relations with europe

Question 1

when did eden help form the western european union and what was it

Answer 1

1954
helped western germany rearm without stirring up memories of german militarism

Question 2

when was NATO created and who was in it

Answer 2

1949
usa and western european allies

Question 3

why would joining the eec improve the special relationship with the us

Answer 3

the us thought it would help to have britain to act as a counterweight to the anti-us rhetoric of the french president charles de gaulle

Question 4

when did de gaulle die

Answer 4

1970

Question 5

what was heaths maiden speech in the house of commons in the 1950s

Answer 5

to advocate for britain joining the ecsc

Question 6

why did heath quickly agree to terms to join the eec and when

Answer 6

another threat of devaluation due to the end of bretton woods (dollar based on gold) in 1971

Question 7

when did britain join the eec

Answer 7

1st january 1973

Question 8

when was the labour referendum to decide whether to stay in or leave the eec

Answer 8

1975

Question 9

what was the outcome of the eec referendum

Answer 9

2:1 for remain
17 mill stay
8 mill leave

Question 10

example of britain focussing economic opportunities on empire rather than europe

Answer 10

1947 tanganyika groundnut scheme

Question 11

when did britain refuse to join the ecsc

Answer 11

1951

Question 12

when and where did eden make a speech introduced euro-sceptism by stating that joining a european federation was ‘something whcih we know, in our bones, we cannot do’

Answer 12

columbia university 1952

Question 13

when was the eec formed and from what treaty

Answer 13

1957 the treaty of rome

Question 14

when was macmillans winds of change speech that incdicated the end of the british empire and the beginning of a new relationship with europe

Answer 14

1960

Question 15

what were labour and tory views on the ecsc in the 1955 election (in their manifestos) and why

Answer 15

both opposed membership
labour: thought it was anti socialist
tory: thought it threatened national sovereignty

Question 16

when and why did talks between britain and france having a free trade area break down

Answer 16

1956
britains withdrawal from the spaak committee
suez
dunkirk

Question 17

when did macmillan try and join the eec

Answer 17

1961 and 1963

Question 18

why didn’t de gaulle want britain to join the eec

Answer 18

claimed britain and us special relationship would threaten european independence
he also felt he was snubbed in world war two

Question 19

when did macmillan create the efta and what was its impact

Answer 19

1960
seen as a rival to eec
was established deliberately to not infringe on sovereignity

Question 20

when did wilson hold a parliament vote to enter eec and what was the outcome

Answer 20

1967
accepted 488 to 62
biggest majority for almost a century

Question 21

when did wilson apply for eec

Answer 21

1967

Question 22

why was a good relationship with europe important in the 60s compared to other countries

Answer 22

special relationship with us was under strain because of the vietnam war

strains with the commonwealth because of rhodesia

Question 23

when did de gaulle and brown meet and what did de gaulle say

Answer 23

1966
‘two cocks living in one farmyard’

Question 24

what was significant of the timing of de gaulles veto of wilson’s application to the eec

Answer 24

november 1967 - a week after devaluation

Question 25

what were the issues with the terms heath agreed to when joining the eec

Answer 25

britain would need to subsidise any potential damage caused to french farmers

Question 26

when and why did roy jenkins resign

Answer 26

1973
the decision of labour to support conservative rebels on the issue of a referendum

Question 27

what helped iron out divisions in the labour party over the eec

Answer 27

holding a referendum

Question 28

who opposed joining the eec

Answer 28

powell
labour (officially)
benn and foot (specific labour)
the tuc
ian paisley dup
group of tory backbenchers

Question 29

main arguments to opposing joining the eec

Answer 29

protect workers rights, loss of sovereignty and independence, cost of living would rise

Question 30

who supported joining the eec

Answer 30

roy jenkins, heath, jeremy thorpe (liberal), thatcher
most of the press
businesses

Question 31

how many company chairmen wanted to leave the eec

Answer 31

only 4 out of 419

Question 32

what was the main argument for joining the eec

Answer 32

benefit british economy and give britain a greater voice in the world

Question 33

impact of the referendum for europe

Answer 33

soem worried that the referendum showed a lack of commitment

Question 34

impact do the referendum for tories

Answer 34

high point of unity - but many backbenchers worried about brussels power over parliamentary sovereignty

Question 35

impact of the referendum for labour

Answer 35

although it avoided a split in the short term, the party moved very left and became increasingly anti europe

Question 36

what is parliamentary sovereignty

Answer 36

parliament is the supreme legal authority in britain which can create or end any law