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British History > Topic 4: FP (1979-87) > Flashcards

Topic 4: FP (1979-87) Flashcards

1
Q

3

Describe the Falklands War

A
  • Argentian dictator Galteri invaded Falkland Islands in April 1892
  • Belligerent Thatcher overruled concilliatory FO and Lord Carrington (FS) resigned 3 days after invasion for failing to recognise threat
  • Sent Task Force to South Atlantic
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2
Q

4

Describe the sinking of the Belgrano

A
  • Argentinian warship Belgrano sunk for heading towards imposed exclusion zone
  • Yet sunk outside exclusion zone
  • 368 Argentinian crew members died
  • HMS Sheffield sunk in retaliation
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3
Q

3

Describe the end of the Falklands War

A
  • South Georgia recaptured by April
  • By June, the Falklands were recpatured and Argentina surrendered
  • 2-month war marked first military victory since 1950s, evoking past imperial triumphs
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4
Q

3

Describe public support for the Falklands War

A
  • Opinion polls at time indicated 83% public support for war
  • Patriotic fervour swept up right wing press
  • e.g. Sun ran headline ‘Gotcha!’ following Belgrano sunking
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5
Q

2

Describe how the UK used the special relationship in the Falklands War

A
  • USA allowed use of air base on Ascension Island
  • Provided anti-radar weapons, sidewinder missiles and military intelligence
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6
Q

5

Describe the failures of the Falklands War

A
  • 225 British lives lost with 800 casualties
  • Cost estimated at £1.6bn
  • Thatcher could not meet 3% defence spending target (excluding Falklands costs) that Callaghan had agreed to
  • Exposed flaws in military and intellgience capabilities
  • Exposed reliance on US
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7
Q

3

Describe Thatcher’s importance of the special relationship

A
  • Thatcher founded FP on special relationship rather than European alliance
  • ‘Special relationship’ had meaning for 1st time since Macmillan
  • Agreement over trade/regional policy in areas such as Latin America
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8
Q

3

Describe the Thatcher-Reagan relationship

A
  • Ideological and personal soulmates
  • United on most issues: Falklands, deployment on cruise missiles, strong stance on USSR
  • Yet division over US invasion of Grenada in 1983
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9
Q

4

Describe defence policies under Thatcher (1979-87)

A
  • Britain pledged to build 5 new submarines
  • US would supply 13 Trident missiles per submarine
  • Revived debates over ‘British independent deterrent’
  • Defence Sec (1983-86) Heseltine promoted image of Tories being strong on defence to counter pacificism of Labour
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10
Q

3

Describe changes to the British deterrent

A
  • Polaris system had become obsolete
  • Dec 1979, Carter offered Britain new Trident system as replacement
  • 1980, Thatcher accepted deal at cost of £5bn over 10 years (soon spiralled to £10bn)
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11
Q

6

Describe defence cuts under Thatcher

A
  • 1980s defence policy characterised by pressure to increase NATO expenditure and cut back expensive military
  • Callaghan had committed to increasing NATO spending by 3% in real terms until 1986
  • Economic issues, costs of weaponry and mounting service pay forced reconsideration
  • Royal Navy became focus of planned expenditure cuts
  • 1981 White Paper had proposed sale of new aircraft carrier Invincible to Australia, reducing carrier fleet to 2 vessels
  • Falklands War delayed/cancelled plans
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12
Q

4

Describe controversy over the stationing of US missiles

A
  • Controversy over decision to station 96 radar-evading cruise missiles at US bases in Britain (decision taken by Callaghan govenment) from 1983
  • Decided in response to USSR stationing of missiles in Central Europe
  • CND saw highest spike in populairty since 1960s (e.g. UDI demonstration at Greenham Common)
  • 1983, 200k marched with CND in London to oppose nuclear weapons
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13
Q

3

Describe the US invasion in Grenada

A
  • 1983, US invaded Grenada without first notifying Britain
  • Put special relationship under some strain
  • Yet overall, relationship remained strong (thanks to Reagan-Thatcher bond)
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14
Q

4

Describe the bombing of Libya

A
  • 1986
  • Thatcher allowed USA to use British bases for long range attacks
  • Argued bombing was to dislodge Gaddafi regime
  • Gaddafi survived with significant civilian casualties)
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15
Q

3

Describe the context of Cold War in 1979

A
  • By 1979, Soviet Union assumed to be winning Cold War (e.g. Marxist turn in Zimbabwe)
  • Yet 1979 USSR invasion of Afghanistan exposed reality that Soviet military was overstretched
  • Thatcher/Reagan (in 1980) used weakness to direct rising tensions and rhetoric after decade of detente
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16
Q

