The Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher

Year
1959

Conservatives Labourites Liberals

365 (49.4)
258 (43.8) 6 (5.9)

1964
1966
1970
1974 (Feb.)
1974 (Oct.)

303 (43.4)
253 (41.9)
330 (46.4)
296 (38.1)
276 (35.9)

318 (44.1)
363 (47.9
287 (43.1)
301 (37.2)
319 (39.5)

9 (11.2)
12 (8.5)
6 (7.5)
14 (19.3)
13 (18.3)

1979
1983
1987

339 (43.9)
397 (42.4)
375 (42.2)

268 (36.9)
209 (27.6)
229 (30.8)

11 (13.8)
23 (24.6)*
17 (22.6)*

*Alliance of Liberal and Social Democratic Parties

Others PrimeMinister
1 (0.9) Harold Macmillan
Alec Douglas-Home (1963)
0 (1.3) Harold Wilson
2 (1.7) Harold Wilson
7 (3.0) Edward Heath
24 (5.4) Harold Wilson
27 (7.3) Harold Wilson
James Callaghan (1976)
17 (5.4) Margaret Thatcher
21 (5.4) Margaret Thatcher
23 (4.3) Margaret Thatcher

1950s1979
Maintainedthepopularwelfarestate
Collectiveconsensusbegantobreakapartwith
socialandeconomicproblemsinthe1960sand1970s
Decliningeconomicproduction
Lossofpowerabroad(oldempirebegantoshrink)
Recessioninthe70sduetotheoilcrisis
ViolenceinNorthernIreland
Highunemploymentrates
Laborunionslaunchedmajorstrikesandriotsbroke
outinbigcities

 Crisiscamein1973whenoilexportingnationsinthe
MiddleEastdramaticallycutshipmentstoproIsraeli
nationsfollowingtheArabIsraeliWar.Oilprices
quadrupled,forcingBritishindustriestousemorecoal.
Thiswastheopportunityforwhichminershadwaited.
Minersweredissatisfiedbecausetheyopposedthe
governmentswagecontrolsaswellasthepolicyof
closingdownunprofitableminesatthecostofminers
jobs.Nowtheminersintroducedabanonworking
overtimeandfinallybegananalloutstriketopressure
thegovernmenttoabandonitspolicyoflegislating
limitsonwageincreases.
Inresponse,PrimeMinisterEdwardHeathintroduced
emergencylegislationthatlimitedtheworkingweekto
threedaysandinstitutednationalelectricalpowercuts
tominimizetheamountofcoalusedinpowerplants.

TheThreeDayWeek,1974

 Theelectionof1974wasfoughtonwhethergovernment
wouldrestraintheunions.TheLabourPartywonanarrow
majoritybypromisingnottointerferewiththeunions.With
legallimitsremoved,theunionswonwageincreases.
Workersnowhadmoremoneytospend,whiletheamount
ofavailablegoodsonthemarketremainedthesame.Asa
result,pricesforproductsbegantorise,anddoubledigit
inflationensued.Foodpricesrose20percentin1973alone.
Wagesandpricesspiralledoutofcontrol.Onlyasupplyof
oildrilledfromtheNorthSeaoffthecoastofScotland
savedBritainfromacrisis.Evenwiththenewsupplyofoil,
thegovernmentraisedtaxesonincomeandonconsumer
goodstofinanceraisesinwagesthathadbeennegotiated
withunionmembersinnationalizedindustries.Thetaxes
leftlessandlessforreinvestment.In1979anarrangement
betweentheLabourPartyandtheunionstokeepwage
demandsmoderatebrokedown,andanotherroundof
strikestookplace

TheWinterof
Discontent,197879

JamesCallaghan
19122005
PrimeMinister1976
79
LabourParty

MargaretThatcher

Born1925
Chemist,Barrister
MP19591992
EducationSecretary
197074
ConservativeParty
Leader19751990
PrimeMinister1979
1990

 TheConservativescapitalizedon
thesituationtowintheelectionin
1979undertheirnewlychosen
leader,MargaretThatcher,
Britainsfirstfemaleprime
minister.Thatcherwasastrident
Conservative,andshewas
determinednottogiveintothe
unionsorchangefromthecourse
shehadchartedtorevivethe
Britisheconomy.Thatcherbased
herpolicyonthetheoryof
monetarism.Thistheoryinvolved
strictlycontrollingthemoney
supplytoreduceinflation,
loweringtaxratestoencourage
investment,andminimizing
governmentinterventionin
industrytoremoverestrictionson
theexpansionofbusinesses.

