Margaret Thatcher

 
Margaret Thatcher
1925-2013

Famous as first female Prime Minister of Great Britain, Thatcher is known for her economic politices of Thatcherism.

Main Ideas

• limits on public spending
• reduced spending on social programs including education and housing
• deregulation of the financial sector
• privatization of nationally-owned enterprises
• increased interest rates
• limits on printing money
• legal restrictions on trade unions
• lower income tax rates
• military policy of deterrence

Famous Statements
A world without nuclear weapons would be less stable and more dangerous for all of us.

Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.

I think we have gone through a period when too many people have been given to understand "I have a problem, it is the Government's job to cope with it!" or "I have a problem, I will go and get a grant to cope with it!" "I am homeless, the Government must house me!" and so they are casting their problems on society and who is society? There is no such thing!

Interesting Trivia
Her father was a grocer and she grew up in a small town, receiving good marks for hard work. She went to Oxford where she studied chemistry and later studied to become a tax lawyer. Her husband funded her law degree and watched a cricket match while she gave birth to twins. She entered politics at a relatively young age and became known as the "Iron Lady" for her cold and firm attitude. During her time as Prime Minister, she is said to have had only four hours sleep a night.