Thatcherism History 337 / March 26, 2012
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Transcript of Thatcherism History 337 / March 26, 2012
ThatcherismHistory 337 / March 26, 2012
February 1975: Thatcher replaces Heath as head of the Tories(then in opposition)
Thatcher helps to rally the “yes” vote for continuing British membership in the EEC
Labour’s James Callaghan at 10 Downing Street in 1976
1978: Workers at a Ford plant in Britain vote to go on strike (and five weeks later, win a 17% pay hike)
Public-sector workers demand huge raises, too
Garbage goes uncollected as the “winter of discontent” deepens
Jan. 11, 1979: The Sun lampoons “Sunny Jim’s” efforts at optimism…borrowing from a 1975 album by Supertramp
The Conservatives (“Tories”) mount a slick
campaign
(produced by advertising giantSaatchi & Saatchi)
Thatcher derides inflation
May 1979: Margaret Thatcher prepares to enter 10 Downing Street
Raising the VAT; over time, lowering income taxes
Thatcher’s policies yield inflation & a recession in 1980-81 – but then a return to growth
Unemployment rises sharply in the early 1980s (TUC poster)
Reagan and Thatcher, 1981
April 2, 1982:Argentina’s Galtieri announces the
seizure of the Falkland Islands (a.k.a. the Malvinas)
Thatcher sends a “task force” to the Falklands, including the HMS Invincible
British soldiers stage an amphibious landing
Thatcher visits the Falklands, 1983…part of a successful reelection campaign
Thatcher takes on the miners, 1984-85
Scenes of intense bitterness
Thatcher demands a rebate (June 1984)
(click here for an editorial cartoon by Plantu)
Thatcher remains controversial in Britain…