a-level politics bridging pack · a-level politics bridging pack ... of what has happened in...
TRANSCRIPT
Page 1 of 24
A-LEVEL POLITICS BRIDGING PACK Welcome to A-level Politics! By taking this course you will become immersed and engrossed in the daily
battle of Westminster Politics. You will learn to understand our political systems, and also to acknowledge
the importance of the individuals involved in making the key decisions that shape the United Kingdom.
This is a course that requires a good understanding of current political events but also a good understanding
of what has happened in politics over the last 50 years. To that end, this bridging pack is a crash course in
British Political History from 1945-2017. You’ll improve your understanding of Churchill,
Thatcher, Blair & Brexit. But you’ll also learn about some of the lesser known individuals
and events in Politics like Heath, Wilson, Major, Black Wednesday, Momentum
infiltration, and much, much more.
The pack requires you to
watch a series of 10 videos and fill out a quiz for each one. Some
answers will be very brief (a name, a fact, a reason etc) others
will require further explanation that could last for several
paragraphs. Feel free to attach additional pieces of paper and if
you would prefer to type your answers then you can find a copy
of the pack online (speak to your teacher for details).
The pack will take between 10 and 15 hours to complete and
you can spread this out over your summer holiday as you wish. I
would recommend a steady pace of one or two a week but part
of becoming an A-level student is learning to manage your
independent time effectively.
CAREFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PACK IS A MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITE OF THE COURSE.
Your pack should be ready for submission in your first lesson in September.
Most of the resources you need can be found online. The first 5 programs are from a series called ‘History of modern
Britain’. If you cannot find it online then you can buy the DVD or the accompanying book if you prefer. The docuwatch
website often has it – but it sometimes goes down for a few days so try again later or use an alternate method.
You are expected to try and answer all questions. You can use google to support you if you miss the answer in the
show.
If you have problems then contact your teacher in advance.
Page 2 of 24
VIDEO ONE – ADVANCE BRITANNIA (1945-1955)
Available on DVD or book format. Video may also be available at the below link:
http://britain.docuwat.ch/videos/history-of-modern-britain/history-of-modern-britain-01-advance-britannia-1945-1955-
This film introduces post war Britain with the first ever Labour landslide victory (where one party gains significantly more seats
than any other). You will learn about how Attlee tried to reform Britain’s social care while dealing with significant debt.
Question Answer Feedback
Describe five differences between Britain in 1945 and now
Who presents this series
Who lost and who won the general election in 1945. To help in gauge your visual memory, draw a small picture of each one in the box.
Who was William beverage and what did he do?
What did the Americans do after victory over Japan
List some of the problems that Londoners had after the war
What did Churchill warn the world about in 1946?
How and why did Britain status in the world change after World War I
Page 3 of 24
What was the British nationality act and how did it change Britain?
What did Attlee’s government do to the British coal industry
Why did Britain stay out of the European Union at this stage?
What unusual food is that the government tried to encourage people to eat?
What was the Marshall plan
What happened on July 5 and became known as Attlee’s greatest achievement
Why did Nye Bevan resign as a result of the North Korean war
Find a definition of socialism online and write it in the box
Who became prime minister in 1951
Page 4 of 24
VIDEO TWO – THE LAND OF LOST CONTENT (1955-1964)
Available on DVD or book format. Video may also be available at the below link:
http://britain.docuwat.ch/videos/history-of-modern-britain/history-of-modern-britain-02-the-land-of-lost-content-1955-1964
This video covers the period where post war Britain gives way to naughty scandals, middle-eastern wars, and huge social liberal
changes. The increase in liberal attitudes led to the swinging sixties!
Question Answer Feedback
Explain some of the events of the Profumo affair
Which party was in power for this period? Name and draw the prime ministers in the box
What was Eden’s lie about the Suez affair?
What was unique about the the Macmillan cabinet?
What does Etonian mean?
Which famous car became a sign of youth in the 50s
Define these words: trade union, strike, stagnant.
Where did most immigration come from in1950s?
What was ‘beyond the fringe’?
