AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
The Thatcher governments: Thatcher as leader, character and ideology;…
Full specification wording
2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 – The impact of Thatcherism, 1979–1987 (A-level only): The Thatcher governments: Thatcher as leader, character and ideology; ministers; support and opposition; electoral success; internal Labour divisions and the formation of the SDP; Northern Ireland and the troubles
Margaret Thatcher’s premiership was defined by conviction politics, monetarist ideology and a combative leadership style.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Margaret Thatcher’s premiership was defined by conviction politics, monetarist ideology and a combative leadership style. She dominated her Cabinet, marginalising 'wet' ministers in favour of 'dry' loyalists. Her electoral successes stemmed from popular policies like right-to-buy, alongside a fractured opposition. Labour suffered severe internal divisions between its left-wing and moderates, prompting the 1981 formation of the breakaway Social Democratic Party (SDP). Thatcher faced fierce opposition from trade unions. In Northern Ireland, the Troubles escalated; Thatcher took an uncompromising stance during the 1981 Republican hunger strikes and survived the 1984 Brighton bombing, before signing the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.
What earns the marks
- Assess how Thatcher's personal character and 'New Right' ideology shaped her leadership style and management of Cabinet ministers.
- Evaluate the reasons for Thatcher's electoral successes, weighing the impact of Conservative policies against the weaknesses of the divided opposition.
- Analyse the causes and consequences of internal Labour divisions, specifically the impact of the SDP-Liberal Alliance on the electoral landscape.
- Examine Thatcher's handling of the Northern Ireland Troubles, including the 1981 hunger strikes and the political shift marked by the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Attributing Thatcher's electoral success solely to the Falklands War.
Put it right: Emphasise that long-term factors, such as Labour's internal divisions, the formation of the SDP, and popular economic policies, were equally critical.
Claiming the entire Conservative Party fully supported Thatcher's ideology from 1979.
Put it right: Highlight the initial deep divisions within her Cabinet between the moderate 'wets' and the monetarist 'drys'.
Stating that the Anglo-Irish Agreement brought immediate peace to Northern Ireland.
Put it right: Note that the 1985 Agreement provoked furious unionist backlash and did not end the violence of the Troubles.
Exam tips
- Use the split between 'wets' and 'drys' to demonstrate Thatcher's evolving control over her ministers and the Conservative Party.
- When discussing opposition, contrast the parliamentary weakness of the divided Labour Party with the extra-parliamentary strength of the trade unions.
- Link Thatcher's uncompromising character to her specific policy decisions, such as her refusal to grant political status to IRA hunger strikers in 1981.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 – The impact of Thatcherism, 1979–1987 (A-level only): The Thatcher governments: Thatcher as leader, character and ideology; ministers; support and opposition; electoral success; internal Labour divisions and the formation of the SDP; Northern Ireland and the troubles lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In 1981, a group of moderate Labour politicians known as the 'Gang of Four' left the party. Which new political party did they form?
Listen
Margaret Thatcher’s premiership was defined by conviction politics, monetarist ideology and a combative leadership style. She dominated her Cabinet, marginalising 'wet' ministers in favour of 'dry' loyalists. Her electoral successes stemmed from popular policies like right-to-buy, alongside a fractured opposition. Labour suffered severe internal divisions between its left-wing and moderates, prompting the 1981 formation of the breakaway Social Democratic Party (SDP). Thatcher faced fierce opposition from trade unions. In Northern Ireland, the Troubles escalated; Thatcher took an uncompromising stance during the 1981 Republican hunger strikes and survived the 1984 Brighton bombing, before signing the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Assess how Thatcher's personal character and 'New Right' ideology shaped her leadership style and management of Cabinet ministers. Evaluate the reasons for Thatcher's electoral successes, weighing the impact of Conservative policies against the weaknesses of the divided opposition. Analyse the causes and consequences of internal Labour divisions, specifically the impact of the SDP-Liberal Alliance on the electoral landscape. Examine Thatcher's handling of the Northern Ireland Troubles, including the 1981 hunger strikes and the political shift marked by the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement. A common slip: Attributing Thatcher's electoral success solely to the Falklands War. Instead, Emphasise that long-term factors, such as Labour's internal divisions, the formation of the SDP, and popular economic policies, were equally critical. Exam tip: Use the split between 'wets' and 'drys' to demonstrate Thatcher's evolving control over her ministers and the Conservative Party.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Leadership and ideology
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Political opposition
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Electoral dominance
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The Troubles
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See every definition
- Leadership and ideology
- Thatcher's premiership was defined by conviction politics, monetarist ideology and a combative leadership style, dominating her Cabinet and marginalising 'wet' ministers in favour of 'dry' loyalists.
- Political opposition
- Thatcher faced fierce opposition from trade unions, while Labour suffered severe internal divisions between its left-wing and moderates.
- Electoral dominance
- Her electoral successes stemmed from popular policies like right-to-buy, alongside a fractured opposition.
- The Troubles
- In Northern Ireland the Troubles escalated, with Thatcher taking an uncompromising stance during the 1981 Republican hunger strikes and surviving the 1984 Brighton bombing before signing the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.
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