37. uk and usa history

UK and US contemporaryhistory and economy

HISTORY

society

• 1960s: international spread of English language literary and cultural influence abroad.

• 1970s: global economic slowdown and industrial strife.

• 1980s: economic growth due to the inflow of substantial North Sea oil revenues.

1. Great Britain

UK and USA history and economy

Only Connect ... New Directions

The Beatles

An oil platform in the North Sea

1979-1990: premiership of Margaret Thatcher a significant change of direction from the post-war policy.

1997-2009: New Labour governments (Blair and Brown) continued this change.


1. Great Britain

Gordon Brown (left) and Tony Blair (right)


Margaret Thatcher

4th May 1979: Thatcher (right wing of the Conservative Party) became Prime Minister.

She tried to solve UK’s economic decline and to reduce the role of the state in economy.


2. Margaret Thatcher


Margaret Thatcher.

She advocated:

1. greater independence of the

individual from the state.

2. a higher level of influence and

leadership in international affairs

(Falklands War).

She was a very close ally with US

President Ronald Reagan, (elected

in 1980).


2. Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan


1973: UK entered the European Economic Community.

1992: UK signed the Maastricht Treaty which gave birth to the European Union.

Labour governments actions: favouring fewer powers and competencies being transferred to the EU.

1990s: pre-legislative referenda and creation of devolved national administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.


3. Integration with EU and devolutions


June 2007: leader of the Labour Party, he

became Prime Minister after Blair’s resignation.

Key elements of his politics:

1. Environment and Housing cuts in carbon

emissions, eco-towns.

2. Constitutional reforms.

3. Health private polyclinics.

4. Foreign policy “solid but not slavish”

relationship with US.


4. Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown


1947-1991: Cold War started between the United States and Soviet Union.

The USA controlled the military affairs of Europe through NATO, while the Soviet Union did it through Warsaw Pact.


5. United States of America


American and Soviet allies and areas of influence during the Cold War.

1961: the Soviets launched the first manned spaceflight.

1962: President Kennedy faced a tense nuclear showdown with Soviet forces in Cuba.

1969: the USA succeeded in sending two astronauts on to the Moon.


Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon



Civil rights movement led by African Americans (Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks) fought against segregation and discrimination.

1964-1965: Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act granted freedom for the blacks.


Martin Luther King



1959-1975: Vietnam War.

A widespread countercultural movement grew, mixing opposition to war, black nationalism and feminism.


An anti-war protest



1972-1974: Watergate scandal

the FBI, the Parliament and the

press discovered a series of crimes

and abuses committed by Nixon’s

staff.

The President was forced to resign.

1970s: Carter’s administration

marked by stagflation.


The Watergate hotel in Washington



1980s: Ronald Reagan adopted major changes in taxation and spending priorities.

1991: the Soviet Union collapsed, thus ending the Cold War.


The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989



1990s: Gulf War and Yugoslav

Wars helped the USA maintain the

position of a superpower.

September 11th, 2001: al-Qaeda

terrorists struck WTC in New York

and Pentagon in Washington DC.

2003: Bush administration invaded

Iraq.


A photo shot from the 1991 Gulf War

The 9/11/2001 attack on World Trade Center



He has promised to provide:

a. tax cuts;

b. aids to cities and states;

c. the creation of 4 million jobs by the end of 2010;


November 2008: Barack Hussein Obama, a young, democratic, black man, became the 44th U.S President.


Barack Obama



He has promised to provide:

d. the reduction of Carbon emissions;

e. the improvement of health care;

f. the reduction of Bush’s administration deficit.

November 2008: Barack Hussein Obama, a young, democratic, black man, became the 44th U.S President.


Barack Obama


37. uk and usa history

Education

usa history

new directions american

history society

great britain uk

us contemporary history

economy neil armstrong

economy martin luther

soviet union