UK and US contemporary history

politics economy art & music 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 The Beatles An oil platform in the North Sea The Prose and the Passion

 : premiership of Margaret Thatcher  a significant change of direction from the post-war policy.  : New Labour governments (Blair and Brown) continued this change. UK and USA history 1. Great Britain Gordon Brown (left) and Tony Blair (right) Margaret Thatcher The Prose and the Passion

 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 2. Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher. The Prose and the Passion

 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 2. Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan The Prose and the Passion

 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 3. Integration with EU and devolutions The Prose and the Passion

 : 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 4. United States of America American and Soviet allies and areas of influence during the Cold War. The Prose and the Passion

 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 Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon 4. United States of America The Prose and the Passion

 Civil rights movement led by African Americans (Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks) fought against segregation and discrimination.  : Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act granted freedom for the blacks. UK and USA history Martin Luther King 4. United States of America The Prose and the Passion

 : Vietnam War.  A widespread countercultural movement grew, mixing opposition to war, black nationalism and feminism. UK and USA history An anti-war protest 4. United States of America The Prose and the Passion

 : 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 The Watergate hotel in Washington 4. United States of America The Prose and the Passion

 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 The fall of the Berlin Wall in United States of America The Prose and the Passion

 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 A photo shot from the 1991 Gulf War The 9/11/2001 attack on World Trade Center 4. United States of America The Prose and the Passion

 He has promised to provide: a. tax cuts; b. aids to cities and states; c. the creation of jobs. UK and USA history  November 2008: Barack Hussein Obama, a young, democratic, black man, elected the 44 th U.S. President. Barack Obama 4. United States of America The Prose and the Passion

UK and USA history  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, elected the 44 th U.S. President. Barack Obama 5. United States of America The Prose and the Passion