Heaths Government

• What year did Edward Heath win the election?

  1970
• What was Edward Heath's goal for his government?

  To modernise Britain
• What significant achievement did Heath accomplish regarding the EEC?

  Secured British membership
• What crisis did Heath's government face in 1973?

  A massive economic and political crisis
• When did Heath lose the leadership of the Conservative Party?

  1975
• How long had Heath been leader of the opposition before becoming prime minister?

  Five years
• What was unique about Heath's background as Conservative leader?

  Educated at state schools
• How was Heath perceived in comparison to Wilson?

  Not seen as devious or interested in plots
• What was the main focus of Heath's policies during his premiership?

  Modernisation of Britain
• What was the Selsdon Park conference about?

  Approving a policy programme for the election
• What were some key policies from the Selsdon Park programme?

  Tax reform and immigration controls
• What did Heath believe in despite the Selsdon Park programme?

  'One Nation Toryism' and post-war consensus
• What significant change was made to the school leaving age during Heath's premiership?

  Raised to 16
• What economic issue arose during the 'Barber boom'?

  Rapid rise in inflation without growth
• What term describes the combination of inflation and rising unemployment?

  Stagflation
• What action did the government take as unemployment neared a million?

  Nationalised Rolls Royce
• What triggered the oil price crisis in 1973?

  The Yom Kippur War
• What was the result of the oil embargo declared by OPEC?

  Oil prices skyrocketed
• When did the miners' strike begin?

  9 January 1972
• What was the government's response to the miners' strike in February 1972?

  Declared a State of Emergency
• What was the outcome of the Wilberforce Committee's examination of miners' demands?

  Supported the miners' demands
• What was the purpose of the Industry Act of 1972?

  To manage wage demands collaboratively
• What was the three-day week imposed by the Heath government intended to address?

  Conserve electricity
• What was the central issue of the February 1974 general election called by Heath?

  'Who governs Britain?'
• What was the impact of the miners' strike on Heath's government?

  It contributed to the government's downfall
• What did the miners refuse to accept in January 1974?

  The pay offer
• What was the response of the government to the miners' demands?

  They refused to treat miners as special
• What action did the NUM take in January 1974?

  Called a national strike
• Why was the three-day week imposed by the Heath government?

  To conserve electricity during an energy crisis
• Which groups were involved in the wave of industrial action leading to the three-day week?

  Engineers, dockers, and firefighters
• What was the central issue of the general election called by Heath on 28 February 1974?

  'Who governs Britain?'
• What was the outcome of the opinion polls during the campaign for the February 1974 election?

  They favored the Conservatives
• What was the result of the February 1974 general election?

  Labour won five more seats than Conservatives
• What did the miners' strike indirectly lead to?

  The downfall of the government
• What was the political situation in Northern Ireland when the Heath government took office in 1970?

  It was close to complete breakdown
• What paramilitary organizations emerged during the Troubles?

  IRA, INLA, UDA, UVF
• Who did Heath initially support in Northern Ireland?

  Brian Faulkner, the UUP leader
• What were the consequences of imposing night-time curfews and internment in Northern Ireland?

  They alienated nationalist communities
• What percentage of those interned between 1971 and 1975 were Catholics?

  95 percent
• How did Jim McVeigh describe internment?

  As a recruiting tool for the IRA