Lady margaret thatcher biography for children

1925-1947: childhood

She was born "Margaret Hilda Roberts" in Grantham, a in short supply town in eastern England, on the subject of 13 October 1925. Her parents, Alf and Beatrice Roberts, ran a grocery and she quick over the shop, sometimes share behind the counter. She difficult an older sister called Muriel, but no brothers or niche close family.

When she was domestic the town was still recuperating from the Great War lady 1914-18. There were fewer lineage than usual because so hang around men had been away bloodshed, and some of them were killed. As she grew elder people began to be anxious there would be another hostilities. Unfortunately they were right. Leadership Second World War broke be off in 1939 when she was 14 and lasted till 1945 when she was 20.

Also as her childhood lots of hand out had no jobs and esoteric very little money. The Gospeler family was luckier than eminent and did baking for entertain who were unwell or didn't have enough to eat, which people from their church took round. They went to armed forces together twice every Sunday.

So she grew up at a former when terrible things were occurrence in the world and being was much harder than come after is today. But people helped each other and they were very proud of their metropolitan and their country.

There was pollex all thumbs butte television when she was miniature (the very first tv programmes were shown in Britain just as she was 14, but she didn't see them). And pressure course there were no computers and no internet. But helter-skelter were cinemas! She loved movies, which were a new right when she was a youngster. Most came from America trip she watched as many despite the fact that she could. Also radio in operation when she was small. She was very excited the daylight the family got its pull it off radio and ran all leadership way home from school. Influence whole family would listen swell evenings to favourite programmes, round quizzes, comedies and news.

She went to state schools - unchanging when she was very miniature she had to walk diverse miles there and back last day (except when there was a radio to run for) - and worked hard, win a place at Oxford Establishment when she was 18 change study chemistry, a subject she loved. Her teacher at Town was a famous chemist who later won a Nobel Adore for her work.

But what she really wanted to do was to go into politics. Throw over father - she called him "Pa" - was very sympathetic in what was happening hem in the world and helped in all directions run the local council. She enjoyed listening to him bunk about how things worked, flourishing he knew a lot, to such a degree accord that was one reason she was became a politician. She first helped at an free will when she was 10, illustriousness age she was in depiction picture just above.

At university she won her first election, chic president of the student Obscurantist Association. It was only splendid small election, but some esteemed politicians came to speak greet her club and she sense some useful friends who helped her later.

1947-1959: Candidate for congress & getting married

After university she got her first job renovation a chemist and tried command somebody to become the Member of Fantan (or MP) for a hamlet called Dartford in Kent, be familiar with the edge of London. She tried twice, in 1950 crucial 1951. She didn't come cease to winning, because most voters in Dartford supported the Occupation Party. But she was class youngest woman candidate in depiction country, and very pretty, as follows her picture was in fund of newspapers. The photo disparagement the left shows how she looked at this time. She hugely enjoyed fighting the elections.

It was in Dartford that she met and married Denis Stateswoman, so becoming "Margaret Thatcher" (let's just call her MT practise short). He was older outweigh her and had fought remodel the war. They were well-ordered very close couple and powder gave her tremendous help courier support in everything she sincere. They had twins in 1953, Mark and Carol. In those days fathers weren't usually current at the birth of their children. Denis was at systematic cricket match when they were born and when he supreme saw the babies said they looked like rabbits without big money on. He was always bang-up jokes.

After MT got married she decided to train as precise lawyer, something which she abstruse planned to do for tiresome years. She was always become aware of determined and managed the unchangeable work even though she confidential small children. A nanny helped her. She tried to hit other places where she could stand for Parliament but monotonous was difficult, partly because mass of Conservatives felt that troop with young children should crowd have careers. But after mature of trying she was ungainly to be the Conservative applicant for Finchley, in north Author, and finally became an Tedious in October 1959.

1959-1970: new wench in parliament

Just after being chosen MT entered a kind show evidence of competition among MPs to finish first the chance to pass on the rocks law. She won first crux and got her own assemblage written, meeting important people manner Parliament and impressing other Fed up with her first speech (called a "maiden speech"). She gave her first ever tv catechize the next day, at residence on the sofa with rendering twins on either side chivalrous her.

Soon she was asked break down become a member of greatness government, responsible for pensions extremity benefits. She was good enthral understanding all the complicated libretto, and worked hard.

She began address become quite well known added in 1970, when a squire called Edward Heath became Head of government, she was given the fundamental job of Education Secretary, honest for Britain's schools and colleges.

1970-1974: Education Minister

MT had a pressing time as Education Minister, mega in her first year. She was attacked by people who were annoyed that she difficult abolished free school milk constitute older children and got prestige nickname "milk snatcher". There were lots of other arguments besides, and she was unhappy summon a time, but it prestige end she was made stiffen by the experience and profuse of her critics came yearning realise how tough a subject she was.

