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Modern Britain Y1 > (!) 1:4 Foreign relations - Content > Flashcards

(!) 1:4 Foreign relations - Content Flashcards

1
Q

In 1951 the world was dominated by which 2 superpowers?

A

The United States and the USSR

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2
Q

Why was Britain not a major superpower?

A

The Second World War damaged Britain’s economy and showed that Britain could not control its empire

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3
Q

On the other hand, why was Britain still an important power in the world?

A

Britain had been victorious in WW2 and the empire was still significant

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4
Q

The damage caused by WW2 meant that many politicians in mainland Europe were keen to…

A

create closer ties between countries

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5
Q

Why did they want to create closer ties?

A

It would prevent the outbreak of future European wars

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6
Q

Why were Britain and the United States also supportive of this idea?

A

They believed a strong Europe would prevent the spread of the USSR’s influence

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7
Q

Although Britain supported the ideas of the European Economic Community (EEC)…

A

it did not want to join for various reasons

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8
Q

Did leading politicians generally support joining the EEC?

A

No

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9
Q

Britain didn’t want to join the EEC because it wanted to sustain its special relationship with which country?

A

The United States

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10
Q

Britain thought of itself as a world power, not just…

A

one of many European nations

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11
Q

Britain also didn’t join the EEC because of the varying experiences of WW2 among these European countries. What were these?

A

Germany and France had been defeated, whereas Britain had won

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12
Q

The right-winged British politicians preferred to maintain closer ties with which countries?

A

The Commonwealth - Australia, Canada and New Zealand

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13
Q

The Left believed that the EEC would be what?

A

A ‘capitalist’ club

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14
Q

However, Britain quickly changed its attitude to this idea. What did Britain set up in 1959?

A

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

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15
Q

Why did Britain’s attitude towards Europe change so suddenly in the late 1950s?. (5)

A

Britain’s growth and productivity were slower than those of the EEC members
The Suez Crisis revealed Britain’s limited world power and reliance on the US
Britain suffered ongoing financial concerns
Britain was no longer dominating world affairs
The retreat from the Empire showed that Britain no longer perceived itself as a world power

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16
Q

Why was the US keen for Britain to join the EEC?

A

It would ensure that the EEC also resisted USSR influence

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17
Q

When did Britain apply to join the EEC?

A

1961

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18
Q

When was Britain’s application rejected?

A

1963

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19
Q

Why was Britain’s application rejected?

A

The French President, de Gaulle, vetoed Britain’s entry, as he feared that Britain’s presence would lessen French influence and that Britain would give the US too much influence.

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20
Q

What was the impact of the rejection in 1963?

A

It was a big humiliation for Macmillan’s Conservative government

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21
Q

Both Britain and the US feared the spread of…

A

communism and worked together as allies to prevent this.

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22
Q

Macmillan formed close relationships with which two US presidents?

A

Eisenhower (1953-61) and Kennedy (1961-63)

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23
Q

Britain and the US co-operated well when they formed the…

A

NATO in 1949

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24
Q

Britain and the US co-operated well during which war?

A

The Korean War (1950-1953)

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25
Q

Britain and the US co-operated well during which crisis?

A

The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961

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26
Q

However, why were there tensions between Britain and the US during the Suez Crisis of 1956?

A

The US would not support the British government’s actions during the Suez Crisis

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27
Q

Which other event made the US cautious about sharing intelligence with Britain?

A

The Burgess and Maclean spy scandal in 1951

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28
Q

What was the Burgess and Maclean spy scandal (1951)?

A

Two high-ranking officers in British intelligence, Burgess and Maclean, defected to the USSR in 1951. The discovery that British spies had been leaking vital secrets to Moscow deeply worried the Americans. For several years after, there were concerns about finding the ‘Third Man’ who had tipped them off.

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29
Q

When and why did decolonisation begin?

A

1947 when India became independent

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30
Q

However, decolonisation sped up in what years?