What was Polaris and why did Macmillan want one?
Page 5 of 24
What was the EEC? And why couldn't Britain join?
What was the ‘night of the long knives’?
What was Labours majority in 1964?
Page 6 of 24
VIDEO THREE – PARADISE LOST (1964-1979)
Available on DVD or book format. Video may also be available at the below link:
http://britain.docuwat.ch/videos/history-of-modern-britain/history-of-modern-britain-03-paridise-lost-1964-1979-
This video covers a period of serious economic and social unrest in the country. The rise of the unions, stagflation and the
winter of discontent are economic events that still cause fear of the Labour party today.
Question Answer Feedback
Who was prime minister? What party was he from? What was his main policy?
Name 3 new buildings or structural changes in the 60s
Where does the chancellor live?
What options were available to sort out britains national debt?
How did the government try to control inflation?
How did,the relationships between the old and the young change in this period?
What was david steels contribution to social reform?
List some of Roy Jenkins social reforms
Page 7 of 24
Why didn't Wilson criticise Vietnam?
What was ‘in place of Strife?’ and explain whether it worked
Who became prime minister in 1970?
What did Britain finally join in 193?
What happened when Heath took on the miners in 1972?
Describe the events of Bloody Sunday
Why did clockwork orange get banned?
What was the three day week and why did it happen?
Page 8 of 24
VIDEO FOUR – REVOLUTION! (1979-1990)
Available on DVD or book format. Video may also be available at the below link:
http://britain.docuwat.ch/videos/history-of-modern-britain/history-of-modern-britain-04-
revolution-1979-1990-
Britain Changed forever in the 1980s. Some love her. Some hate her. But no other Prime
Minister since WW2 has caused more changes to Britain than Margaret Thatcher. If you are
interested in her, there are many other TV programs and books about her. Ask your teacher for
details.
Question Answer Feedback
Who tried to kill Margaret thatcher and why?
Why was British in decline in the end of the 1970s?
Was who PM before Thatcher?
Describe what happened in the winter of discontent
Describe Thatcher’s upbringing?
What did Thatcher want from the EU? How did she get it?
Who was Thatcher’s soulmate? What goals did they share?
What was monetarism? And what was its effects?
Page 9 of 24
Give some statistics about unemployment during the 80s
What was the SDP?
Where did 10% of government revenue come from in 1982?
Describe the events of the Falklands (including the Belgrano)
How would you describe Margaret's Thatcher’s style of running government?
What was the right to buy?
Describe the events of the miners strike in 1984
What was the Big Bang?
What was the 80s boom and why did it Happen?
List the industries privatised under thatcher. And what should you tell Sid?
Who did some people say Thatcher was
Page 10 of 24
creating two Britains?
“There's no such thing as……?”
Explain the events surrounding the community charge.
Describe how thatcher was removed from office
Page 11 of 24
VIDEO FIVE – NEW BRITANNIA (1990-2007)
Available on DVD or book format. Video may also be available at the below link:
http://britain.docuwat.ch/videos/history-of-modern-britain/history-of-modern-britain-05-new-
britannia-1990-2007
The New Labour Government of 1997 really was ‘new’. They brought in a huge amount of
constitutional reform to the House of Lords, Freedom of information, Devolution, Civil Partnerships,
Elected Mayors and to the legal system. This also led to a far bigger use of referendums in British
Politics.
Question Answer Feedback
Why was the class war over?
What threats did Britain face in the 90s?
Why was prime minister in 1991?
Which war was taking place in1991? Who was angry that British troops invaded the holy land?
What was the Maastricht treaty?
How many votes did the conservatives get in the 1992 election?
What financial difficulties did the U.K. Face after the election?
What happened on Black Wednesday?
Why didn't back to basics work?
Who died in May 1994? And what was the impact?
Page 12 of 24
What was the deal between brown and Blair?
Explain some of the differences between old and new labour
Describe the Ecclestone affair
What was Tony Blair’s achievements in Northern Ireland?
What did a 1997 referendum create? And what could be the long term impact?
How was Peter Mandelson described?
