Preview

How Did Margaret Thatcher Provoke Such Divergent Opinions In The United Kingdom?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
748 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did Margaret Thatcher Provoke Such Divergent Opinions In The United Kingdom?
The death of Britain’s most debated Prime Minister made people think back at what she left behind. Margaret Thatcher’s legacy can be featured in several different ways, however, it all boils down to one question; why does she provoke such divergent opinions in the United Kingdom?
Margaret was born in England, October 12, 1925. Growing up, she was surrounded by politics because her dad was the Mayor in the town they lived in. She studied chemistry at Oxford University, where she also became president of the Oxford University Conservative Association. After graduating from Oxford, Margaret moved to Essex to work as a research chemist, where she was turned down. In their opinion, she was headstrong and obscenely self-opinionated. This led to Margaret
…show more content…
A term in which describes a strong willed woman. Looking at everything she achieved, the term fits her perfectly. She was a political warrior, and other people’s advice was insignificant to her. In Thatcher’s belief, she was always right. Moreover, when she took office, Britain was in desperate need for change. Economical issues was tearing the country down, and Thatcher intended to do something about it. Her political views can be summarized in one word, Thatcherism. Privatization, low tax, a small state and independence were the main principals in this theory, a theory in which redefined British …show more content…
Still, why does her legacy provoke such outrageous reactions? Well for starters, she changed Britain fast and severe. The people did not have any say, and she made it harder for the lower-income families. She cut in welfare benefits, which leaves a part of society vulnerable. One could say that she favored the successful and ambitious people, and left the rest feeling forgotten and suppressed. In her speeches, she referred to “our people”. People interpret this as if she was talking to the people who shared her way of thinking, and not to the British nation as a whole. She lacked feelings for the community and obligations that tied them together. Her focus was exclusively on creating a nation based on individuality and the “winner takes all”

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Margaret studied in Adelaide after she left high school and was inspired by William to teach some students of her own, she even taught World War 1 soldiers basket-weaving and pottery when she travelled to England in Europe.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hay, C. (1994). ‘Labour’s Thatcherite Revisionism: Playing the “Politics of Catch-Up”’, in Political Studies 42 (4).…

    • 3395 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Cleopatra Research Paper

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages

    She had a persuasive voice and was highly intelligent and had a keen mind of politics…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thatcher starts the eulogy by appealing to the basic sense of American patriotism. She appeals to American patritotism by saying that Reagan “ sought to mend America’s wounded spirit, to restore the strength of the free world, and to free the slaves…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This essay will examine the impact of the Conservative party during their period in office between 1951 and 1964. The assessments by historians of these thirteen years vary widely as the Conservative rule left behind a mixed feeling about its achievements. We will therefore be discussing to what extent their period in office can be described as “thirteen years wasted”, based on their performances in the political, economic and social sectors.…

    • 1709 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thatcher Eulogy Revisions At times of tension, a country requires a leader who will not only protect his country men but work will other leaders to dissolve the tension. In her eulogy to the American public (June 11, 2004), Margaret Thatcher -- the former prime minister of Great Britain-- honors former United States President Ronald Reagan for his success as president. Thatcher’s appeals to pathos and descriptive diction lionizes Reagan for his success as a president, global leader and beloved friend. Thatcher’s appeals to pathos portrays Reagan as a significant patriotic figure to the American public.…

