Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

The Making Of Modern Britain > Prime Ministers > Flashcards

Prime Ministers Flashcards

1
Q

Atlee Premiership?

A

(1945-51)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Churchill premiership?

A

(1951-55) wartime hero
old
(1953) stroke
international statesmen not domestic policitican
key priority: no new conflict break out
conenctions with Liberals
Stick with post war consensus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Churchill key minister?

A

Acting PM: Anthont Eden (overtake Churchill?)
Chacellor of Exchequer: Rab Butler
Minister of Housing: Harold Macmillan
Tensions between all three

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

1951 election stats?

A

Cons: 321 48.0%
Lab: 295 48.8%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Eden Premiership?

A

(1955-7) main political experience in foreign policy
Lack of experience and interest in domestic affairs
inexpereicned in economics
too concilatory with TU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Edens faliures?

A

(1955) tried to move Macmillan from Foreign Offic to Treasury but Mac. delayed it by a few months
(1956) Suez Crisis had political and economic implications

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

(1955) election results?

A

majority for Cons. increased from 17 to 60

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Macmillan vs Butler after Eden?

A

Butler not as pop. in cabinet
reputations damaged by tax cuts which led to economy overheating
Macmillan safer option

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Macmillan premiership?

A

(1957-63) Eco. prosperity
‘Supermac’
Used media to advantage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

(1959) election results?

A

majority increase from 60 to 100

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was post war consensus?

A

unspoken agreement between parties over major issue:
belief in a mixed eco (State and private enterprsie)
support NHS and welfare state
ensure full employment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Macmillan domestic policies?

A

Housing: (1951) manifesto promised to build 300,000 houses a year
Education: tripartite system (technical, grammar, secondary modern)
Social: (1956) Clean Air Act
(1957) Homicide Act –> is it death penalty
(1957) Wolfden Commission = homosexual behavior no longer criminal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why did Cons. start to slip from 1962?

A

(1961 and ‘63) rejection of EEC application
(July 1962) Night of the Long Knives –> sacked 1/3 of cabinet after reshuffle
–> instead of rejuvenate it weakened cabinet
(1961) George Blake Soviet double agent
(1962) John Vassell balcmailed due to homosexuality to pass info to SOviets
(1963) Profumo
Mac. ill and out of touch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Harold Wilsoon 1st premiership?

A

(1964-70) in touch with social and cultural trends
effective campaign speeches that promsied Britain would catch up with the ‘white heat’ of technological change
Heath no match for Wilson
Great moderniser
Classless

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

1964 election stats?

A

Cons: 304
Lab: 317
Lib:9
Other: 0

Majoirty of 4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

1966 election stats?

A

Cons: 253
Lab: 363
Lib: 12
Other: 2

majority of 96

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Wilson ideology?

A

resigned over prescription cahrges
supported nuclear detterent and attemtped to reform TU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Wilson and other members of cabinet?

A

Insecure about leadership
Balanced rivals so he remains unchallenged
relied on persoanl team of trusted advisers outside of gov.
‘kitchen cabinet’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Wilsons domestic policies?

A

Whanted to emphasise tech and science:
(1966) Tony Benn became minister of Tech –> took over Frank Cousins and performed better
Ruy Jenkins (first minister of aviation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Outcome of Wilson domestic policies?

A

Domestic policies overshadowed by economic problems:
- research and devlopment costly
- although pusued Concordewith Frecnch gov., couldn’t compete with US

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How were Labour divisions under Wilson?

A

After Bevan and Gaitskell died, Wilson was a conciliatory leader and united the Left and Right of the party
Feared rivalry from:
-Brown (resentful lost leadership and not Foreign Secretary)
-Callaghan
-Jenkins (Gaitskellite and not support liberalising legislation)
Callaghan and Jenkisn replace Brown and Wilson?
–> only paranoia as they would not work together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Reasons Lab. should’ve won 1970 election?

A

Shouldv’ve won:
- Jenkins credited with acheiving economic and fianncial stability
- Wilson = master campaigner + more pop. than Heath

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Reasons Lab lost 1970 election?

