Major (1990 - 1997) - Notes PDF

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Summary

MAJOR (1990 - 1997)1990 - Thatcher overthrown by her own party and John Major takes over 1991 - Troops sent to the First Gulf War 1991 - Fall of the Berlin Wall / End of the Cold War 1992 - Wins election over KinnockConservative Strengths Labour WeaknessesMajor viewed as down to Earth and charismati...

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MAJOR (1990 - 1997) 1990 - Thatcher overthrown by her own party and John Major takes over 1991 - Troops sent to the First Gulf War 1991 - Fall of the Berlin Wall / End of the Cold War 1992 - Wins election over Kinnock Conservative Strengths

Labour Weaknesses

Major viewed as down to Earth and charismatic, parly down to his ‘soapbox politics’. Lowkey campaign driving through Brixton, and with ‘soapbox politics’ proving he could communicate with ordinary people. He could also remind people of the Winter of Discontent.

Embarrassing ‘We’re Alright’ speech at the Sheffield rally the day before the election. Judged by his Welsh accent, with the media calling him a ‘Welsh windbag’. The Sun had an anti-Kinnock campaign, with the headline ‘If Kinnock Wins Today Will The Last Person To Leave Britain Please Turn Out The Lights’.

1992 - Black Wednesday ➔ Major forced to withdraw Britain from the ERM costing billions of pounds. Proves the Conservatives to be economically incompetent, as it was Thatcher who initially joined. 1992 - Maastricht Treaty ➔ Created the EU and the common currency of the euro. Major successfully managed to opt out for the euro and Social Chapter which involved workers rights. 1993 - Downing Street Declaration ➔ Stated that Northern Ireland would be transferred to the Republic of Ireland from the UK only if a majority of its population was in favour of it. Led to the IRA and Loyalist terrorist ceasefire in 1994. However the IRA get impatient and resume mainland bombing campaign in 1996. Laid the groundwork for Blair’s Good Friday Agreement in 1998. 1993 - Stephen Lawrence's Death ➔ Young man in South London stabbed in a racial attack. It was decided there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute and the case was dropped. The 1999 Macpherson Report proved the institutional racism of the case. 1993 - ‘Three Bastards’ comment 1994 - Marital rape becomes a crime 1994 - Cabinet reshuffle in attempt to stop rebels. 1995 - John Major challenged for Tory leadership by John Redwood. ➔ Major stated “back me or sack me”, which paid off as he won. Portrays himself as weak. 1995 - Collapse of the Soviet Union 1997 - Major loses election against Blair...