AQA History - unit 5 alt. U (Britain 1951-1997)

Hi, is anyone else doing this exam on the 8th?

How is everyone feeling about it?

I really don't want there to be a compuls. question on social revolution in the 60's - although I really doubt that it will come up as compulsory as it did last year. I really want the Labour 74 - 97 element to be on part A, as i have revised it loads, and generally find it easy. I reckon there's a strong chance of it doing so as it hasn't ever been part A.

For me an order of preference would probably go;

Labour 74 -97
Thatcher revolution
Post-war consensus
Britain & Europe 51-97
Extent of social revolution.


Anyway - pointless rant over.

Can you help me on Thatcher revolution? I have no idea what I could write for it!!

Yeah, there are two majjor question types relating to it (aside from the rise & demise of maggie)

1) To what extent was there a Thatcher revolution?
Look at way that she transformed the nature of the economy, idustrial relations, and social policy/ the welfare state, and how this encoded/lead to changes in attitudes. Basically the introduction of capitalism into all aspects of British society. Focus is often on breaking the consensus


2) To what extent was the thatcher revolution a good thing
- This generally tends to focus on whether or not the Tatcher revolution was beneficial to the UK. For example, that the privatisation of life in general lead to short term finnancial gain for some, and the country, but would ultimatley lead to the British populace being directly exposed to the free market - through home ownership and share ownership.


Hope that helps.

Excellent thanks! I wonder what will come up this year, I dont want the 1960's revolution! I have a feeling maybe Major or Thatcher.

yeah 60's is poor. I'd love a question on why labour won the 1997 election.

Everyone in my class is dreading the thought of a Euro question - but I would definatley rather do that than look at social changes.

1951-1964 Tory dominance is a lovely question as well! If you dont mind could you go into a bit more detail on the Thatcher revolution question? I'm still a bit confused! Thank you

Erm, okayyyyyyyyy.

Economy - Two new systems brought in -initially Monetrism under Howe, before supply- side ecomomicsunder lawson. Both fairly similar, but not, would suggest reading up on them. Basically, one could look at it in terms of a massive shift from previous years. No longer a focus on full employment, and a general shift towards a market economy through measures such as privatisation. Taxation throughout the period could be seen to focus on giving incentives for people to work hard and make money etc. etc. Lowered tax for rich whilst raising indirect taxation for everyone else.

This could all be interpreted as creating a new economy with values based upon independent wealth and looking out for one's self in order to generate prosperity. Alternativley look at the idea of the government trying to ditch the issues of maintaing the old standards of consensus on the private sector -i.e. deferring responsibility to it.

Also - De-regulation of the city - big bang of 1986?( Not sure) - idea of changing Britain form manufacturing economy into Service and finance economy.



Industrial relations - Errrrrm. 1980 & 1982 Indust. relations act. made it harder for Unions to go on strike by making them fiscally responsible for their actions amongst other things. Showed resolve over the miners strike & nat. geographic union and thus showing that unions = no-longer power force. Also - privatisation = public buying shares = union members buying shares - transfering respons. to Private sector & union members themselves. Also, economic crisis destroyed union power along with shift from manufacturing industry into service economy.



Social Policy & welfare and that junk - Area i need to do more on.
- Housing act of 80 or 81 - made sure that Local govt = sale of council houses possible - sell like 800 k - contributes to personal wealth idea - 'property owning democracy. (tie in with share owning)
- Later on tried to mix welfare state with private ownership infact good theme for this paragraph) - vreates internal market with hospitals and trusts by making consumer-seller relationship. intorduction of more private healthcare)
- Education - decline infunding for uni's of 1% per year. Allows schools to revieve money from govt. directly. Also prints league tables for schools & allows people to have forst choice schools - makes system more consumerist.
- Strangely - no. of people on benefits under thatcher goes up.


Government, civil service
- Advocate of rolling back state
-sees inefficent civil service - contracts some of it out
-no. of civil servants = down from about 700k to about 500k
- gets rid of left wing met. councils - e.g. Hatton's liverpool one & Greater London one.
grant amintained schools (as said before)



This is the basics in terms of detail - but covers most of the issues - remember - tie it all in together to reach L4/L5.

+Rep for you! Amazzzzing.
I find the whole Thatcher section really hard, such as Thatcher and Europe argh! One year I think it was 05 there was a horrid question about "noisy, persistant and doomed to failure. how accurate is this the view of those against europe in 1979-1990" ergh!

I quite like question A in section A about comparing the two sources.

Yeah Thatcher & Europe is nasty - but I reckon it will come up with other people if it does ; I'd go for this ranking in terms of questions;

1. The recovery of the Labour party & the decline of the tories culminating in the '97 election
2. How good was the thatcher revolution
3. Why labour were so weak '74-'87
4. To what extent was there a thatcher revolution
5. Why were Tories so dominant 51 -64
6. Why Tories won in '79

average things for me are '64 election etc, whether Wilson kept cosensus etc.


and at the bottom; the worst ones I could get;
- Was there a 60's social revolution
- Random question about 60's/70's specific economics, e.g. Oil price crisis of 73, or Union powers
- Britain post joining Europe & issues caused by
- Big horrid question about massive period of time, e.g. economic/social trends 1950 - 1990
- Heath.

Yeah thats like me, I'd much rather the nitty gritty political/election stuff rather than "social change" and "developments"

97 election came up in 2005, i believe its due to come up this year hopefully!

heyy havin a tad panic! i have focusin on thatcher,60s social change (for part B) and heath, could hanyone help me with Labour rising to power in 1997 and conservs losin power by 97? please!

Thank u xx

Last minute cramming time!