5

Describe the ‘New Cold War’

New Cold War is post-Afghanistan

A
  • NATO military exercises in North Atlantic
  • Cruise missiles stationed in Europe
  • Soviet jets shot down Korean passenger jet that had strayed into Soviet airspace in 1983
  • US plan for ‘Star Wars’ anti-missile shield - proposed in 1983
  • 1985 spy scandal saw rival spies expelled from both Moscow and London
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17
Q

2

Describe the response to the fear of a nuclear attack

A
  • Published ‘Protect and Survive’ booklets, informing public what to do in case of a nuclear attack
  • BBC TV drama, Threads, gave documentary-style account of aftermath of nuclear attack
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18
Q

5

Describe the role of Thatcher in easing Cold War tensions (1983-87)

A
  • 1984, met Gorbachev and claimed ‘he and I can do business together’
  • Won international admiration for encouraging Reagan to negotiate with Gorbachev
  • 1986 Reykjavik Summit between the 2 leaders proved positive and laid the groundwork for future agreements
  • Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty 1987
  • defence spending increases
19
Q

3

Oultine defence spending increases under Thatcher

A
  • Outmatched USSR spending
  • Real terms increases throughout 1980s
  • Peaked at £54.1bn in 1984/85
20
Q

4

Describe the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty 1987

A
  • arms control agreement between US and Soviet Union
  • limited short-range weapons
  • cut 1692 missiles across US and USSR
  • began process of mutual disarmament
21
Q

5

Describe relations with Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia) under Thatcher

A
  • Under heavy FO pressure, Thatcher forced to make concessions to black nationalists
  • 1979 elections went ahead despite guerilla activity from Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe
  • Ian Smith largely served constitutional role since 1978 Internal Settlement and stepped down following GE loss in June
  • Nov 1979, British sanctions ceased and Zimbabwe given legal independence despite Thatcher unwillingness given guerilla activities
  • 1980 elections gave huge majority to Marxist Mugabe and ZANU
22
Q

3

Describe the impact of Zimbabwe’s end of white supremacist rule on British relations with Africa

A
  • Relations with Black African states improved after Smith left office
  • Thatcher gained personal popularity following appearance at Commonwealth Conference in Lusaka, 1979
  • Formed close relationship with President Kaunda of Zambia
23
Q

3

Describe Thatcher’s policy towards Africa

A
  • Clashed with African states by resisting calls for economic sanctions on South Africa
  • Argued that sanctions would do more harm to black majority
  • Britain continued to support sporting and cultural events in Africa
24
Q

6

Describe the Thatcher’s attitude to Europe in 1979

A
  • Pro-marketeers welcomed her ascension having ran on manifesto claiming there was no alternative to the EEC and having previously expressed support for the EMS
  • Yet adopted nationalist attitude to EEC, seekin to ‘win arguments’ in Brussels to increase popular support
  • Frequently clashed with European heads of state
  • Saw EEC as a vehicle to consolidate Western Europe against Communist threat
  • Wished to develop EEC defence activity and FP further, but resisted economic integration
  • Reflected preference for special relationship (see Westland Affair)
25
Q

5

Describe the Dublin Summit (EEC) 1979

A
  • Thatcher was highly belligerent in her demands for a refund of British contributions, damaging relations with Germany and France
  • Offered £350m rebate - rejected offer against FO advice
  • By mid-1982 she allowed Carrington and Gilmour to finalise negotiations, though not to her liking
  • Compromises over budget and agricultural policy
  • Approach hailed by right-wing press
26
Q

3

Describe the EMS

A
  • Countries linked currencies to prevent large fluctuations in value
  • Done through ERM
  • Aimed to foster continental financial stability
27
Q

4

Describe Thatcher’s attitude towards the ERM in her first term

A
  • Continued to resist joining despite past Conservative criticism of Callaghan’s refusal to join
  • Monetarist policies contradicted those of EEC members
  • High oil prices in 1979, high inflation and volatile interest rates would confirm refusal to be beneficial
  • from 1979-83, numerous alterations in ERM’s central rate failed to produce currency stability until the mid-1980s
28
Q

3

Describe the European Parliament Elections 1979

A
  • 1st direct European elections
  • British turnout at 34% - lowest in Europe
  • General feeling that membership had brought no great economic gains
29
Q

4

Describe EEC policy success under Thatcher (1979-83)

A
  • Deteriorating relationships with France and Germany relieved by appointment of new premiers: Mitterand and Kohl
  • Steps taken to reduce overproduction of CAP
  • Settlement, though not generous, reached on fishing quotas
  • General EEC support over Falklands policy
30
Q

