Chapter Seven Flashcards
(50 cards)
1
Q
What was the Korean War?
A
- between North and South Korea
- proxy war
- Korea split on the 38th parallel
- USA sent troops and china involved
2
Q
What were the advantages of Britain being involved in the Korean War? (4)
A
- USA happy because we backed them up - shows loyalty
- founder of UN - shows it works
- keeps US committed to Europe
- Maintain NATO alliance
3
Q
What were the disadvantages of Britain being involved in the Korean War? (2)
A
- increased defence expenditure which was a problem for the British economy
- cause split in Labour Party over money
4
Q
How did the Korean War affect British relations with the USA? (4)
A
- Britain junior partner
- Britain lost 700 men but USA lost nearly 34,000
- Britain influence decision to go north and troops were American
- Attlee worried Truman might use nuclear weapons - they met at Potsdam 1945
5
Q
What was the Suez crisis?
A
In 1956, in Egypt Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. Eden wanted foreign victory (to be like Churchill). Isreal invade and Britain and France act as peacemakers. US threaten to stop giving money if Eden didn’t withdraw.
6
Q
What were the advantages of Britain being involved in the Suez Crisis? (3)
A
- lot of oil and money there
- protect British influence in Middle East - stop soviets taking control
- 1/3 ships using canal were British - oil and empire
7
Q
What were the disadvantages of Britain being involved in the Suez Crisis? (3)
A
- US against using force and we didn’t consult with Eisenhower before
- USSR condemn the invasion as imperialistic
- Nassar’s actions were not illegal
8
Q
How did the Suez Crisis affect British relations with the USA? (3)
A
- US want to see it resolved peacefully - Britain didn’t agree
- Eisenhower furious as he felt deceived
- made it harder to condemn USSR actions in Hungary
9
Q
What were the key events of the Falkland’s crisis (with dates)?
A
- 2nd April 1982 - Argentinian forces invade and capture the Falkland Islands
- 5th April 1982 - Thatcher dispatched a task force of ships to retake the islands
- 2nd May 1982 - British submarine sunk the General Belgrano, an Argentina cruiser, which led to 360 dying
- 21st May 1982 - British troops land on east Falkland 50 miles for the capital, Port Stanley
- 14th June 1982 - British troops enter the capital and Argentinian forces surrender
10
Q
Evidence of skilful handling in the Falkland’s crisis (4)
A
- Thatcher reacted swiftly - within 3 days they had set sail
- Britains actions were justified - UN Security Council asked Argentina to withdraw
- European community was persuaded to impose sanctions on Argentina
- War reinforced the lesson of the Suez crisis - Britain could not go to war without the active support of the USA (Asanction Islands)
11
Q
Evidence of poor handling in the Falkland’s crisis (3)
A
- Very costly and for (some would argue) little gain —> need to defend island against future attack and estimated in the mid 1980’s it cost £1.5 million per islander - lots of cuts in Britain
- Sinking of the belgrano was very controversial at it was heading away from the islands
- Issue of sovereignty remained unresolved despite a democratic government forming in 1983
12
Q
What were the key events in the Gulf war (with dates)?
A
- 2nd August 1990 - Saddam Hussain, leader of Iraq, invaded Kuwait for oil claiming it had always been Iraq’s territory —> west worried that he would try to seize Saudi Arabia and have 50% of the worlds oil.
