margaret thatcher accomplishments
The 1979 election was the first of four consecutive election victories for the Conservative Party. She introduced a number of legislation to accomplish this including making secondary industrial action illegal; forcing union leadership to first win a ballot of the union membership before calling a strike; and abolishing the closed shop, which is a workplace where all employees must belong to an agreed trade union. We will stand on principle or we will not stand at all. World History Edu © 2021. Margaret Thatcher’s legacy. Thatcher aggressively sold off key industries owned by the British government. Prime Minister Thatcher rejected the possibility of negotiating with the terrorists and made it clear that safe passage would not be granted. Born Margaret Hilda Roberts (1925 – 2013), Thatcher was a British stateswoman who is often called “Iron Lady” due to her uncompromising politics and leadership style. An objective assessment of her greatest achievements (and failures) isn't easy – opinions are still divided. She died in London, after having suffered a stroke, at 87 years old. Among other things, it was Thatcher who put forward the idea that Mikhail Gorbachev was the key to the solution. #1 She was the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom, #2 Margaret Thatcher was the first female to be elected head of government in Europe, In the 1979 United Kingdom general election, Margaret Thatcher, #3 She successfully handled the Iranian Embassy crisis, #4 She implemented a free market economy in Britain through privatisation, Among the key features of Thatcher’s domestic policy was, #5 She reduced militant trade unionism leading to sharp decline in loss of working days, #6 Her economic policies lowered inflation in the 1980s, #7 She implemented the Right to Buy policy allowing tenants to buy homes at discounted prices, The Thatcher administration implemented the, #8 Thatcher led Britain successfully through the Falklands War, #9 She played a part in ending the Cold War, #10 Thatcher is ranked among the most influential people of the 20th century, Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister and party leader in. 5 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Margaret Thatcher. Know about the contribution of one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century though her 10 major achievements. Thatcher’s accomplishments are significant, especially her revitalisation of the British economy following the disappointing 1970s mired in stagflation. Elle fut leader du Parti conservateur de 1975 à 1990. Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister of Great Britain and a close friend of Reagan, wrote a potent and emotional eulogy for his funeral. November 26, 1984. Her party won 339 seats while the Labour Party won 269. Who was Amelia Earhart? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The English poet John Lydgate once wrote, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” If there are any certainties of leadership, it is that you will always have your critics – regardless of your intentions. When the Heath Government lost a second General Election in October 1974, Thatcher decided to run against Heath for the leadership of the Conservative Party and won in February 1975, becoming the first woman to lead a Western political party and to be the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. There was also huge improvement in efficiency and quality of service. Though Thatcher’s policies lowered inflation, they also led to rise in unemployment. Thatcher thus ended militant trade unionism in U.K. which had severely affected the economy till then. Like American President Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher believed that a more aggressive policy was needed to end Communism in Europe and to win the Cold War. It is regarded as a defining moment in British industrial relations and a major victory for Thatcher. She played a major role as a broker between Reagan and Gorbachev in 1985–87 leading to the successful negotiation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Thatcher ranks as the most popular party leader in British history in terms of votes cast for the winning party, with over 40 million ballots casted for her party between 1979 and 1987. – Margaret Thatcher. She was a radical conservative, known for dismantling nationalized industries and social services, weakening union power.She was also the first incumbent prime minister in the UK removed on a vote of their own party. She became a Member of Parliament in 1959 after winning from the constituency of Finchley in northern London. Báró Margaret Hilda Thatcher OM (Grantham, 1925. október 13. brit konzervatív politikus, 1975 és 1990 között a Konzervatív Párt vezetője, 1979 és 1990 között az Egyesült Királyság miniszterelnöke volt. The number of stoppages across the UK peaked at 4,583 in 1979 leading to the loss of 29 million working days. This was at a time when most doubted that the Cold War could be won in the near future. In the 1979 United Kingdom general election, Margaret Thatcher led the Conservative Party to victory with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats. A version of the scheme is still running today giving secure tenants of councils and some housing associations the legal right to buy, at a large discount, the council house they are living in. On April 2, 1982, Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands as they claimed that the islands were Argentine territory. The pair married in 1951 and stayed together for over 50 years, including during her time as the leader of England from 1979 - 1990. Margaret Thatcher became one of the world's most influential and respected political leaders, as well as one of the most controversial, dynamic, and plain-spoken, a reference point for friends and enemies alike. If one was a tenant for over 20 years, they got a 50% discount. Margaret Thatcher is considered as one of the greatest and most influential politicians in British history. The same year she was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope by the South African government. NEW: MT's 1990 clothes diary. In 1979, she led her party to victory to become the first female to be elected head of government in not only U.K. but entire Europe. “Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher were the two great change-makers among 20th-century prime ministers. Cet article se propose d’analyser le positionnement et les politiques de Margaret Thatcher – la première, et, à ce jour, l’unique femme à avoir été Premier ministre en Grande-Bretagne – sous un angle spécifique, celui des enjeux traditionnellement qualifiés de « féminins ». For most of her premiership, she was described as the most powerful woman in the world. The Thatcher administration implemented the Housing Act of 1980 giving house tenants in England and Wales the Right to Buy their house from their local authority. 