What happened in Sept 2001? And what was the impact on Blair?
What was the problem with the dossier presented to Parliament?
What was the biggest demonstration ever held in Britain?
Describe the events that lead to David Kelly's death?
Describe several positive factors about the UK economy in the early 2000s?
Page 13 of 24
VIDEO SIX - GORDON BROWN – WHERE DID IT GO WRONG? (2007-2010)
Video should also be available at the below link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A00f18HgKKI
Gordon Brown was chancellor under Tony Blair for 10 years. His rise to Prime Minister in
2007 was something he had desired for years. Sadly when he got there, a series of
political mistakes, combined with one of the largest economic crashes the world has
ever seen scuppered his reputation.
Question Answer Feedback
Who is Gordon Brown and what roles has he held?
In what ways did he try and counter criticism of his style?
What are the goats?
What problems did GB have to deal with early on in his premiership?
Why was Brown impressive early on?
What happened with Northern Rock?
Describe some reasons why Brown should have called an election
Why was Brown accused of spin and media management?
Why did some people think an October election was a bad idea?
What was Browns new nickname and why?
Page 14 of 24
What did the public think of him now?
What happened in the next budget?
What got lost? And what was Brown’s reactions.
Why did Peter Hain resign?
Brown transformed from Stalin to...
What presentational problems did he have?
What differences were there between his private and public persona?
Why did Brown resist nationalising Northern Rock?
What evidence is there that Brown was overworked
How did brown try to show he was tough on terrorism? Why did it go wrong?
What did Jack Straw say the core values of the labour party are?
What did GB do in his final budget as chancellor and what problems did it cause?
Page 15 of 24
VIDEO SEVEN – 5 DAYS THAT CHANGED BRITAIN (2010)
Video should be available at the below link: (video is in 4 parts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRHUNxVCnxw
One of the advantages of our electoral system is that it (nearly always) produced a clear winner. In 2010 there was a hung
parliament where no one party had an overall majority (a bit like 2017!). This meant that 2 parties had to try and work together
to form a stable government. This program is the story of how the coalition was born.
If you enjoyed this story and would like to find out even more about these events then there is a dramatized version which you
can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ep6TUfprGc
Question Answer Feedback
Who are the three men this programme focusses on and what parties do they represent?
What was the result of the 2010 election? (pause program and note down seats)
What is a coalition?
Why did Nick Clegg have mixed emotions on election night?
What did Lord Ashdown mean by ‘our hearts went one way but the maths went the other’?
Who was Gus O’Donnell and why was he important in this story?
Page 16 of 24
Why was it important to get a new government quickly?
What did Cameron do in St Stephens Club?
Why was there so much pressure on the 8 men trying to make a deal?
(part 2) Why did the first negotiation go so well for the lib dems?
Why didn’t Gordon Browns phone call with Nick Clegg go well?
How did all 3 leaders end up standing together in public?
Why were Clegg and Cameron quite similar?
What was the purple demonstration about?
Why did the Lib Dems start negotiating with Labour?
How was the labour meeting different to the conservative meeting?
Describe the first meeting between Cameron and Clegg
What was the key blockage with a deal between Labour and the Lib Dems?
(part 3) Why was Clegg so keen for Brown to go?
Page 17 of 24
How did Brown respond?
…and how did the conservatives respond to that?
What was David Cameron’s Lie?
What is a referendum? (google it if you don’t know)
How did the labour and liberal negotiators describe each other?
What did the Lib Dems change their mind on?
(part 4) Why did the Labour party feel played?
What did Brown say was the MOST important job?
What was going on while Cameron was visiting the Queen?
What problems could the coalition cause for the parties?
Page 18 of 24
VIDEO EIGHT – BREXIT: A VERY BRITISH COUP (2015-2016)
David Cameron called a referendum on Britain’s EU membership. He did so because of the rise of UKIP, the splits in his own
party (factionalism), and that big constitutional changes need to be supported by a public vote. The result shocked the world
and caused the end of David Cameron’s political career.