- president Bush sr responded by building a strong coalition against Iraq - had UN support
- Britain deployed more than 53,000 servicemen (3rd largest contribution)
- 17th January 1991 - bombing of Iraqi defences begins
- 24th February 1991 - ground assault began and the war ends with Kuwait being liberated
13
Q
Evidence of skilful handling in the Gulf war (3)
A
- British armed forces played a significant role - both RAF and ground assault
- Thatcher made British’s position clear by putting pressure on Bush to act fast (even though she had to resign)
- Major demonstrated Britain still had diplomatic influence by enlisting US and European support for his plans
14
Q
Evidence of poor handling in the Gulf war (3)
A
- Saddam Hussein was allowed to maintain control of Iraq and he took revenge by persecuting the Iraqi Kurds
- Joint action with USA to remove Saddam Hussain - not a major power anymore
- War was seen by many in the Middle East as imperialistic
15
Q
Evidence of friendship with USSR (4)
A
- Peaceful co-existence —> October 1955 Britain and Russian navies exchanged goodwill visits, Krushchev visited Britain in April 1956, Macmillan went to Moscow in 1959
- Thatcher and Gorby had a good relationship - “we can do business together”
- Collapse of the USSR —> Yeltsin was grateful for diplomatic support received by Britain and London was important to Russian business men as a financial centre
- Trade links and British tourists visited the USSR
16
Q
Evidence of hostility with USSR (4)
A
- Signs of a thaw didn’t change mutual hostility —> accused each other of imperialism (USSR bidding for nations in Africa and Asia as the emerged for British colonial rule, west saw communist states as part of soviet empire)
- Espionage —> September 1971 Britain expelled 105 soviet diplomats accused of spying, Profumo scandal
- Thatcher made it no secret that she hated communism
- Britain was firmly aligned with USA so USSR was a primary enemy - ideological hostility
17
Q
Britains relationship with USA - 1950’s
A
(:
- Korean War - junior ally
):
- Suez crisis - Britain can’t act on his own and USA took over British role in Middle East
18
Q
Britains relationship with USA - 1960’s
A
(:
- Kennedy consulted MacMillan during Berlin crisis (1961) and Cuban missile crisis
):
- world power reduced by economic difficulties and decolonisation
- Wilson tried to broker peace in Vietnam but failed and never sent troops
19
Q
Britains relationship with USA - 1970’s
A
(: - warm relations restored by Callaghan and Carter
): - Heath distinctly cool towards USA - thought future lay with Europe
20
Q
Britains relationship with USA - 1980’s
A
(:
- Reagan and Thatcher had a friendship and agreed on many policies
- Falkland’s war - US assistance with ascension islands and Thatcher reciprocated by allowing them to use F111’s to bomb Libya (1986)
- both opposed UN sanctions against apartheid regime
):
- three areas of disagreement: Reagan willing to bargain away nuclear deterrents, SDI, US invasion of Grenada (1983) without telling Thatcher
21
Q
Britains relationship with USA - 1990’s
A
(:
- NATO and USA - retaliate against Bosnian Serbs for 1995 massacre of refugee camp
- Gulf war and conflict in the Balkans they cooperated strongly
22
Q
What was the state of UK-US relations by 1997?
A
- US valued British diplomatic and military support but Britain had little influence over decisions (junior ally)
- British relied on US for nuclear deterrent
- periods of close relations - “special relationship”
23
Q
Key information about Britain and the UN (4)
A
- Britain played key role in establishing UN in 1945
- Established UN charter that was driven by western democratic values (with USA, china and USSR)
- Britain 1of 5 permanent members of security council - more power and influence
- Membership of UN important for support of overseas policies
24
Q
What was the UN charter (3 points)
A
- Maintain peace and security
- Peaceful settlements of international disputes
- Promotion of human rights for all
25
Why was Britain criticised in the UN?
Retained its colonial empire so many saw it as violating human rights and freedom for all
26
When were the 3 times Britain used its veto?
1. Suez - try to reestablish colonial power over Egypt
2. Between 1963-73 vetoed 6 times on Rhodesia
3. Bombing of Libya
27
Britains relationship with Europe - 1940/50’s
- Britain role in creating OEEC in 1948 to administer Marshall aid
- join NATO in April 1949 and council of Europe in May 1949
- play no part in ECSC (1952) and treaty of Rome (1957) to establish EEC
28
Britains relationship with Europe - 1960’s
- MacMillan realised that British empire had no future so established EFTA to rival EEC but it failed
- ask to join in 1961 to solve economic difficulties but France says no
- Labour gov split over Europe
29
Britains relationship with Europe - 1970’s
-Heath secured a majority to join EEC (join January 1973)
- Wilson held referendum in 1975 with 2:1 in favour
30
Britains relationship with Europe - 1980’s
- 1980: Thatcher says “I want my money back” as she thought Britain was making disproportionately large contribution - tight economic recovery was due to Conservative policies rather the EEC
- 1988: she denounced an”European superstate exercising a new dominance from Brussels” and saw close integration as threat to British sovereignty
31
Britains relationship with Europe - 1990’s
- eurosceptic - believed we did not benefit from membership as economy grew after leaving ERM and didn’t like the Maastricht treaty (EEC—>EU)
- pro Europeans - Britain would benefit from being part of the worlds largest single market as it would attract investment and common regulations on goods
32
Arguments in favour of British nuclear deterrent? (3)
- USA may be unwilling to defend Europe - isolationist
- add to defence of Western Europe
- maintain Britains ‘great’ power status
33
Arguments against British nuclear deterrent? (3)
- since 1962, MacMillan persuaded Kennedy to supply Britain with Polaris missiles - not independent as relies on USA
- irrelevant when compared to size of USA and Russian nuclear arsenals
- large cost to maintain - reduced government investment in other areas e.g. welfare
34
How was our nuclear defence nominally independent?
