37. uk and usa history
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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
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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.
UK and USA history and economy
1. Great Britain
Gordon Brown (left) and Tony Blair (right)
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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.
UK and USA history and economy
2. Margaret Thatcher
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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).
UK and USA history and economy
2. Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
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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.
UK and USA history and economy
3. Integration with EU and devolutions
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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.
UK and USA history and economy
4. Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
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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.
UK and USA history and economy
5. United States of America
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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.
UK and USA history and economy
Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon
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5. United States of America
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.
UK and USA history and economy
Martin Luther King
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5. United States of America
1959-1975: Vietnam War.
A widespread countercultural movement grew, mixing opposition to war, black nationalism and feminism.
UK and USA history and economy
An anti-war protest
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5. United States of America
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.
UK and USA history and economy
The Watergate hotel in Washington
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5. United States of America
1980s: Ronald Reagan adopted major changes in taxation and spending priorities.
1991: the Soviet Union collapsed, thus ending the Cold War.
UK and USA history and economy
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
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5. United States of America
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.
UK and USA history and economy
A photo shot from the 1991 Gulf War
The 9/11/2001 attack on World Trade Center
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5. United States of America
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;
UK and USA history and economy
November 2008: Barack Hussein Obama, a young, democratic, black man, became the 44th U.S President.
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Barack Obama
5. United States of America
UK and USA history and economy
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.
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Barack Obama
5. United States of America