02/02/24 Test prep Flashcards
'By 1964 Britain could no longer consider herself to be a world power'. Assess the validity of this view.
Description: Suez crisis.
After Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez canal Eden, after being encouraged by France and Israel, joined the two countries in taking military action in Egypt. However, this was not well received as there was a wave of political protest in Britain. More importantly, the US opposed the action and Britain was not strong enough to stand up to American pressure resulting in a financial crisis. Macmillan realised it was essential to pull out.
Consequences: Suez crisis.
Britain as a force for good brought into question. Obvious that Britain would struggle to operate without USA support. Withdrawal was embarrassing and led to end of Eden’s career.
Explanation: Britain as a nuclear power.
Like the USA and USSR, Britain had successfully built her own atomic bomb (1952) and the hydrogen bomb (1957).
Describe: Britain as a nuclear power.
Labour foreign secretary Bevan famously said in 1946, ‘We’ve got to have this thing over here whatever it costs. We’ve got to have the bloody Union Jack on top of it’. Churchill continued this policy when he came into power and Britain’s first tests of the atomic bomb commenced in 1952. This made Britain the third country in the world to develop nuclear weapons, after the United States and the USSR.
Evaluate: Britain as a nuclear power.
This ensured that Britain would play a central role in discussions about nuclear capability and Macmillan was central in securing the Test Ban Treaty in 1963.
Explanation: Entry to EEC.
In 1963, de Gaulle blocked Britain’s entry into the EEC, despite much planning and rhetoric from Macmillan’s government.
Describe: Entry to EEC.
Britain wanted to join the EEC as they hoped it would stimulate economic growth with the rapid expansions already seen in the EEC. The US was also keen for Britain to join the EEC as they saw Britain as a vital link between Europe and America. However, negotiations weren’t easy as Britain found it difficult to conform to the already developed economic structures within the EEC.
Evaluate: Entry to EEC.
This drove a wedge between the relations of France and the UK. Moreover, this was a huge disappointment and damaging to Britain’s relationship with the US as they were extremely reliant on Britain gaining this link with other European countries. This was also a great source of embarrassment for the country, and it can be argued that Macmillan never fully recovered from this.
Summary: USA/UK ‘Special relationship’
Thought recent history, the UK was able to maintain positive relations with the USA, much to their benefit
Describe: USA/UK ‘Special relationship’.
One example of the special relationship was the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement, which meant that the US had once again agreed to share nuclear technology with Britain In addition during the Cuban missile crisis, President Eisenhower’s successor, John F. Kennedy, kept Macmillan informed of the events occurring.
Evaluation: USA/UK ‘Special relationship’
The special relationship kept Britain as a contender on the world playing field, this also demonstrated how intertwined UK and USA interests were.