TheThatcher
Revolution

MargaretThatcher:TheHousewife
inPolitics

Whatswrongwith
Britain?
1.Thestatewas
toobig
2.TradeUnions
weretoopowerful
3.Somethinghad
gonewrongwith
thenational
character

SOCIALISM!

Privatisationwas

fundamentaltoimproving
Britainseconomic
performance.Butforme,it
wasfarmorethanthat:it
wasaboutreversingthe
corruptingandcorrosive
effectsofsocialism.
Privatisationisattheheart
ofanyprogrammeof
reclaimingterritoryfor
freedom.

Thatcheron
Privatisation

 TheThatchergovernmentbeganprivatizing
industry,relaxinggovernmentregulation,and
removinggovernmentsubsidies.Thiswasstrong
medicineandinitiallyledtoanevenmorerapid
decline.By1981bothinterestratesand
unemploymentreachedpostwarhighs,anda
growingnumberofBritishfirmsfacedbankruptcy.
Pressuremountedtoreversegovernmentpolicy,
andevenmembersofThatchersownparty
threatenedtorevolt.Thatcherrefusedtoabandon
herpolicies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQM0KEFm9I

councilestatesbringtogether
peoplewhoareoutofworkbut
enjoysecurityoftenureat
subsidizedrents.Theynotonly
haveeveryincentivetostay
wheretheyare:theymutually
reinforceeachotherspassivity
andundermineeachothers
initiative.Thusaculturegrows
upinwhichtheunemployedare
contenttoremainlivingmainly
onthestatewithlittlewillto
moveandfindwork.

ThatcheronCouncil
Housing

The1981

GovernmentWaste
Britainhadlotsofindustriesthatwerenot
efficientandmakingmoney
Shipbuilding
Carmanufacturing
CoalMining

PriortoThatcherthegovernmenthad
subsidizedthoseindustries

WhydidtheMinersgoonStrike?
In1984theNationalCoalBoardannouncedthat20
coalmineswouldclose.
TotalJoblosseswouldbeinexcessof20,000.

DeeperProblem
Townswerebuiltround
mines
Mainsourceof
employmentforthetown
IftheMineclosesthenthe
wholetownisaffected,
everybusinessisaffected.

TheStrike
Minersworriedaboutpossibleclosuresinthearea
wentonstrike.
Thousandsofminerswentonstrike.
On12March1984,ArthurScargill,presidentof
theNUM,declaredthatthestrikesinthevarious
coalfieldsweretobeanationalstrikeandcalled
forstrikeactionfromNUMmembersinallcoal
fields.
NUMNationalUnionofMineworkers

ArthurScargill
HeadofYorkshire
NUM,197481
President,NUM,
19812002
Founder,Socialist
LabourParty

TheMinersStrike,198485

TheBattleofOrgreave,June1984

WhatwastheStrikelikefortheminers?
Thestrikelastoverayear.
Financiallythestrikewas
disastrousforthoseinvolved.
Theyhadnoincomeforafull
year.
CommitmenttotheCOAL
NOTDOLEcause
Minershadtoliveoncharity
forlargeperiodsoftime.

Theendofthestrike
March31985,theNUMvoted9891infavourofareturn
towork.
Miners'leaderArthurScargillsaysthecampaignagainstjob
losseswillcontinuebutminerswillreturntoworkon
Tuesday.
Wefacenotanemployerbutagovernmentaidedand
abettedbythejudiciary,thepoliceandyoupeopleinthe
media
ArthurScargill,NUM

FalklandsWarOrigin
TheFalklandsWarwasfoughtbetweenArgentinaandBritain.Theconflict
resultedfromthelongstandingdisputeovertheFalklandIslandsand
SouthGeorgiaIslands,whichlieintheSouthAtlanticeastofArgentina.
ThewarbeganwhentheArgentineforcesinvadedandoccupiedthe
FalklandIslandsonApril2,1982.

