Maggie Thatcher's foreign affairs and their impact Flashcards
How was the falklands war a success?
-Thatcher gained immense political support.
-Resulted in 1983 Tory election win
-Rise in national pride
-Strengthened Thatcher’s resolve and personality.
Other key reason for conservative 1983 election win?
-‘longest suicide note in history’ that being the Labour parties 1983 manifesto.
How did the US support the UK in the falklands war?
-Using Ascension Island as a staging ground for invasion.
-Sold weapons to the UK
-Stopped the sale of air-strike missiles to Argentina
What was the difference between the Suez crisis of 1956 and the falklands war?
The US didn’t support the UK’s entry into the war in 1956 [Suez] whereas Reagan supported Thatcher and her war efforts in the Falklands.
How was the special relationship mended?
-Thatcher and Reagan had similar political philosophies and ideologies, those being new-right/neo-liberal polices with monetarism heavily involved.
-Leaders suited each others personalities.
-Both leaders like supply side economics
What was the UK warship that was destroyed?
HMS Sheffield
Negatives of the Falklands war?
-Critics of Thatcher stated that the war was unnecessary and caused the loss of lives such as on the British warship HMS Sheffield.
-Not happy over the gloating of tabloids that made it out like Britain had just won the second world war.
-The war didn’t stop the tide of continual loss of Britain’s overseas territories and empire
Overall impact of the Falklands war?
Positive impact whilst it had its downsides the impact was strong for Thatcher’s political career and the rise in national pride was something that was needed after the downward last decade in the 1970s. However it can be argued to be a negative as there was no stopping of the continual loss of overseas territories.
How did the Tories grow divided?
Divisions within the party grew over the issue of Europe
Word for disliking of Europe = ?
Eurosceptic
How had Thatcher originally unite the party?
Thatcher had united her party due to her electoral success and the success of her economic policies but there was a clear schism growing over the issue of Europe.
What was the cabinet like in the early 1980s
The cabinet in the early 1980s was pro-European and favoured its expansion
How was Thatcher’s ideology working with Europe and the single market?
The creation and strengthening of a free market across the members of the EEC was in line with Thatcher’s economic ideas.
In what affair did the differences amongst the Tories become Visible in?
Westland affair
What was the key question that arose from the Westland affair?
Should European ties be encouraged above other ties? That was the question posed by Conservative MPs and members.