A

Heath = hardworking, image of competence
Wilson gov (1966-9) suffered series of setbacks
(1968) Rivers of blood speech
–> although heath sacked Powell lots of people supported him
Cons. policies were against Post war consensus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

1970 election stats?

A

Cons= 330 (majority 30)
Lab= 287
Lib= 6
Other= 7
roughly proportionally to votes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Heath premiership?

A

(1970-4) good at policies and not politics
educated at state school
stiff in dealing with people
prepared policies on industrial relations and eco. modernisation
EEC entry
One nation Toryism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Heaths forced leadership contest?

A

(1974) after eco. and industrial problems several backbench MP’s forced leadership contest
–> Margaret Thatcher emerged as key challenger
(1975) lost to Thatcher and reputation took a battering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Margaret Thatchers approach?

A

policies on right of Heath and Macmillan
sympathetic to monetarist and free-market policies like Enoch Powell and Keith Joseph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

1970 Selsdon Park Conference?

A

policy programme: (all out rejection of PWC)
-tax reform
-better law and order
-reforms to TU
-Immigration controls
-Cuts to public spending
-end to public subsidy of ‘lame duck’ industries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

28th Feb 1974 general election results?

A

Cons=297 37.9%
Lab=301 37.1%
Lib=14 19.3%
Other=23 5.7%
hung parliament= no majority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What did first 1974 election show?

A

year of policitcal and eco. crisis
voters not enthusiastic about either party
Heath tried to make deal with Libs
Lab. formed a minority gov.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Wilsons position inMarch 1974?

A

less promising eco.
TU needed dealt with
NI precarious
Lab less united
minority gov.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Election results Oct 1974?

A

Cons=277 35.9%
Lab=319 39.2% (majority 3)
Lib=13 18.3%
Other=26 6.6%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

When did Harold Wilson resign?

A

(March 1976) Wilson suddenly resigned

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Callaghans premiership?

A

(1976-9) long experience and links with unions
ideal leader to maintain unity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Speech Callaghan gave to LAb. Party conference?

A

(1976) ‘cosy world’ gone
full employement gone
productivity needed to improve
criticised previous Lab. and COns. gov.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Lib-Lab pact in 1977?

A

Lab majority haf disappeared so Callaghan made pact
–> able to defeat vote of no confidence tabled by COns.
–> 12 Liberals agreed to vote with lab. as long as delvoution moved ahead in Wales and Scot.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

When were Devolution Acts?

A

1978–> opening way to referendums

38
Q

How was referendum changed to sure it wouldnt pass?

A

40% electroate had to approve
-not everyone voted

39
Q

Results of referendum?

A

Scot (turnout 62%) Yes =51.6% No=20.3%
Wales (turnout 59%) Yes=48.4% No=79.9%

40
Q

When were referendums?

A

1st March 1979–> neither passed

41
Q

Why did Callghan make a mistake by waiting for gerneral election?

A

political landscpe reshaped by winter of discontent
eco. deteriorated
reputation of TU damaged
many workers considered voting Lab.

42
Q

What happened politically March 1979?

A

gov. lost vote of no confidenceon Scottish devolution
–> gov. forced to resign
–> first time since 1924

43
Q

1979 election stats?

A

Cons=339 43.9% (43 majority)
Lab=269 36.9%
Lib= 11 13.8%
Other=16 5.4%
(Lab dipped only a little but COns. benefited from Lib loss)

44
Q

Thatcher premiership?

A

(1979-90)conviction politician
–> criticised Heath’s U-turn

45
Q

What did Thatcher gov. emphasise in society and who was that supported by?

A

order in society
–> Norman Tedbit
–> blamed crime and violence on permissive society

46
Q

Thatcherite beliefs on police?

A

Supported police and tough on law and order issues
–> important thrust of 1979 manifesto
–> accusations in 1980’s police had become politicised

47
Q

Thatcher opposition?

