Relationship between USA and Britain?

Question 1

Why were Britain and USA close?

Answer 1

• Language, culture, trade and history ties close.
• Winston Churchill March 1846 –> ‘special relationship’
• Fought alongside each other in WW2 –> hundreds of US troops stationed in Britain.
• Two countries co-operated to defeat USSR attempt to dominate Berlin by cutting off road and rail links
• Relationship was reinforced by membership of NATO after 1949 –> co-operation over nuclear weapons and secret intelligence in Cold War

Question 2

Weaknesses in allinace?

Answer 2

• Britain’s decline in economic power meant it could only offer limited assistance to USA.
• USA had security concerns outside Europe, in the Pacific and Latin America. As Britain gave up Far Eastern bases in 1970s, could only offer limited assistance.

Question 3

Anglo-American relations 1950?

Answer 3

• 1951-3 British forces were fighting alongside the Americans in the Korean War –> Britain subordinated to US decision making.
• 1956 Suez Canal demonstrated Britain could no longer act independently of US.
• Despite Eisenhower’s fury, crisis did not permanently damage Anglo-American relations because Macmillan exploited his wartime friendship with Eisenhower and made it clear that the US alliance was central to Britain’s foreign policy.

Question 4

Anglo-American relations 1960-70?

Answer 4

• Decolonisation of British empire.
• President Kennedy regarded Macmillan as a political father figure, consulted him for advice in 1961 Berlin crisis and 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Britain was not actively involved though.
• Harold Wilson broker for peace in Vietnam War 1967 –> failed demonstrating Britain’s little influence over US policy. Wilson only irritated Johnson, already disappointed that Britain did not offer support.
• Edward Heath –> USA and Britain cool relations. Heath believed Britain’s future lied with Europe and not Washington.
• James Callaghan and Jimmy Carter (President 1977-81) personal chemistry restored warmer relations.

Question 5

Reagan and Thatcher - warm relationship?

Answer 5

Only when they agreed on policies?
- 1982 Falklands War US logistical and intelligence assistant was vital to Britain’s victory
- Thatcher reciprocated in April 1986 by allowing the USA to use British-based F111 to bomb Libya in retaliation for terrorist actions against American targets.
- Both Thatcher and Reagan opposed United Nations sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa.

Question 6

Disagreements between Thatcher and Reagan?

Answer 6

• Reagan’s willingness to bargain away the West’s nuclear deterrent in his talks with the reformist Soviet leader Gorbachev
• Reagan’s Strategic Defence Initiative idea
• October 1983 –> Americans invaded Grenada, a member of Commonwealth, to remove communist regime. Thatcher outraged as she advised Reagan against invasion

Question 7

Anglo-American relations in 1990s?

Answer 7

• Britain and USA co-operation in First Gulf War –> also in the conflict in the Balkans in 1995
• Initial disagreement, European NATO powers, including Britain, co-operated with USA in a bombing campaign against the Bosnian Serbs in retaliation for the 1995 massacre of Muslims in the Srebrenica refugee camp. Also co-operated in bringing about the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the conflict.

Question 8

1997 - Anglo-American relations

Answer 8

• Britain was one of many US allies.
• Washington valued British diplomatic and military support in times of crisis, but British politicians exercised little influence over American decision making.
• Britain still relied on USA to supply nuclear deterrent.
• Britain and USA influenced the UN Security Council.
• Anglo-US relations close, notably under Thatcher, but even under her there is little evidence to suggest that she sacrificed British interests to support the USA.