10 Interesting Facts About The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, 10 Most Famous Novels In American Literature, 10 Best American Novelists And Their Most Famous Works, 5 Most Famous Myths Featuring The Greek Goddess Hestia, 10 Most Famous Myths Featuring The Greek God Hephaestus, 10 Major Accomplishments of Napoleon Bonaparte, 10 Major Achievements of The Ancient Inca Civilization, 10 Major Battles of the American Civil War, 10 Major Effects of the French Revolution, 10 Most Famous Poems By African American Poets, 10 Most Famous Novels In Russian Literature, 10 Facts About The Rwandan Genocide In 1994, Black Death | 10 Facts On The Deadliest Pandemic In History, 10 Interesting Facts About The American Revolution, 10 Facts About Trench Warfare In World War I, 10 Interesting Facts About The Aztecs And Their Empire. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991 from U.S. President Bush Sr. She caused deep divisions in the UK – many of which are still abundantly apparent almost a quarter of a century after her resignation – yet she was widely respected overseas. Individualism has come in for an enormous amount of criticism over the years. Frustrated with the lack of progress, the terrorists killed one of the hostages and threatened to kill one every half an hour. She served as Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. Most of these companies went on to become successful private firms. What was Margaret Thatcher’s greatest achievement? All Rights Reserved. Among the key features of Thatcher’s domestic policy was reduced government intervention and reliance on market forces to ensure efficiency. She, along with her sister Muriel, spent most of her childhood in Grantham, and helped her father with the grocery business. Margaret Thatcher with Kevin Keegan, left, and Emlyn Hughes, right, before the 1980 European Championship. On the domestic front, Thatcher brought about several influential changes including privatisation and deregulation to move her nation towards a free market economy. NEW: "No no no" - Boris Johnson article & Howe resigns. Her 11 years 209 days at 10 Downing Street makes her the longest serving British prime minister of the 20th century. Après des études de chimie et de droit, Margaret Thatcher se spécialise en droit fiscal et décide de s’engager dans la politique. Required fields are marked *. She increased interest rates and indirect taxes to slow the growth of the money supply, thereby lowering inflation. However, Margaret Thatcher’s role in the collapse of Communism was much more modest than many have exaggerated. She is the second longest-serving Conservative British prime minister (behind Lord Salisbury, The Marquess of Salisbury). Margaret Thatcher became Britain's Conservative Party leader and in 1979 was elected prime minister, the first woman to hold the position. Privatisation and greater competition led to lower prices for telecoms, airlines, electricity etc. It is common knowledge that people tend to shine politically at the expense of their families. The Iron Lady, Milk Snatcher or simply Maggie; Margaret Thatcher had plenty of nicknames during her time as Britain's first and only female prime minister. Summary of Margaret Thatcher’s accomplishments. Son ascension est fulgurante. Margaret Thatcher by Marion S. Trikosko. Obviously, some were more flattering than others! Stoppages due to strikes fell steadily throughout the rest of her premiership. The perpetrators demanded independence for the Khuzestan Province in Iran; the release of around 90 of their provincial countrymen from jail; and their own safe passage out of England. … Margaret Thatcher, one of the great political figures of postwar Europe, has died at the age of 87. Principles, Iron Lady. Margaret Thatcher (October 13, 1925 - April 8, 2013) was the first woman prime minister of the United Kingdom and the first European woman to serve as a prime minister. The Cold War ended in 1989 leading to the overthrow of communist regimes of Central and Eastern Europe. Other honours received by her include Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry (1979), Fellow of the Royal Society (1983) and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award (1998). 1925-1947: Grantham & Oxford. Margaret Thatcher's second Carlton Lecture at the Carlton Club in central London, www.margaretthatcher.org. We use our own and third party cookies to improve your experience and our services; and to analyze your use of our website. Margaret Thatcher was born on October 13, 1925 in Grantham, England, the younger daughter of Alfred and Beatrice Roberts. She was the highest ranked living person. Most of the rest were not change-makers but change-managers: as Harold Macmillan, one of the most skilful of them, famously remarked, what dictated action was ‘events, dear boy, events’. In economics, Monetarism is the practice of controlling the amount of money in circulation as the chief method of stabilizing the economy. Julian Coman. En mai 1979, elle arrive à Downing Street. The situation resulted in a siege during which five hostages were released by the terrorists in return for minor concessions. As Baroness Thatcher celebrates her 80th birthday, what are your strongest memories of her leadership? Thatcher worked closely with Reagan to bring the Cold War to a conclusion favourable to the West. Margaret Enters Politics A few years later Margaret tried running for office for the first time. However, Thatcher was chosen as leader of her party and she thus became the Leader of the Opposition on 11th February 1975. Thatcher diplomatically handled (with the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984) the Hong Kong sovereignty issue with China, allowing for the continued stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. The Falklands War lasted for 74 days and ended with Argentine surrender on 14th June 1982, returning the islands to British control. Born Margaret Roberts on Oct. 13, 1925, Thatcher had a humble but comfortable upbringing, living with her family in an apartment above her parents' grocery store in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Her exploits and successes in politics paved the way for many women to make a career in politics. Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister and party leader in November 1990. Margaret Thatcher served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. In 1991, Thatcher was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States. In 1975, she became the first woman to lead a major political party in the U.K. when she was elected as head of the Conservative Party. Within 17 minutes, the SAS rescued all but one of the remaining hostages; and killed five of the six terrorists capturing the remaining one. She mediated the crisis in Rhodesia (currently Zimbabwe) to end the. Inflation fell significantly under the leadership of Thatcher settling around 4-5% annually by mid-1980s. Margaret Thatcher s’affirme comme la seule femme à avoir réussi à accéder à la fonction de premier mi… Margaret Thatcher was committed to reducing the power of the trade unions. Dubbed the Iron Lady by a Soviet Union journalist, Thatcher was the longest serving prime minister in the country’s history and was well-known for her autocratic leadership style. In the 1970s, Britain was … She then went back to school and earned her law degree. Thatcher’s legislation was met with resistance most prominent of which was the UK miners’ strike of 1984–85, which involved 142,000 mineworkers. One of the most surprising appointments that the young Margaret Thatcher made when she became British prime minister in 1979 was to ask an elderly American academic to be her macro-economic adviser. The British government regarded this as an invasion of its territory leading to the Falklands War between the two nations. Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher LG OM DStJ PC FRS (13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013) was a British stateswoman.She served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) from 1979 to 1990, longer than any other British prime minister in the 20th century.She led the UK's Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. The Falklands War is regarded as a defining moment of Thatcher’s premiership which established her as a highly capable and committed war leader. In foreign affairs, she successfully led Britain through the Falklands War and played a significant role in ending the Cold War. 34 Copy quote. A 28 ans, elle devientmembre du parti des conservateurs. In the subsequent election, in May 1979, the Conservatives under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher were swept into power with the largest electoral swing since 1945, securing a 43-seat majority. Margaret Thatcher's three terms as Prime Minister brought enormous change to the UK. Her father was a greengrocer and respected town leader, serving as lay-leader with their church, city-alderman and then as mayor. Your email address will not be published. On 30th April 1980, a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian... #6 Her economic policies lowered inflation in the 1980s. In 1992, she was given a life peerage as Baroness Thatcher which entitled her to sit in the House of Lords. – London, 2013. április 8.) Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, DStJ, PC, FRS, HonFRSC (née Roberts; 13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013) was a British politician and stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. What are the best - and worst - … In 1953, she qualified as a barrister with specialization in taxation. Last modified May 26, 2020, Your email address will not be published. Most historians credit Thatcher’s leadership, policies and resolve as being an important factor in West’s victory in the Cold War. Elle devient successivement membre de la chambre des communes (poste qu’elle occupe jusqu’en 1993) puis ministre de l’éducation (de 1970 à 1974). Margaret Thatcher’s funeral and all the media interest has released my inner Tory Boy, even though I once won the mock election at school with our ‘New Communist’ party (on the eve of New Labour’s victory in 1997). Margaret Thatcher (née Margaret Hilda Roberts le 13 octobre 1925 à Grantham), baronne Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS, est une femme politique britannique. Margaret Thatcher [ˈmɑːɡrɪt ˈθatʃə(ɹ)] , baronne Thatcher (née Margaret Hilda Roberts le 13 octobre 1925 à Grantham et morte le 8 avril 2013 à Londres), est une femme d'État britannique. She specialized in X-ray crystallography. Elle est la 4e femme premier ministre dans le monde, la première en Europe. She served in this position till 1974. The Right to Buy affected around 3 million people; one third of whom actually purchased their housing unit. In 1999, Time magazine ranked her among the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you accept their use. The Falkland Islands is a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Thatcher was the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. She chaired the War Cabinet which led Britain to victory over the military junta in Argentina during the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982. 649 Argentine and 255 British military personnel died during the conflict. