Margaret Thatcher

Biography

Made by Fang Ziying

3B1

15 March 2011

In office4 May 1979-

28 November 1990

Early Life

0 Grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire0 Composed of a closely-bonded

conservative community.

0 Attended Somerville College, Oxford

Early Life

0 Her Father, Albert Roberts, has vastly shaped her political conviction.0 Methodist Father is active in local religion and politics0 Brought her up as a strict Methodist0 Frequently talked with Margaret on issues of the day

Early Political Career

0 She received her first taste of politics in her mid-twenties0 Ran as the Conservative candidate of Dartford in the 1950-

1951 General Election, with both resulting in defeat.0 Nevertheless, she cut the opposing Labour majority sharply

and hugely enjoyed the experience.0 Interestingly, she had little difficulty getting a hearing from

any audience, speaking easily with confidence on issues which mattered to the voters.

Career

1950

•Lawyer, specializing in taxation

1959

•Member of Parliament for Finchley, a North London constituency

1992

•A member of the House of Lords

1994

•Junior office in admin of Harold Macmillan

1964-70

•Established her place among senior figures of the party, served as shadow minister

Career

1970

•Achieved cabinet rank as Education Secretary

1975

•Elected Conservative Leader

75-79

•Leader of the Opposition

79-83

•Prime Minister- 1s

t

Term

83-87

•Prime Minister- 2n

d

Term

87-90

•Prime Minister- 3r

d

Term

Political Career

0 After the Conservatives were defeated in 1974, Thatcher challenged Heath for the leadership of the party.

0 To the surprise of many, she defeated him in both ballots and won.

0 In the 1979 general election, Conservatives came to power and she became prime minister

Prime Minister 1st Term

0 Pledged to check and reverse Britain’s economic decline, she implemented many painful measures.0 Privatization of state-owned industries and utilities 0 Reform of the trade unions0 Lowering of taxes and reduced social expenditure

0 Her policies succeeded in reducing inflation, but unemployment dramatically increased. Re-election seemed unlikely

Prime Minister 1st Term0 A military victory in the

Falklands War in 1983 made the electorates extremely impressed

0 This allowed her to win a landslide victory in the 1983 general election.

0 In 1984, she narrowly escaped death when IRA planted a bomb at the Conservative Part Conference in Brighton

Prime Minister 2nd Term

0 In foreign affairs, Thatcher cultivated a close political relationship with US president Ronald Reagan0 Based on a common mistrust of communism0 Free-market economic ideology

Prime Minister 2nd Term

0 Thatcher was nicknamed the 'Iron Lady' by the Soviets.

0 She warmly welcomed the rise of reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.0 Played a constructive part in the diplomacy that

smoothed the break-up of the Soviet Empire

Prime Minister 3rd Term

0 In the 1987 general election, Thatcher won an unprecedented third term in office.

0 Made controversial policies such as the poll tax and her opposition to any closer integration with Europe0 produced divisions within the Conservative Party0 Led to a leadership challenge

0 In November 1990, she agreed to resign 0 Succeeded as party leader and prime minister by John

Major.