    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As she was being educated growing up she was not a very strong student as she moved from school to school failing all of her courses. She may not have been seen as a bright student, but she was seen as having a heart that constantly was wanting to help people. Diana had compassion for those who were less fortunate than her and sought out many different ways that she could make other people’s lives more fulfilling. She did so by helping to create multiple charities and organizations that helped children and teens and older adults as well. Princess Diana always followed her heart instead of worrying about what other people may think of her decisions. She did things that other high-profile females may be afraid or disgusted to even think about doing. Princess Diana having a kind heart and a compassionate soul led to her not being difficult to understand since all she wanted to do was help those around…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    New Liberalism believed in interventionism for those who are ‘deserving’ and aimed to close the gap for those in poverty. Furthermore, New Liberalism supported taxation in order to fund social reforms. This new ideology also supported the movement away from a ‘laissez-faire’ economy, proposing that the state had an obligation to intervene. New Liberalism continued to build the legacy of Joseph Chamberlain (former Liberal who left over the issues of Home Rule and reforms), a politician that sought after the implementation of reforms such as old age pensions, and the provision of loans to the working class for the purchase of houses. Additionally, David Lloyd George believed that social reform would alleviate the threat of socialism – a view shared by Winston Churchill, who had defected from the Conservatives. Another Liberal thinker, J.A. Hobson spoke of “the sovereignty of social welfare”, crucially illustrating that social welfare was the paramount concern for the…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    english paper

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Margaret Whitlam played an important role as a political and prime ministerial wife. An outspoken public speaker, broadcaster and columnist, she accompanied Gough Whitlam on his countless overseas travels. As a qualified social worker, she was particularly interested in social conditions. Their public lives continued after they left The Lodge in 1975. Mrs Whitlam died in March 2012.…

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The speech begins with the opening "My loving people" (Benton, pg. 90). The opening did not begin with "citizens of England," or "members of the English army," rather it opened with a connection on more of a personal level. She immediately shows the troops that she is with them during this time of devastation. She goes on to say that some people have tried to resist against fighting against the Spanish Armada. She believes that allowing Spain to overtake England would be a treasonous act and that she will not live to see the day that their will be distrust amongst the empire of England. The next few lines of the speech show her unwillingness to just lie down and allow the Spanish Armada to overthrow the…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thatcher offered different and better ideas for the country and government which many people believed an improvement, gaining her a lot of popularity amongst the public but before the Conservatives were in government with Thatcher, the Labour party had a few difficulties (such as the winter of Discontent) whilst in power, which is possibly why the Conservatives won the General election. However this win could be purely down to the conservatives and their new policies or it could’ve been down to the failure of the Labour party. I believe that it was combination of the two that led to the Conservatives win but the win, as much as it seemed likely wasn’t indefinitely certain.…

    • 936 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    She was a strong believer in woman having the right to make their own choices, such as abortion and other decisions that affect their…

    • 1914 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    A short story of Margaret Thatcher’s life is she was a controversial figurehead of conservative ideology during her time as the first female prime minister of Britain. She was born in Grantham, England on October 13, 1925 and became Britain’s Conservative Party leader. She was selected the prime minister of Britain in 1979 and became the first woman to hold that position. She cut social welfare programs, reduced trade union power, and denationalized certain industries during her three terms as Britain’s prime minister. Due to unpopular policy and power conflicts in her party, Thatcher resigned as Britain’s prime minister in 1991. Thatcher later died at the age of 87 on April 8th, 2013 (Biography.com…

    • 2043 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thatcher expresses a right-winged point of view on the government system. She also expresses value in individualism and the principles of Classical Liberalism, where government involvement is little to none, through the quote, “There are individual men and women.” Thatcher argues that the reliance that people have on the government to take care of them has diminished the people’s individual initiative to help themselves first. She believes that as an individual, it is our duty to look after ourselves. Margaret Thatcher expresses an opinion similar to classical liberal economist, Adam Smith, who provided the foundation for the modern capitalist system. Adam Smith believed that the government should have a minimal role within society, which is very similar to Thatcher’s point of view. Thatcher expresses her point of view through critical mockery of people who rely solely on Government assistance: “I have a problem, I’ll get a grant”, “I’m homeless, the government must house me.” Thatcher rejects the idea of Government intervention and advocates for more individual initiative in which she states: “And no government can anything except through the people, and the people must look to themselves first…People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations.” Source two by Margaret Thatcher expresses a classical liberal point of view, similar to Adam Smith, which rejects government intervention and promotes individual…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Boris Johnson

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages

    put off many people listening to his speech. Margaret Thatcher promoted the thought of individuals…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays