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History The making of modern Britain > The Impact of Thatcherism 1979-1987 > Flashcards

The Impact of Thatcherism 1979-1987 Flashcards

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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

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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

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3
Q

Who was Keith Joseph?

A

-Leading conservative thinker
-Introduced Thatcher to the ideas of liberalism and free-market economics

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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

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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

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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

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7
Q

Who was Jim Prior?

A

-Wet
-1979 > Employment secretary > Norman Tebbit took over in 1981
-1981 > NI secretary

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8
Q

Who was Francis Pym?

A

-Wet
-Defence secretary and then foreign secretary

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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

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10
Q

What was said about debating with Howe?

A

‘like being savaged by a dead sheep’

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11
Q

Who was Willie Whitelaw?

A

-Dry
-Deputy PM, Home Secretary until the 1983 election where was made the leader of the HOL

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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

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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

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14
Q

What characterised the ‘wets’ in Thatchers cabinet?

A

-They were one nation tories

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15
Q

What characterised the ‘dries’ in Thatcher’s cabinet?

A

-They were ideologically aligned with the basis of Thatcherism

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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

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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

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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

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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%

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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25
Q

How did Thatcher successfully control the unions through her economic policy from 1979 to 1983?

A

-Employment acts in 1980 and 1982 outlawed secondary picketing > made closed shops illegal and declared industrial action illegal unless the workers voted

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26
Q

How did the Economic policy lead to increased riots and resistance?

A

-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’

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27
Q

What were the ‘SUS’ laws?

A

-Stop and search for a suspicious person
-Mainly aimed at young black men

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28
Q

What happened on the 18th of January 1981 which suggests poor relations between ethnic minorities and the govt?

A

-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

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29
Q

What happened in April 1981 which suggests poor relations between ethnic minorities and the govt?

A

-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

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30
Q

What happened in July 1981 which suggests poor relations between ethnic minorities and the govt?

A

-Rioting broke out in Bristol, Toxteth (Liverpool), Birmingham, Blackpool, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Preston and Wolverhampton

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31
Q

When was the Falklands war?

A

April to June 1982

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32
Q

What was significant about the Falklands?

A

-Under British rule since 1833
-small population > 80% supported British rule
-400 miles off the coast of Argentina

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33
Q

What did the Foreign secretary do in 1981regarding the Falklands?

A

-Withdrew Britain’s only ship in the South Atlantic > HMS Endurance

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34
Q

What happened during the Falklands conflict?

A

-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
Q

When did British forces reclaim port stanley?

A

14th June 1982

36
Q

What were the political benefits of the Falkland war for Thatcher?

A

-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
Q

How did the Falklands strengthen Thatcher’s position?

A

-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
Q

What significant quotes were said by Thatcher regarding the Falklands war?

A

-‘ Britain held its head high’
-‘ You can’t negotiate the freedom of your people

39
Q

What was the Falklands war impact on Britain’s relationship with Britain?

A

-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
Q

What did the Falklands do to weaken opposition to the Conservatives?

A

-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
Q

What characterised the ‘Looney left’?

A

-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
Q

Who were the Labour leaders during Thatcher’s time in office?

A

-Callaghan until Nov 1980
-Micheal foot from Nov 1980 till Oct 1983
-Neil Kinnock Oct 1983

43
Q

Why was the Labour party it’s own worst enemy from 1979-1987?

A

-divided party more concerned with its own internal wrangles than preparing itself for govt
-Split between right and left of the party

44
Q

What was the significance of Tony Benn in the Labour Party?

A

-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
Q

Why was Foot deemed as unsuccessful as a leader?

A

-Led the 1983 campaign in an uninspiring way

46
Q

What did Benn do in the 1980 and 1981?

A

-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
Q

What were elements in Labour’s 1983 manifesto which enabled them to come close to ‘political oblivion’?

A

-5 year plan
-Improve industrial relations through union democracy
-Increase nationalisation
-Ban arms sales to oppressive regimes
-leave the EEC

48
Q

What was the gang of four?

A

-Four main labour MPs who broke away to form the SDP

49
Q

Who were the four MPs who created the SDP?

A

-William’s, Owens, Jenkins, Rogers

50
Q

Why did the four leave the Labour Party?

A

-Unhappy with Trade Unions

51
Q

What was the aim of SDP?

A

-aimed to attract disaffected conservative and labour voters

52
Q

What was the SDP’s effect on labour?

A

-Damaged them through divisions and took labour voters

53
Q

What was the Lime House declaration in regards to the SDP?

A

-Announced the formation of the Council for social democracy > SDP
-28 Labour MPs followed

54
Q

What was the Wembley Conference in regards to the SDP?

A

-Notorious for the hostility to the speakers from left-wing and hard left hecklers

55
Q

Who from the SDP won a by-election in Crosby November 1981?

A

-Shirley Williams

56
Q

When did Roy Jenkins win a by-election for the SDP?

A

-Glasgow 1982

57
Q

What was the SDP and Lib dem alliance?

A

-Lib Dem and SDP merged in 1983

58
Q

How much of the popular vote did the Alliance gain?

A

25% in 1983

59
Q

How did the Alliance help tory success in the 1983 election?

A

-Took loads of support from Labour

60
Q

What was the Anti-conservative vote?

A

16million > 3million mofe than the pro-conservative vote

61
Q

How were labour weaknesses amplified by demographic changes?

A

-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
Q

What legislation did Thatcher put in place to deal with Industrial relations?

A

-Employment act of 1980
-Employment act 1982
-Trade Union Act 1984

63
Q

What was the Employment act of 1980?

A

-Outlawed picketing & increased the rights of employees who refused to join unions

64
Q

What was the 1982 Employment act?

A

-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
Q

What was the Trade Unions act of 1984?

A

-Required unions to hold secret ballots of their members before launching industrial action

66
Q

What were the successes of Thatcher’s legislation to tackle Industrial relations?

A

-Number of working days lost to strikes dropped > 29.5million in 1979 to 11.9million in 1980 and 4.2million in 1981

67
Q

What were the other reasons for the success for Thatcher’s legislation to tackle Industrial relations?

A

-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
Q

When was the Miner’s strike?

A

1984-1985

69
Q

What were the reasons for the Miner strikes?

A

-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
Q

What were the strike tactics used by the NUM and Scargill during the Miner’s strikes?

A

-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
Q

What were the strike tactics used by the govt during the Miner’s strikes?

A

-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
Q

When was the Battle of Orgreave?

A

18th June 1984

73
Q

What was the Battle of Orgreave?

A

-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
Q

Which areas were on strike on the 6th of March?

A

-Miners from Yorkshire and Scottish pits

75
Q

Which areas were on strike by the 12th of March?

A

-Half the country’s miners were on strike > 187,000 > 50% of the workforce

76
Q

What happened the 29th of March during the strikes?

A

-Transport unions banned the movement of coal on trucks and rail

77
Q

What happened on the 12th of April during the strikes?

A

-Strike Declared official by the NUM despite the lack of a national ballot

78
Q

what happened by May 1984 during the strike?

A

-some 40,000 striking miners had marched to Nottinghamshire
-80% miners were on strike

79
Q

How was the Miners strike defeated by the Thatcher govt?

A

-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
Q

What happened on the 3rd March 1985 during the strikes?

A

-NUM voted 98 to 91 to end the strike and go back to work

81
Q

What happened on the 5th of march 1985 during the strikes?

A

-Miners went back to work > all of Scargills predictions about pit closure plans were proved correct

82
Q

What was the impact of the Miners strike 1984-1985?

A

-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
Q

What significant quote did Thatcher say about the Miners striking?

A

‘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
Q
A

History The making of modern Britain (6 decks)

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