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History - Britain > Foreign Policy (1979-87) > Flashcards

Foreign Policy (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
  • CDI 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

4

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
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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
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
  • End of Cold War began
19
Q

3

Describe the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty 1987

A
  • arms control agreement between US and Soviet Union
  • limited short-range weapons
  • began process of mutual disarmament
20
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
21
Q

4

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
22
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
23
Q

6

Describe the Thatcher’s attitude to Europe in 1989

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 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)
24
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
25
Q

3

Describe the EMS

A
  • Countries linked currencies to prevent large fluctuations in value
  • Done through ERM
  • Aimed to foster continental financial stability
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
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
30
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
31
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
32
Q

5

Describe Thatcher’s attitude to European expansionism (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
33
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
34
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
35
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
36
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
37
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
38
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)
39
Q

2

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 which made constitutional changes to address the limited political power of the black majority
40
Q

1

What was Powell’s criticism of the special relationship

A

Feared UK was becoming satellite of USA

41
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

History - Britain (12 decks)

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