Video should be available at the below links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or-tzhDLUqo
OR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpm4KVjx7KM
Question Answer Feedback
The referendum was really a…
Why wasn’t Nigel in the official leave campaign?
Where did Nigel spend most of his time? (other than the pub)
Who are Boris and Michael? And what did they nick from Nigel?
Which ex-PM came out to argue Bremain? What did he say?
What did Cameron refuse to do? What did he do instead?
What are your views on Nigel Farage?
How did the remainers negatively campaign against Farage?
What was the ‘breaking point’ poster?
What happened on the Thames?
What sad event changed the
Page 19 of 24
mood of the campaign?
Where did the money behind Nigel come from?
What happened in Wembley?
What did Alan say that Boris wanted to happen?
What was the result? (google exact %)
Why was Crispin happy?
What did Alan Duncan warn was the problems post Brexit?
What did Cameron do immediately after the result?
What went wrong with Boris campaign?
Who was the far right leadership candidate?
What was Gove’s underhanded technique to get AL out?
What is an infiltration attack?
Why did Andrea pull out? (you may need to google it)
What happened to the Brexiteers?
Page 20 of 24
VIDEO NINE – LABOUR: IS THE PARTY OVER? (2016)
Video is available on iPlayer at the following link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07x0bvx
Since Gordon Brown’s departure in 2010, the Labour party has been divided over whether it is a centre-left or a far left party.
Each subsequent leader has pushed the party further towards the left (closer to democratic socialism). However the further the
party moves left, the lower the party’s popularity becomes.
Question Answer Feedback
Who is the current leader of the Labour party? Draw a picture of him and his challenger in the box.
What is Momentum? (answers this throughout the program)
Explain several reasons why Corbyn is popular?
Explain several why Corbyn is unpopular?
In which areas does Lisa Nandy think JC has lost the argument?
What problem does Peter Kyle have?
What kind of abuse has appeared in the labour party forums?
What happened to Greg Hatfield?
Why is there conflict between MPs and local party members?
What are entryists?
Page 21 of 24
Who is Len McClusky and what does he think?
What happened in the 1980s?
What rights did the Labour party secure for Gay people?
Why does Peter Kyle think the party is on the ‘edge of a cliff?’
What does Len say should happen to MPs to disrespect Corbyn?
What does Frances say the problem is with having a divided party?
What does Corbyn say is wrong with opinion polls?
What are Neil Kinnocks final thoughts?
Page 22 of 24
VIDEO TEN – GENERAL ELECTION – WHAT JUST HAPPENED? (2017)
Video is available on iPlayer at the following link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08vg34h/panorama-election-2017-what-just-happened
In 2017 Theresa May called an election. She did so because the conservative party was so far ahead in the polls it looked like she
could vastly increase her majority and her power well into the next decade. May’s Strong and Stable leadership was the rallying
call! And Jeremy Corbyn is the leader of a divided and ineffectual opposition… they couldn’t do well in an election campaign
could they?
Question Answer Feedback
Who presents this program and which channel is it on? (for bonus marks why does that matter?)
Why did Theresa call the election? (several possible answers)
What does Brenda think?
Why were the conservatives so sure of beating Corbyn?
Why was Peter Kyle’s constituency unique?
What did the conservatives try to make the campaign about?
What did Labour want to make the campaign about?
What did Labour Pledge?
What is a marginal seat?
What did Theresa May try to do with her manifeso? Why launch it in Halifax?
Which Tory policy scared voters?
Page 23 of 24
What was the u-turn? And why was it a problem.
Why did Theresa decided to put this controversial policy into the manifesto?
How did the Tories try to use the terror attacks against Corbyn?
What was Gavin Barwell’s conversation with a teacher?
What did the conservatives not put at the middle of the campaign?
What was the problem with the leadership debates?
What was Corbyns coalition?
What was the result of the election?
How did the Labour MPs majorities increase?
But will Corbyn ever be Prime Minister?
What was the problem with Theresa’s speech the morning after the election?
What are the views on how long May will last?
Page 24 of 24
Use this page for any additional notes, answers or questions you have for your teacher in the new school year.