US and USSR Relations

Question 1

When did Britain join Nato?

Answer 1

1949

Question 2

When and what did Britain do for the Korean war?

Answer 2

(1950-3) offered 90000 troops being second biggest contingent
–> 1000 soldiers died
Britians willingness to play a major role in world affairs despite eco. constraints
But US was greater power

Question 3

When and what was the burgess and Maclean affair?

Answer 3

(1951) highly placed offers of British intelligence defected to USSR –> leaking secrets
Weakened US trust with Britain with intellligence secrets

Question 4

What did Suez ruin for Britain in terms of US?

Answer 4

IMF loan was cancelled

Question 5

What was Mutual Defence Agreemetn?

Answer 5

(1958) US agreed to share nuclear tech with Britain
(1960) Blue streak abandoned and replaced with American Polaris submarine

Question 6

What did Britian do for Vietnam?

Answer 6

(From 1955) gave moral support although they wanted, but resisted direct military support
Maintain Atlantic Alliance, but war was very un pop. in Britain
Eco., political and finanicial considerations in desicion

Question 7

What weakened tensions during the Yom Kippur War with US?

Answer 7

(1973) refused to let NATO bases airlift supplies to Israel in war

Question 8

What did Thatcher do which strenghtened relations with US?

Answer 8

gave permission to use British bases to bomb Libya despite being unpopular
agreemnt to the deployment of US cruise missles in Britain

Question 9

Britains relationship with US and USSR during Cold War?

Answer 9

(1960) Macmillan invloved in plans for a summit conference with Soviet leader
Good relationship with John F. Kennedy
Kennedy kept Mac. informed with Cuban Missile Crisis; but were just bystanders
In international ‘top table’

Question 10

Wilsons opinion of US?

Answer 10

pro-American and keen suporter of Atlantic Alliance

Question 11

Outcome of Vietnam war?

Answer 11

(1965) teach-ins on Vietnam at Oxford + LSE
(1966) Vietnam Solidarity Campaign set up and got spport from uni students
(1968) anti-vietnam riots
(1968) 2 cons. MPs physically attacked
- Denis Healey’s car overturned by Cambridge students

Question 12

Anti-vietnam riots?

Answer 12

(17th March 1968) demo near American Embassy in Grosvenor Square
(28th March 1968) Battle of grosvenor Square
–> 200 ppl arrested
(Oct. 1968) 30,000 people took part but relatively peaceful

Question 13

Heaths opinion of US?

Answer 13

prioritised European connections
Rejected idea that US could use Britain as a connection to Europe and should negotiate with European commitee directly
Got on with President Nixon
Supported Vietnam more than Wilson

Question 14

Callaghan opinion of US?

Answer 14

negotiated replacement of Polaris nuclear msisle with Trident 1979 with President Carter
completed withdrawl of East of Suez

Question 15

When and what was the detente?

Answer 15

(1970) easing of hositility
US and USSR approached each other directly –> limit build of arms

Question 16

Attitudes towards USSR 1970’s?

Answer 16

underlying tension
(1978) Bulgarian who outspoken in his criticism of regime was assasinated in London by suspected Russian secret service

Question 17

Thatchers opinion over US?

Answer 17

strong bond between her and Ronald Reagan, personally and ideologically
supported Falklands

Question 18

Differences between Thatcher and US?

Answer 18

(1983) US invaded Grenada after a Communist coup against Thatcher advice

Question 19

Why was it seemingly close to the end of the Cold War

Answer 19

Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 wasnt a direct attack at West but rather a last attempt at Soviet military might

Question 20

Britains reaction to Second Cold War?

Answer 20

concern of a nuclear war
Protect and Survive booklets published
TV of post-nuclear war

Question 21

How was Thatcher involved in ending of Cold War?

Answer 21

combative style to confront USSR
Willingness to negotiate with Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev from 1985
foreign policy founded on special realtionship with US

Question 22

How did Cold War close to end second time?

Answer 22

(1986) Reykjavik summit, both sides prepared to make comprimises
–> ended without agreement but paved way for future progress
(1987) Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed at Washington
–> limited short range weapons and beagn mutual disarmament
Not end but close near?

Question 23

When was the USSR officially dissolved?

Answer 23

Dec 1991–> but none of original leaders saw to the end

Question 24

What was Blairs position with US?

Answer 24

essential to keep US invloved in European affairs and make full use of NATO
close relation with CLinton and Bush
froeign policy dominated by US priorities?

Question 25

Attitudes to China internationally 1970?

Answer 25

(July 1971) Nixon announced thawing of relations followed by a visit to China in 1972
–> held meetings with Mao Zedong

Question 26

Attitudes with China in 1970?

Answer 26

(march 1972) agreed to excahnge ambassadors with CHina
(From 1974) Heath made many visits to CHina
->awarded title of ‘Peoples Friendship Envoy’
(1979) Premier Hua Guofeng visited Britian as part of European tour - first time since communist revolution