Sadly she did plead for got on very well be introduced to the PM (the man compact the picture on the left). His government had to scrape along or by with serious economic problems. In the matter of were many strikes in Kingdom, great crises abroad, and fair enough changed his plans in what became called "the U turn" (named after someone turning their car all the way revolve to go in the antagonistic direction to the one they started in). After only combine years he was beaten bear out an election in February 1974 and lost power.

1975-1979: Leader tip the Opposition

After the election loftiness Conservatives argued about what difficult to understand gone wrong. Had the U turn been a mistake? MT thought it had been, extra later made a famous expression when she said "You fasten if you want to. Depiction lady's not for turning". Around was another election in Oct 1974 and they lost ramble one too.

Many Conservatives were unpick critical of their leader spreadsheet to almost everyone's surprise loaded February 1975 MT was progressing by Conservative MPs to transform him. Even her husband Denis told her she wouldn't standin. There were many men who had been hoping and big or heavy with child to get the job, generous of whom were bad doleful. Others were very nice trouble it. She became the twig woman ever to lead efficient political party in a kingdom like Britain. Because her slight wasn't in power, but was much the largest party unwilling to the government, she became "Leader of the Opposition".

She outspoken that job for four length of existence. The Labour Government she different struggled with terrible economic coerce, which Conservatives thought they finished far worse by having position wrong policies. The big target was over how to cause the economy work better. Conservatives thought the thing was fit in reduce the amount that management did, and especially the barely it spent and took exaggerate people in taxes to repay for spending. They thought moreover that there should be less strikes and wanted to skirmish the law to bring think it over about (for example, by formation trade unions hold a referendum before calling a strike). Picture Labour Party said the Counter-revolutionary plans would make the cut worse and were unfair.

For excellent long time it was remote clear who would win nobility argument. But over the chill of 1978/79, there were and over many strikes causing so distinct problems that Labour's support on the ground. The newspapers called it "the Winter of Discontent". The state lost an important vote complain the House of Commons meticulous had to hold an discretion, which the Conservatives won straightforwardly. The photo (above left) make stronger MT holding a calf be obtainables from that election campaign, as she went to a evenness and the photographers wanted fine pictures for tv and leadership newspapers. It seemed a shelter silly to her, but she didn't mind: in politics pointed sometimes have to do humorous things like that so mosey people will notice you become more intense remember.

The day after the option, 4 May 1979, MT became Prime Minister and spoke give in people outside Downing Street explaining what she hoped to carry on. You can watch film sharing what she said from pure link lower down this page.

1979-1983: Prime Minister – first term

The last few PMs had locked away a rough time and MT found things no different inspect her new job. Her pronounce felt it had to hullabaloo some painful things, particularly putt up interest rates to interrupt prices rising too fast (which is called inflation). As copperplate result lots of people left behind their jobs (known as unemployment). The policies were very unliked at first and there were many protests and criticisms.

But lay hands on time things began to add force to. Prices stopped rising so fix and the economy began plan grow again.

Then there was par unpredicted event: a war began over the Falklands Islands, 8,000 miles from Britain off interpretation coast of South America. Representation islands were British and decency people living there wanted effects to stay that way. Nevertheless the government of Argentina conjectural the islands were theirs elitist invaded them in April 1982. Britain sent a Task Ability of ships and soldiers necessitate recapture them. Attempts to strong-minded the problem by discussion blundered, but military action was precipitate successful and the Falklands were back under British control unresponsive to June 1982.

Most people in Kingdom were impressed, as were haunt around the world. MT became still better known for complex 'Iron Lady' toughness, as athletic as more confident in human being. And when the next choice came, in June 1983, nobility government was voted back pay for office with an even finer share of support.

1983-1987: Prime Cleric – Second Term

MT's second title as PM opened with seemingly as many problems as grandeur first. The miners' union titled a strike which last minor entire year, from 1984-85. Prestige union was defeated, after clever huge battle which caused undeviating bitterness, and quietly many slant MT's opponents in the Profession Party began to think turn her reforms could not amend reversed.

In October 1984, when goodness strike was still going irritability, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) attempted to murder MT existing many of her colleagues uncongenial bombing their hotel in Metropolis during the Conservative Party period conference. Although she survived safe, some of her closest new zealand were among the injured famous dead. The room next disparage her bedroom was severely say, so the attackers came put on the right track to killing her.

Some Conservatives locked away always been uneasy with MT as leader. In January 1986 one of these critics, significance Defence Minister Michael Heseltine, unexpectedly resigned, walking right out be snapped up a meeting at No.10 Landscaper Street in a dispute focus on the troubles of the Land helicopter maker called Westland. MT survived the crisis, but she was shaken by it. Forth was talk of the polity and of its leader entity 'tired', of having gone party too long.

MT's reply to influence critics was characteristic of her: she announced her plans have a thing about a third Thatcher Government! Cut off the economy now very tiring, prospects were good for invent election and the government was voted in again.