A

The 1950s

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31
Q

In which 3 countries were there independence movements?

A

Kenya (Mau Mau rebellion), Malaya and Cyprus

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32
Q

Why did the United States pressure Britain in favour of decolonisation?

A

US was wary of imperial power

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33
Q

What was Britain’s financial concern?

A

They questioned whether Britain could afford to maintain an empire

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34
Q

What other event pushed Britain towards decolonisation?

A

The Suez Crisis

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35
Q

When was Macmillan’s ‘winds of change’ speech?

A

1960

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36
Q

What did Macmillan say in this speech?

A

He acknowledged the need for decolonisation

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37
Q

When did Britain withdraw from India?

A

1947

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38
Q

What was the first British African colony to be granted independence?

A

Ghana

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39
Q

When did Ghana gain independence?

A

1957

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40
Q

When did Kenya gain independence?

A

1963

41
Q

The Conservative government continued their policy on the issue of nuclear weapons. What was their stance?

A

They believed that Britain should develop its own independent nuclear deterrent - they were against the idea of nuclear disarmament

42
Q

Why did the Conservative government feel so strongly about Britain having a nuclear deterrent?

A

They felt this would be crucial in order for Britain to retain its status as a world power

43
Q

However, the idea of Britain having nuclear weapons started to be challenged, for…

A

both financial and moral reasons

44
Q

When did Britain have its first atomic tests?

A

1952

45
Q

When did Britain test its first ‘H’ bomb?

A

1957

46
Q

When was the Mutual Defence Agreement formed?

A

1958

47
Q

What was the Mutual Defence Agreement?

A

The agreement to share nuclear technology with the US

48
Q

When was the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) formed?

A

1958

49
Q

When was the first CND Aldermaston march?

A

1958

50
Q

When was the second CND Aldermaston march?

A

1959

51
Q

In 1960, the Labour party conference showed support for…

A

unilateral nuclear disarmament

52
Q

In 1960, Britain abandoned its…

A

Blue Streak Missile and became reliant on the US Polaris missile

53
Q

When was the Korean War?

A

1950-1953

54
Q

What caused the Korean War?

A

Cold War tensions had led to hostilities in Korea. The Communist North of Korea, supported by the USSR and China, invaded the South of Korea.

55
Q

How did the UN respond to the Korean conflict?

A

They sent UN forces in response, with Britain supplying 90,000 troops, the biggest contributor after the US

56
Q

When was the Suez Crisis?

A

1956

57
Q

What was the Suez Canal?

A

An important trading route between Europe and the Middle East

58
Q

In 1956, the Egyptian president, Colonel Nasser, announced that he was going to…

A

nationalise the canal

59
Q

What was Britain’s concern about this?

A

This would put their trade link at risk

60
Q

What did Prime Minister Eden do in an attempt to prevent the Suez Canal being nationalised?

A

He secretly planned with France and Israel to return the canal to British control.

61
Q

What was this plan?

A

Israel would invade Egypt, allowing Britain and France to intervene in a peacekeeping role

62
Q

When did Israel invade Egypt?

A

October 1956

63
Q

When were British and French troops sent to Suez and what did they do?

A

November 1956; they defeated the Egyptian forces, though the canal was blocked

64
Q

What was the reaction of the British public to Eden’s coordinated attack?

A

> The Labour Party opposed the attack
Protests against the attack were held across the country

65
Q

What was the global response to Britain’s actions at Suez?

A

The British were condemned internationally, including by the US

66
Q

Following the Suez Crisis, the US put Britain under…

A

financial pressure, and Chancellor Macmillan warned Eden that Britain could not withstand this.

67
Q

How did Eden respond to these consequences?

A

He declared a ceasefire after the US’ disapproval, and a year later resigned citing ill-health

68
Q

What impact did the Suez Crisis have on Britain’s global image?