 OnMay21,BritainlandedatSanCarloswith4,000men.The
followingweek,theywerehitbyArgentineaircrafts.HMSArdent
(May22),HMSAntelope(May24),andHMSCoventry(May25)
weresunk,aswasMVAtlanticConveyorwithcargoofhelicopters
andsupplies.
OnthenightofJune11,BritishtroopssimultaneouslyfiredatPort
Stanleyandsucceededincapturingtheirobjectives.Theattack
continuedandsoonenough,Gen.MarioMelendezsurrenderedhis
9,800menonJune14,effectivelyendingtheconflict.

TheHomefront
EconomicImpact:Argentinahadbeeninthemidstofadevastating
economiccrisisattheverybeginning.However,furtheronboth
ArgentinaandBritainspentagreatamountofmoneyonequipment
forthewar.Theoveralleconomymadeanevengreaterinfluenceon
therecessionandattacksonjobsandsentunemploymentsoaring.
SocialImpact/CulturalImpact:Therewerewideranginginfluences
onpopularcultureinboththeUKandArgentina,fromtheimmediate
postwarperiodtothepresent.
TheFalklandsWaralsoprovidedmaterialfortheatre,filmandTV
dramaandinfluencedtheoutputofmusiciansincluding(among
others)EnglishPostPunkBandGangofFour,PinkFloyd,Joe
Jackson,Crass,NewModelArmy,SteveDahlandElvisCostello.

Effectsandresultsofthewar
InArgentina,thedefeatledtotheremovalofPres.Galtierithree
daysafterthefallofPortStanley.Hisdownfallspelledtheendfor
themilitaryrulethathadbeenleadingthecountryandpavedthe
wayfortherestorationofdemocracy.ForBritain,thevictory
providedamuchneededboosttoitsnationalconfidence,reaffirmed
itsinternationalposition,andassuredvictoryfortheThatcher
Governmentinthe1983elections.

LOSERs

winners

HistoryofConflict

NorthernIreland
_____________________________________

BackgroundData
TheconflictinNorthern Thecurrentpopulationof
Irelandisbetweentwo
NorthernIrelandis1.5
groups;Protestantsand
million.55%ofthe
Catholics.Theconflict
populationisProtestant,
isnotnecessarilyabout
45%Catholic.
religion,butitdoes
havesomesignificance
inthehistoryofthe
conflict.

ProtestantBeliefs
Haveaconstitutional
righttotheland
PreservingtheUnion
withBritain
Resistingthe
perceivedthreatofa
UnitedIreland

CatholicBeliefs
Forsome,NorthernIreland
remainsaNationalstruggle
Selfdetermination
Othersviewedtheconflict
asastruggleagainstunfair
practicesbytheUnionist
governmentbetween1920
1970

CreationofIrishFreeState/Northern
Ireland
In1921,theislandof
Irelandwaspartitioned
bytheBritish
government.The26
southerncounties
gainingindependence
fromBritain,whilethe
6northeasterncountries
remainedpartofthe
UnitedKingdom

NorthernIreland
Atthetime,the6northeasterncountieshada
builtinProtestantmajority(65/35)
Ethnicbiasinthedistributionofhousingand
welfareservicesleadtomoreturmoilbetween
thetwosides

BeginningsofTheTroubles
___________________________
Startedinthe1960sCivilRightsCampaign
Catholicsinspiredbytheworldwidecivil
rightsmovement
ProtestantssawthisasathreattoNorthern
Irelandsexistencerespondedhostileto
demonstrations

TheTroubles
1969Londondeployed
theBritishArmytorestore
order.
TomostCatholics,they
wereseenasprotectorof
theNorthernIrelandstate
andrepressivemajority
population.(others
BritishtroopsonIrishsoil)

CreationofParamilitaryGroups
Thecreationofthe
ProvisionalIrish
RepublicArmy(PIRA
latershortenedtoIRA)
wasorganizedin
responsetoBritish
engagementintothe
civilrightsmovement.
TheIRAgained
membersduringthe
1970sandbecamemore
violentintheirtactics.

CreationofParamilitaryGroups
UlsterVolunteerForce
(UVF)
LoyalistParamilitary
Group.Formed
primarilyinresponseto
IRA,alsousedviolence
tohelpitscause.

