party conference for their work.
- HOWEVER > they did not recieve universal support
143
How was the Church of England seen as signifficant opposition to the Thatcher govt?
- COE published a report in 1985 > "Faith in the city" > calling on the govt to support more derived communities.
- Bishops such as David Jenkins (Durham) and David Shepherd in Liverpool were outspoken on their criticism of Thatcherite policies and their social impact
144
Why was the Chuch of England signifficant in challenging the Thatcher govt?
- Directly targeted Thatcher's small govt approach > said it targeted "economic self-interest"
- Those with strong religious beliefs supported "faith in the city"
145
How was the CND campaign and the Greenham women seen as signifficant opposition to the Thatcher govt?
- CND > strong foothold due to Thatcher's strong commitment to the Nuclear deterrent > she was stepping up the army in a race against the USSR > Thatcher also sent MI5 spies to infiltrate CND
- In 1979, Thatcher stationed American cruise missiles at British bases.
- Sept 1981 > When missiles were meant to arrive, 17,000 protestors formed a 14-mile-long human chain
-1984 > Newbury local council evicted the women and removed the camp > the women returned and rebuilt it
146
Why was the CND movement and Greenham women signifficant in challenging the Thatcher govt?
- Membership of CND grew from the low thousands to more than 300,000
-The Greenham camp was a powerful symbol of feminism and pacivism until 2000
147
How was the 1980s feminist movement a signifficant form of opposition to the Thatcher government?
- Targeting employment discrimination, unequal pay and promotion opportunities
- Women's rights activists campaigned for more access to contraception and abortion services
- The 1980s > increased domestic violence and sexual abuse > campaigns for rape crisis centres and shelters for domestic abuse survivors
- Feminists targeted cuts to social services > signifficant impact on childcare
- Women still felt marginalised by the workforce, regardless of the 1970 Equal Pay Act.
148
How was the LGBTQ community including Stonewall a signifficant form of opposition to the Thatcher govt?
- Stonewall was launched exactly one year after Section 28 became law > 1989
-There was a rise in the aids crisis > The govt perceived to fail at addressing the epidemic
- The Gay Liberation Front> ACT UP (Aids coalition to Unleash Power)
149
Why was the LGBTQ community and Stonewall signifficant in challenging the Thatcher government?
- Movement led to a gradual shift in Public opinion > Change was crucial in enabling more supportive policies
- Paved the wa for the removal of section 28
- Manchester > 28,000 marched for LGBTQ rights
- Lesbian campaigners hijacked the 6pm news
150
How were Environmental groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth seen as a signifficant form of opposition to the Thatcher govt?
- Environmental concerns began to grow in the 80s due to a series of disasters > 1984 Bhopal Gas leak in India, 1986 Chernobyl accident in Russia > Discovery of the Antarctic Ozone Hole caused by CRCs in the atmosphere 1985
- New wider understanding of the long term environmental impacts
151
Why were environmental groups signifficant in challenging the Thatcher government?
- Eventually CFC was outlawed in 1987 > fixing the hole in the Ozone layer.
152
What was the Improved Pay for Teachers reform under the 1983-1987 education reforms?
- It increased pay for teachers > enabling teaching to be a more attractive job prospect > addressing teacher shortage.
153
What was the School grants reform under the 1983-1987 education reforms?
-Secondary and Primary schools could opt for funding from central govt rather than the local council
154
What was the Expansion of Access reform under the 1983-1987 education reforms?
- Increased focus on equality > Special programmes targeted rural communities and low-income families
- Increased parental choice of schools
-Increased enrollment initiatives > aimed at universal primary education and reducing education dropouts
-Aimed to build more schools in rural areas
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What was the Education Act 1986 under the 1983-1987 education reforms?
-Local management of Schools > schools granted greater financial autonomy
-Headteachers and governing bodies could have more control over budgets and spending
-Increased accountability > school performance began to be maintained more rigorously> Schools expected to report their results > Culture where schools were more accountable to parents
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What was the 1988 Education Reform Act under the 1983-1987 education reforms?
- The national curriculum was implemented > including SATS and GCSES
- Curriculum reforms > Introduced a standardised curriculum - did not fully materialise until the 90s > Unions disliked national curriculum - teachers should know what to teach and when to teach
-Catchment areas were introduced > Parents have free choice within the area
-League tables were published
-Students come with pre-allocated funding > competition to attract students
-Held teachers accountable through grades and outcomes
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What is the evidence that Thatcher's education policy was a success?
-Educational expansion of vocational schools rather than just academics
-League tables > Increased academic performance > Literacy and numeracy rates increased
-Teachers held accountable > Parents could see the teaching standard
-Increased pay for teachers > attracted more teachers
-Standardisation of what would be taught > reduced inequality
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What were the limitations of Thatcher's education policy?
-Catchment areas > market economics meant schools in rural areas were not as successful and unattractive
-League Tables > Does not improve image of schools > Cycle of deprivation
-Only 15 Technical colleges were opened
-Only 1000 out of 24,000 schools moved out of local authority control
-Reduction in Union influence
-Section 28 > Applied by Thatcher > affected teaching in schools > under the local govt act of 1988
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What was Section 28 and when was it legislated?
-1988
- Prohibited promoting homosexuality through teaching or publishing material > deemed the promotion of the acceptability of homosexuality in schools as prohibited > Banned funding for books, films and materials that included LGBTQ material.