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She was also the first British Prime Minister with a science degree. Margaret Thatcher is the only woman in British politics to become prime minister and her leadership skills have polarised public opinion in the years since she stepped down. This is the website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, the largest contemporary history site of its kind. She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. It still does. Thatcher followed the policy of Monetarism to control the money supply in order to control inflation. The Housing Act of 1980 is regarded as one of Thatcher’s largest and most successful policies. In the 1970s, days lost to trade union strikes were at all-time highs. NEW: MT's fall - private files 1990. Margaret Thatcher was United Kingdom’s and Europe’s first elected female head of government. In 2002, she was ranked 16th in a BBC television poll for the 100 Greatest Britons in history. Attlee and Thatcher had the skill and decisiveness to ride a popular mood and leave … Margaret Thatcher at a friend's house, summer 1935. Helping to develop soft serve ice cream was one of the former prime minister's lesser known accomplishments. Margaret Thatcher was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on 13 October 1925, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, to Alfred Roberts, a grocer, preacher, and local mayor, and Beatrice Ethel. She was a remarkable prime minister who remade the UK at a pivotal time in its history. She was instrumental in leading a coalition against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Thatcher served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4th May 1979 to 28 November 1990. We offer free access to thousands of historical documents relating to the Thatcher period. Being a conservative, she had little chance to win, but it was good experience for her. The Conservative Party lost the 1974 election. On 30th April 1980, a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, London, and took 26 people hostage. However, at the end of her premiership, it was 9.7%. Nearly 15 years after resigning as leader of the Conservative Party and two years after her death in 2013, Thatcher remains one of the most divisive politicians in recent memory. The Iranian Embassy crisis established the reputation of Margaret Thatcher as a strong leader. But the accomplishments of her private husband, Denis Thatcher, are far less discussed. The strike was ruled illegal in September 1984 and called off on 3rd March 1985. Worldhistoryedu is not responsible for the content of external sites. One of the major achievements of Margaret Thatcher is that of raising a stable family alongside a political career. After graduation she worked as a research chemist for BX Plastics and then J. Lyons and Co. Thatcher first ran for Parliament as a candidate of the Conservative Party in 1950 but was unsuccessful. 72 Copy quote. – Biography, Final Flight, Disappearance, & Facts, The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Julius Caesar: History, Accomplishments and Facts, Greatest Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Life and Achievements of Sir Winston Churchill. Margaret Thatcher graduated from the University of Oxford in 1947 with Second-Class Honours in the four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. The Act allowed tenants who had lived in their homes for at least three years to buy at 33% discount of the market price and 44% for a flat. It rose from 5.3% to as high as 12% in 1984 before falling again to 7.5% at the time she left office. Margaret Thatcher. In her speech, Thatcher alludes to the accomplishments of Reagan while also appealing to the reader’s emotions and addressing past doubts about the president to encourage the audience to commemorate and reflect on what an amazing man Reagan was. The Margaret Thatcher government (1979–90) The Falkland Islands War, the 1983 election, and privatization. In the 1970s, Britain was experiencing very high inflation which peaked at around 26%. This was achieved through privatisation and deregulation. Margaret Thatcher , in full Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, née Margaret Hilda Roberts, (born October 13, 1925, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England—died April 8, 2013, London), British Conservative Party politician and prime minister (1979–90), Europe’s first woman prime minister. When Thatcher took office, it was at 10.3% but this was not due to any policy shift. Photograph: David Levenson/Getty Images/Hulton Archive. Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) passed away today after fighting illness for several years. Thatcher set up and chaired a War Cabinet to oversee the conduct of the war and by April 5, she authorized and dispatched a naval task force to retake the islands. He taught Margaret never to do things because other people are doing them; do what you think is right and persuade others to follow you. She ran for the parliamentary seat in Dartford twice, losing both times. Elle est morte le 8 avril 2013 à Londres. Within two weeks of her resignation, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Merit (OM) by Queen Elizabeth II. In response, Thatcher gave the go ahead to the Special Air Service (SAS) to conduct an assault. In 1990, there were only 630 with fewer than 2 million working days being lost. Privatisation was coupled with deregulation of key industries leading to greater competition within industries which were formerly monopolies. The Conservative Party won the 1970 general election, and Thatcher was appointed as Education Secretary. “I could never have been prime minister for more than 11 years without Denis by my side. Other notable accomplishments of Margaret Thatcher are: She chaired the War Cabinet which led Britain to victory over the military junta in Argentina during the Falkland... Thatcher diplomatically handled (with the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984) the … The economic difficulties experienced by the United Kingdom under the Labour government - requiring credit from the International Monetary Fund in 1976 and causing extensive trade union strikes … 10 Major Accomplishments of Margaret Thatcher #3 She successfully handled the Iranian Embassy crisis. State owned assets privatised during her term include British Aerospace, Cable & Wireless, British Telecom, Britoil, British Gas, Jaguar, British Airways, British Petroleum, British Steel, Rolls Royce and electric and water companies. She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century.