3

Describe EEC policy divergence under Thatcher (1979-83)

A
  • By 1982, Thatcher criticised CAP’s wastefulness and Britain vetoed farm price increases (though overriden by majority of members)
  • France talked of excluding Britain from new initiatives, creating a 2-tier Europe
  • Divisions possibly encouraged French/German dicussion on supranational integregation which ultimately led to Thatcher’s downfall in 1990
31
Q

4

Describe Britain’s relationship with the EEC by 1983

A
  • By 1983, accepted that EEC membership had not achieved great benefits for Britain with little growth
  • Labour advocated withdrawal in 1983 manifesto
  • Recession of 1979-81 had strengthened Thatcher’s resolve to reduce EEC funding
  • Jenkins had stepped down as Commission President in 1981 to form SDP - limited British influence in German/French dominated bloc
32
Q

5

Describe the rebate (BBQ - British Budgetary Question)

A
  • Thatcher ignored French suggestions that Britain should concentrate trade in Europe to achieve better return on budget contribution
  • BBQ dominated Community agenda
  • 70% of EEC budget directed towards CAP, which offered little benefit to Britain as it had a small agriucltural sector
  • Thatcher threatened to end all payments
  • Fontainebleau Summit 1984 - agreed to 66% reduction in net budget contribution
33
Q

5

Describe Thatcher’s attitude to European integration (1979-87)

A
  • Forward progress seemed possible once BBQ removed from agenda
  • Thatcher proposed closer cooperation on FP, environmental policy
  • Produced policy paper (‘Europe - the Future’) to end all non-tarriff barriers in single market
  • Yet resisted strengthening of European political institutions
  • Only Greeks and Danes joined Britain in resisiting further integration
34
Q

3

Describe the Single Market concept

A
  • Free movement of goods, capital, services, people
  • Would make EEC more competitive than US or Japan
  • Required some uniform practices and regulations across EEC, managed by Brussels
35
Q

4

Describe Thatcher’s early attitude towards the Single Market

A
  • Thatcher naturally supportive due to free-market ideology
  • Yet rejected proposals for equalised VAT across EEC
  • Agreed to achieve a single market by 1992
  • Thatcher agreed to not use the veto on items necessary to achieve the deadline
36
Q

5

Describe the Single European Act 1986

A
  • Committed EEC to Single Market by 1992
  • Slight increase to power of the European Parliament to permit this
  • Majority vote in Council of Ministers could overturn individual nation’s veto
  • Would give EEC common identity (e.g. ‘Ode to joy’ - had been adopted 1985)
  • Thatcher signed in 1985
37
Q

3

Describe problems with the Single European Act 1986

A
  • Britain forced to sign wider set of reforms than had intended
  • Deemed preferable to two-tier Europe that would exclude Britain from much European policy decisions
  • Act contained promises of future action which’s significance was vastly underestimated, notably a common monetary union
38
Q

3

Describe closer relations with the EEC by 1987

A

Applicable to Topic 4 (1979-87) or Topic 5 (1987-97)

  • Pragmatic considerations of Anglo-French trade and the provision of jobs in the South East
  • Led to the building of the Channel Tunnel (construction would start in 1988)
  • Howe and Lawson more sympathetic to monetary union than Thatcher
39
Q

4

Describe divisons over Europe within the Conservative Party (1979-87)

A
  • No apparent schism over Europe in early 1980s due to pro-market cabinet
  • Electoral success in 1983 and 1987 vindicated eurosceptic ideas of ‘dries’
  • Westland Affair
  • However SEA had little opposition (UUP MP Enoch Powell being one of its only promient conservative critics)
40
Q

3

Describe Thatcher’s clashes with her Foreign Office

A
  • Distrusted ‘eurospeak’ FO
  • Credit for resolving Zimbabwe issue really belonged to FO and Lord Carrington, whi had chaired the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement negotiations
  • had made constitutional changes to address the limited political power of the black majority
41
Q

1

What was Powell’s criticism of the special relationship

A

Feared UK was becoming satellite of USA

42
Q

2

Describe the ‘Iron Lady’ nickname

A

Soviet Army journal ‘Red Star’ derogatorily named Thatcher the ‘Iron Lady’ following 1976 speech lambasting the Soviet Union.

Used by Thatcher as political weapon

43
Q

3

Describe Commonwealth relations under Thatcher

A
  • 1979 Zimbabwe settlement showed signs of promise
  • Yet failed due to Thatcher reluctance to apply trade sanctions on SA
  • Yet in 1986 UK sanctions extended to include voluntary ban on tourism and new investment

British History (36 decks)

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