A

Britain seemed immoral; no longer a force for good
Showed Britain’s reliance on financial support from the US; overall weak economic and financial position
Many countries doubted Britain’s status as a major world power

69
Q

After WW2, most British people felt that…

A

rebuilding their own country was more important than holding onto distant lands

70
Q

The economy was also changing: trade with Europe and America was…

A

becoming more important than trade with the empire

71
Q

However, Britain did not lose all links with former colonies:

A

British empire became BRITISH COMMONWEALTH. All former members of empire invited to become members of Commonwealth.

72
Q

The Commonwealth was voluntary organisation mainly aimed…

A

at promoting friendship and harmony between the nations of the former empire. However, there were other benefits such as sporting and cultural links, and special agreements in terms of trade and security.

73
Q

Independence movements included…

A

Strikes, boycotts, individuals and political protests

74
Q

The British withdrew from some areas because…

A

they felt the country was ready to rule itself democratically, for example India.

75
Q

Britain no longer had financial or military strength to…

A

dominate territory within Asia. The British wanted to leave some countries because the area was causing them problems.

76
Q

By 1951, Britain had to accept that…

A

imperial decline was inevitable

77
Q

In 1951, Britain’s…

A

retreat from the empire was well underway

78
Q

The Suez Canal was a vital route for oil shipments:

A

80% of Western oil imports passed through the canal.

79
Q

The treatment of Suez was fuelled by…

A

the idea of military action rather than diplomacy

80
Q

Eden prided himself on…

A

the mastery of foreign policy

> He had little faith in diplomacy with Nasser

81
Q

Most of the cabinet wanted to act quickly as…

A

they felt Nasser threatened African stability

82
Q

Eden had kept Suez arrangements secret from…

A

from most of Cabinet and US

83
Q

What was the US’ reaction?

A

Eisenhower was shocked

> US annoyed at lack of consultation and fear that Nassar may now turn to USSR for help

84
Q

Britain learned an important lesson from Suez:

A

the importance of diplomacy rather than military intervention

85
Q

Suez was the last independent military intervention by Britain:

A

any future conflict was part of organization or with US > realized it no longer had the power to act alone

86
Q

The winds of change speech encouraged…

A

recognition of independence movements and the need for decolonisation

87
Q

The speech was really aimed at…

A

Heads of state from around the Commonwealth and to public opinion back home.

88
Q

Macmillan urged South African leaders to…

A

grant independence (and lead the process) in order to look strong or led empire fester on and have nationalist groups overthrow you making you look weak

89
Q

By 1964…

A

the transition from Empire to Commonwealth was a significant achievement

90
Q

The EEC had already made economic arrangements:

A

e.g., Schuman Plan of 1950 (proposals for a Coal and Steel Community that would integrate French and German heavy industry)
would promote rapid economic reconstruction and bind the two historic enemies together

91
Q

The war was an important factor in opinion against the EEC:

A

Germany lost the war, and France had been occupied by Germany

92
Q

After Suez…

A

attitudes towards foreign policy began to shift

93
Q

The EEC had already developed many procedures that Britain could not see itself accepting:

A

e.g. Common Agricultural Policy which Britain could not see itself accepting

> Heath tried to negotiate special trade exemptions for Imperial nations

94
Q

In terms of affording the Empire:

A

Britain had recently agreed to pay India it’s war costs of £1200 million

95
Q

Which countries gained independence in 1960?

A

Nigeria and Cyprus

96
Q

When was the EEC formed?

A

1956

97
Q

What were the key changes in 1956-61 that affected Britain’s decision to apply for EEC membership?

A

> Slower economic growth: cycle of ‘stop-go’ economics. So, could benefit from the economic policies of the EEC.

> Accepting a secondary world role: backing down after Suez, Mutual Defence Agreement, decolonisation

98
Q

Meaning of ‘world power’

A

a country that has significant influence and power in international affairs

> combined means of economic, military, technological, political and cultural strength

Modern Britain Y1 (12 decks)

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