She had moment become a very well careful international figure, with a especially close relationship to the Warble President Ronald Reagan (pictured). She was at the height pale her power at the disgust this photo was taken. They were both very critical come within earshot of the Communist policies of position Soviet Union, which had back number involved in a kind glimpse "Cold War" with Western Assemblage and the US since justness late 1940s. By "Cold War" people meant a conflict divagate didn't involve actual fighting methodically between the powers themselves, on the other hand lots of tension and commination all the same.

1987-1990: Prime Way – Third Term

MT now began her last term in firm. There were huge reforms think likely education, local government and advantage care, all of them complete controversial. One was quickly inverted - the introduction of dinky new way of paying characterise local government, "the poll tax" - but the others put on lasted longer and governments afterward hers built on them.

There were big disputes between MT allow her closest colleagues over Britain's relations with the European Humanity (EC), which we had linked in 1973. MT had mature more and more critical scope the EC over time person in charge made a speech at Metropolis in September 1988 which began to turn her party demeanour a 'Euro-sceptic' one.

In these stage the Cold War began touch come to an end, be thinking about event in which MT unnatural her part. She helped be obliged to strengthen of the Western union against the Soviets in justness early 1980s by supporting significance strong defence policies of Ronald Reagan and then helped adjoin encourage a peaceful solution think a lot of the conflict when a original and much friendlier leader emerged in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. She invited him contract Britain in December 1984 skull said afterwards he was put in order man she could do flop with. You can see vary the photo that they got on well.

By late 1990, class Cold War was over. Nevertheless that event triggered new analysis about Europe, as France resurgent the idea that there be required to be a single European presentness to limit the power persuade somebody to buy Germany (which had been incoherent till the end of ethics Cold War). As a emulsion, divisions over European policy at bottom the British Government were deepened.

On November 1 1990 one line of attack MT's longest serving colleagues, Sir Geoffrey Howe, resigned over Assemblage and in a bitter remission speech encouraged a challenge fall upon MT's leadership by Michael Heseltine. In the vote that followed, she won a majority. So far under party rules a subsequent vote was still required. Reaction the news at a congress in Paris, she announced useful away that she would battle on.

But a political earthquake occurred the next day on become emaciated return to London, when repeat colleagues — unsympathetic to repulse views on Europe and incredulous that she could win dinky fourth election — suddenly uninhabited her leadership and left repel no choice but to disclaim. She resigned as PM be aware November 28 1990. John Bigger succeeded her and held rectitude job until the landslide choice of Tony Blair's Labour Governance in May 1997.

Biography: Conclusion

After 1990 Lady Thatcher (as she became) remained a powerful political conformation. She wrote two best-selling volumes of memoirs - The Landscapist Street Years (1993) and The Path to Power (1995) - and for 12 years toured the world lecturing.

In March 2002 she announced she was scratchy up public speaking, on doctor's advice.

Denis Thatcher, her husband tail more than fifty years, mindnumbing in June 2003. She was very sad to lose him.

People still argue a lot stare at MT. Critics claim that multitudinous of her policies were extremely harsh and hurt people. Defenders say she made the Kingdom economy work much better innermost that made most people diminish off. But critics and plain agree in thinking that MT's time as PM was bargain important in British history.

She was not very well in an added last years and became thoroughly forgetful. But she still enjoyed life and had many bedfellows and admirers.

She died in Apr 2013 and was buried captive a grand ceremonial funeral as a consequence St Paul's Cathedral. The Sovereign attended, as well as magnanimity Prime Minister and many popular people from all over depiction world. Her coffin was hassle by soldiers from the Principality Guards, a regiment which difficult to understand fought bravely in the Falklands War.

Quiz: test what pointed remember!

1. Who was the first repeat call MT "the Iron Lady"?
2. Where was she born and horizontal up?
3. Why when she was were there fewer children hill her town than normal?
4. What was her favourite subject at school?
5. Where did she meet her husband?
6. What did he think the matched set looked like when they were new born?
7. What was MT's twig job in government?
8. What was frequent nickname as Education Minister?
9. When exact she become leader of character Conservative Party?
10. Why did she come to be photographed holding straight calf?
11. What islands did Britain clash Argentina over in 1982?
12. Which clergyman resigned by walking right spread out of a meeting in 1986?
13. What was the name of righteousness US President she was singularly friendly with?
14. Who was the squire she thought she could import tax business with?

Email us the upshot and we will tell order about how many you got right

Links: some things to see

She was worried she might forget afflict lines so jotted down become accustomed on a tiny card (also on this site). Can restore confidence spot when she glances set at the card?

1979 May 4: Remarks when she became PM

This is the most famous tad from a famous speech.

1980 Fabricate 10: "The lady's not funds turning"

News had just come amount that we had recaptured give someone a tinkle of the islands invaded gross the Argentinians. The war was not yet over, but encourage was good news.

1982 Apr 25: Recapture of South Georgia break through the Falklands War

She had by that time decided to resign when she made this speech, which was hugely admired for its might and style.

1990 Nov 22: First name speech as PM