In 1962 USA gave us Polaris missiles to carry British warheads and these were later replaced by trident submarines that were also supplied for the US.
35
How was our nuclear deterrent irrelevant and costly?
When compared to US and Russian arsenal it was mediocre and trident submarine cost around £100 billion each today. Britains role in SALT talks was limited showing lack of importance
36
How was there increased support for removing or reducing Britains nuclear capability?
- 1958 -CND formed and in 1960 their march had attracted over 100,000 people
- Labour adopted a policy of nuclear disarmament in 1960
- Britain sign non proliferation treaty that banned the testing of nuclear weapons
- Greenham common protest - women protest for 19 years since 1981
37
Impact of WW2 on decolonisation
- loss of colony Singapore (1942) exposed British weakness
- attempts to exploit economic resources = resentment
- WW2 led to greater unrest - Indian independence
- increase of US influence e.g. Marshall aid increased pressure to give up empire
38
Britains economic weakness and decolonisation
- the empire was being increasingly exploited and suffered from under investment which led to more resentment and nationalism
- winds of change speech coincided with Britains economic downturn
- crushing rebellions was expensive
39
The growth of colonial nationalism and decolonisation
- it increased post WW2
- many in black empire resented white empire as they had greater independence—> inspired by Nassar’s success in the Suez crisis
- Winds of change speech (1960) by MacMillan recognised growth of colonial nationalist groups
40
The impact of the Cold War and decolonisation
- both USA and USSR pushed anti-colonial propaganda in 1950/60’s which provoked nationalist movement
- saw breakup of the empire as an opportunity to increase influence
- UN grew in size and this increased criticism of European empires
41
What happened in Ghana? Was it a success or failure?
- independence campaign led by inspirational nationalist (Kwame Nkrumah) who was elected leader in 1951
- Ghana remained in the trading bloc with Britain and became independent in 1957 with minimal violence as there had been 6 years of establishing political system, currency and law
- success as it was not rushed
42
What happened in Nigeria? Was it a success or failure?
- the north was Muslim while the south was Christian
- Britain set up a federal structure but between 1967-70 there was a civil war as we put power in the hands of the north and religious tensions imploded
- failure
43
What happened in Malaya? Was it a success or failure?
- 1948: Chinese Malayan’s (48%) began to protest and Britain was forced to grant independence as it was expensive to upkeep
- tin and rubber
- power handed to supportive conservative Malayan faction in 1957 to prevent communism as they were close to china
- failure - premature exit
44
What happened in Cyprus? Was it a success or failure?
- April 1955: Greek Cypriots (80%) began to expel British influence
- response was complicated as the island was a military base and 20% of people were Turkish
- 1960: macmillan convinced them to accept a Greek president and a Turkish vice president
- however partition of the island due to religious differences and tensions
- failure
45
How successfully did Britain deal with the changing nature of the commonwealth?
Very successful
- South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand granted independence but retained economic and strategic ties to Britain via commonwealth
- India, Pakistan, Ceylon joined as republics - recognise British monarchs as head of commonwealth not head of state
- commonwealth troops fought in the Korean War alongside Britain and USA
46
Why was there various tensions in the commonwealth? (5)
1. Suez crisis - threatened commonwealth unity as white and black empire split over supporting Eden
2. 1961: South Africa left commonwealth rather than face criticism or apartheid - British kept economic ties and refused to impose trading sanctions
3. Rhodesian crisis threatened commonwealth unity
4. Commonwealth immigration act (1962) was resented by black nations as it was made to limit black immigration
5. British sacrifice trade links with commonwealth by joining EEC in 1973
47
What did Nelson Mandela do to help commonwealth survive?
His government rejoined commonwealth within a month of him being elected in 1994 - showed it was viable instistution
48
Why was Mozambique joining the commonwealth significant?
1955: first country to join with no historic ties to Britain
49
What was the Singapore declaration (1971) in the commonwealth?
Condemned racial prejudice, supported democratic values, international peace, equal rights and freedom of the individual. Nigeria kicked out between 1995 and 1999 for violating this.
50
Why did the commonwealth remain respected despite its lack of political power?
It remained respected because of its cultural and economic exchange