A

John Biffen and Norman Tebbit fell out of favour despite being Thatcherites
Westland affair–> Michael Heseltine

48
Q

1983 election stats?

A

Cons=397 42.4%
Lab=209 27.6%
Lib&SDP=23 25.4%
Other=21 4.6%

49
Q

What was Thatchers part of foreign policy that lead to Cons winning 1983 election?

A

Falkands war –> galvanised grass-roots Cons. activist
–> patrioritism in country
–> approval from national press
–> sucessful desicion abroad so she could do the same at home

50
Q

Other reasons for Cons. win at 1983 election?

A

Labour leadership lacked credibility
splintering of political opposition
-anti-cons vote was 3 million more than cons.
–> Cons. had 144 majority
distorting effect of first past the post system

51
Q

1987 election stats?

A

Cons=375 42.2%
Lab=229 30.8%
Lib and SDP= 22 22.6%
Other=23 4.4%

52
Q

Why did Cons have a strong defence in 1987 election?

A

They had a growing economy and promised lower taxes
Support from press

53
Q

Reasons for decline of Thatcher?

A

Poor economy + poll tax
losing political support: lost ultra-safe Eastbourne seat 1990
divisions under Cons.
Lab. party recovery
Geoffrey Howe resigning was catalyst

54
Q

John major as a leader?

A

(1990-7)Thatchers choice of sucessor
wanted to unify party: difficult after hositlity of Micahel Heseltine and those who wanted to take revenge of who ‘betrayed Maggie’
Gulf War and Europe main foreign
Eco.= get rid of poll tax

55
Q

Press opinion of Major?

A

postive = ‘honeymoon affect’
reflected Thatchers unpop. in 1990

56
Q

1992 election stats?

A

Cons=336 51.6%
Lab=271 41.6%
Lb Dem=20 3.1%
Other=24 3.7%

57
Q

Prediction for 1992 election?

A

Opinion polls Lab were significantly ahead
However swung back to Cons.

58
Q

How did Major win the 1992 election?

A

‘soapbox’ politics
impromptu speeches
best party to get country out of eco. mess

59
Q

Majors gov. failures?

A

Tory sleaze
–> over dozen sex scandals and extra marital affairs
Corruption
–> (1994) Scott Enquiry set up to investigate illegal arms dealing to Iraq
–> Cash-for-questions affair of accepting money to lobby questions in parlaiment

60
Q

Affect of Majors gov. faliures?

A

found it difficult to calim when things went right
made him look like an inadequate leader

61
Q

Majors privisisation policy?

A

(1994) coal privitised
(1996) railways privitised
abandoned scheme to privitise Post Office

62
Q

What and when was Citzens Charter?

A

(1991) attempt to give public service users more power over the quality of services they received by providing information. about standards they expect
e.g. schools more testing and results published
–> however ‘Cones HOtline’ on motorways became targets of satire

63
Q

Human health crisis under Major?

A

BSE crisis - Mad Cow Disease
–> British beef banned in Europe

64
Q

Image of Major gov. after premeirship?

A

image of incompetence

65
Q

COns. divisions from 1987-97?

A

Thatcher annoyed her Cahncellor by using Professor as a eco. advisor (lawson) and alienated Geoffrey Howe by moving him to a lesser post
(after 1992) right wingers pushed for more radical social policies
Eurosceptics
Scandals and sleaze

66
Q

Who were majors possbile challengers?

A

Michael Portillo and John Redwood

67
Q

What happened after right wing press called to replace Major?

A

(1995) leadership campaign
–>’back me or sack me’
–> before ballot he told Heseltine her would eb deputy PM which got him votes

68
Q

Ballot results on 1995 leadership campagin?

A

218 Major
89 Redwood
No need for second ballot

69
Q

Problems faced by Major after leadership campaign?

A

89 Cons. voted against him
press hostile
mocked by Tony Balir
Thatcher worsened divisons over Europe and for MAjor

70
Q

Why did Cons. lose 1997 election?