FormationofthePeaceProcess

Asthetwosidesfoughtagainsteachotherformost
ofthe1970sandearly1980s,itbecameevidentthat
progresswasnevergoingtobemadeusingforce.
Instead,theIRAandUVFbeganaligningwith
politicalpartiesinNorthernIrelandasawaytofight
fortheirgoals.

SinnFeinRepublicIreland

SinnFeinThepolitical
wingofRepublicanism
andtheIRA.
LeaderGerryAdams

ProgressiveUnionistPartyandDemocratic
UnionistParty
Progressive
Unionist
Wasinvolvedin
discussionsleading
to
negotiationsbetween
theparties.
DemocraticUnionistContinues
toremainloyaltoBritain

Whatwerethehungerstrikesabout?
Culminationofconflictoverthestatusofrepublicanprisoners
Criminalsorprisonersofwar?
DefinednatureofconflictinNorthernIreland
Localissueoflaw&orderorcolonialwarofglobalinterest?
Terroristsorfreedomfightersinlongrepublicantradition
QuestionednatureofBritishjusticeinNorthernIreland
Natureofcourts
Behaviourofpolice&prisonauthorities
Threephasesofprotest
Blanketprotest,1976
Dirtyprotest,1978
Hungerstrikes:1980&1981(10died)

Whatweretheprotestersdemands?

Righttoweartheirownclothes
Rightnottodoprisonwork
Righttofreeassociationwithotherprisoners
Righttoaweeklyvisit,letter&parcelandtoorganise
educational&recreationalactivities
Restorationofremissionlostthroughprotest

Whathappenedduringthe1980hunger
strike?
Began27Oct.1980
7menwentonhungerstrike&3womenatArmagh
UnderestimateddeterminationofMargaretThatcher
Ended18Dec.1980inmistakenexpectationof
concessions

Whywerehungerstrikesresumed
in1981?

Resumed1Mar.1981
Discussionswithgovernmentfailing
Initiativetakenbyprisonersthemselves
LeaderBobbySands,IRAcommandantintheMaze
10died
Ended3Oct.1981
Someconcessionsannounced6Oct.1981

Whyweretheyinprison?
BobbySandsIRA
Possessionofafirearm
FrancisHughesIRA
Variousoffences,includingmurderof asoldier
RaymondMcCreeshIRAAttemptedmurder,possessionofarifle, IRA
membership
PatsyOHaraINLA
Possessionofahandgrenade
JoeMcDonnellIRA
Possessionofafirearm
MartinHursonIRA
Attemptedmurder,involvementin explosions,
IRAmembership
KevinLynchINLA
Stealingshotguns,takingpartina punishment
shooting
KieranDohertyIRA
Possessionoffirearmsandexplosives, hijacking
ThomasMcElweeIRA Manslaughter
MichaelDevineINLA Theftandpossessionoffirearms

WhydidSandsgoonhungerstrike?
Iamapoliticalprisoner
becauseIamacasualtyofaperennialwar
thatisbeingfoughtbetween
theoppressedIrishpeopleand
analien,oppressive,unwantedregime
thatrefusestowithdrawfromourland.
Ibelieveandstandbythe
GodgivenrightoftheIrishnationtosovereignindependence,and
therightofanyIrishmanorwoman
toassertthisrightinarmedrevolution.
ThatiswhyIamincarcerated,nakedandtortured.
BobbySands,writingonthefirstdayofhishungerstrike

Whatwasthereactiontohisdeath?
Britishgovernment
MargaretThatcher,PrimeMinister
Mr.Sandswasaconvictedcriminal.Hechosetotake
hisownlife.Itwasachoicethathisorganizationdid
notallowtomanyofitsvictims.
HumphreyAtkins,SecretaryforStateforNorthernIreland
Iregretthisneedlessandpointlessdeath.
Nationalist/Catholics
Rosaries&petrolbombs

WhydidMargaretThatcher
remainadamant?
ContinuedIRAviolence
ParticularlyinfluencedbymurderinDerryof
Protestantwomancensusworker,marriedwith2young
children,duringelectioncampaignshotinbackof
head.
Ulsterunionistopinion
Shethoughtthatifshegavewayonit
thiswouldhaveaverylargeimpacton
theProtestantpopulation.
JimPrior,SecretaryofStateforNorthernIreland

THEBRIGHTONBOMBING,
12October1984

CriticismofThatcherism
Highunemployment
Poverty
Songs....