A

Lab not easy party to attack
Cons. msg was confused
–> stolen Cons policies
–> New Lab. was Old Lab in disguise
Cons. sleaze and scandal (Clean polcitics campaign in Neil Hamiltons area)
Time for change
Maastricht and Europe

71
Q

1997 election stats?

A

Cons=166 30.7%
Lab=418 43.2%
Lib=52 16.8%
Other=28 9.4%

72
Q

Outcome of 1997 election?

A

Labour won by landslide
Half of all cons. lost seats
COns. lowest figure since 1823 + no seats in Scotland

73
Q

What was tactical voting in 1997 election?

A

People voted for Lib so there would be bigger anti-cons. vote

74
Q

Blairs premeirship?

A

(1997-2007) charismatic leader
comfortable with media
portrayed as an ordinary man
in touch with electorate

75
Q

Blairs approach to Cons. policies?

A

Third Way= mid way between Old LAbour and Thatcherite policies
TU reform accepted
no re-industrialistaion of privistised industries
quality public services

76
Q

What had Labour promised in manifesto in realtion to devolution?

A

(1997) promised new referendums on devolution

77
Q

Devolution 1997 results?

A

Scotland: devolving power to a Scottish parliament which had tax-rasing powers
–> new Scottish Assembly established at Edinburgh based on proportional representation
Wales: Welsh Assembly set up, although with limited powers
NI: gov. devolved after Good Friday

78
Q

New reforms to England devolution?

A

(1999) intro. elected mayor in London
(2004) plans for further assemblies and extend devolution rejected

79
Q

Affects of Devolution in Scot and Wales?

A

SNP and Plaid Cymru continued to gain support conrtrary to belief it would take momentum away

80
Q

Affects of Devolution in ENgland?

A

elected mayor was a sucessful change
However:
(2000) Blair blocked Ken Livingstone from being Lab. candidate
–> he was all that was wrong with ‘loony left’
–> harm iamge of New Labour
–> livingstone left, won, then Blair had to invite him back

81
Q

Blair’s effort to reform House of Lords?

A

(1999) ended with a rather messy comprimise in which hereditary peers not abolished but cut to 92
–> seemed unsatisfactory by everyone

82
Q

Reforms to parliament under Blair?

A

(1998) commission led by Roy Jenkins was set up to examine an alternative voting system
–> to a more proportional system
–> no changes were made

83
Q

When and what was the Freedom of Information Act?

A

(2000) gave people right to request info. from public bodies
–>(2006) 100,000 requests made each year

84
Q

Outcome of Freedom of Information Act?

A

preent politicains from making difficult desicions because they feared actions would become public knowledge

85
Q

What and signifcane of European Convetion on Human Rights?

A

Drafted by European states to prevent absues of human rights
–> incorporated through British law
–> (1998) Human Rights Act

86
Q

Outcomes of Human Rights Act?

A

judges interpreted this sometimes created unexpected difficulties for gov.
–>(2004) gov. forced to amed anti-teerrorist legislation
–> it allowed the indefintie detainment of UK non-nationals suspected of terrorist activities as it was incompatible with the Act

87
Q

Domestic education policies under Blair?

A

Education: kept league tables, inspections under Major, targets extended, specialist schools encouraged, improve results

88
Q

Domestic Law and order policies under Blair?

A

Law and order: tough on crime and causes, reduce soical exclusion, longer prison sentences

89
Q

Domestic Health policies under Blair?

A

Health: (2001) more investment, more doctors, shorter waiting times, (July 2001) special delivery unit set up ro ensure reforms implmented

90
Q

Domestic policies overall under Blair?

A

Overall: slow progress, should have been more radical earlier

91
Q

Setbacks in Blairs domestic policies?

A

(2000) rising fuel prices led to blockade by farmers and lorry drivers
Foot and mouth disease led to cull of 10 million animals
People in countryside felt issues not understood by LAb.
–> came to head when attempt to ban hunting with dogs
–>(2002) march with half a million poeple over issue
–> (2004) ban passed

The Making Of Modern Britain (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions