Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

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

A

create closer ties between countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why did they want to create closer ties?

A

It would prevent the outbreak of future European wars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

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

A

it did not want to join for various reasons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Did leading politicians generally support joining the EEC?

A

No

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

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

A

one of many European nations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

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

A

The Commonwealth - Australia, Canada and New Zealand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The Left believed that the EEC would be what?

A

A ‘capitalist’ club

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

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

A

It would ensure that the EEC also resisted USSR influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

When did Britain apply to join the EEC?

A

1961

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

When was Britain’s application rejected?

A

1963

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What was the impact of the rejection in 1963?

A

It was a big humiliation for Macmillan’s Conservative government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Both Britain and the US feared the spread of…

A

communism and worked together as allies to prevent this.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Macmillan formed close relationships with which two US presidents?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

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

A

NATO in 1949

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

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

A

The Korean War (1950-1953)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Britain and the US co-operated well during which crisis?
The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961
26
However, why were there tensions between Britain and the US during the Suez Crisis of 1956?
The US would not support the British government's actions during the Suez Crisis
27
Which other event made the US cautious about sharing intelligence with Britain?
The Burgess and Maclean spy scandal in 1951
28
What was the Burgess and Maclean spy scandal (1951)?
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.
29
When and why did decolonisation begin?
1947 when India became independent
30
However, decolonisation sped up in what years?
The 1950s
31
In which 3 countries were there independence movements?
Kenya (Mau Mau rebellion), Malaya and Cyprus
32
Why did the United States pressure Britain in favour of decolonisation?
US was wary of imperial power
33
What was Britain's financial concern?
They questioned whether Britain could afford to maintain an empire
34
What other event pushed Britain towards decolonisation?
The Suez Crisis
35
When was Macmillan's 'winds of change' speech?
1960
36
What did Macmillan say in this speech?
He acknowledged the need for decolonisation
37
When did Britain withdraw from India?
1947
38
What was the first British African colony to be granted independence?
Ghana
39
When did Ghana gain independence?
1957
40
When did Kenya gain independence?
1963
41
The Conservative government continued their policy on the issue of nuclear weapons. What was their stance?
They believed that Britain should develop its own independent nuclear deterrent - they were against the idea of nuclear disarmament
42
Why did the Conservative government feel so strongly about Britain having a nuclear deterrent?
They felt this would be crucial in order for Britain to retain its status as a world power
43
However, the idea of Britain having nuclear weapons started to be challenged, for...
both financial and moral reasons
44
When did Britain have its first atomic tests?
1952
45
When did Britain test its first 'H' bomb?
1957
46
When was the Mutual Defence Agreement formed?
1958
47
What was the Mutual Defence Agreement?
The agreement to share nuclear technology with the US
48
When was the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) formed?
1958
49
When was the first CND Aldermaston march?
1958
50
When was the second CND Aldermaston march?
1959
51
In 1960, the Labour party conference showed support for...
unilateral nuclear disarmament
52
In 1960, Britain abandoned its...
Blue Streak Missile and became reliant on the US Polaris missile
53
When was the Korean War?
1950-1953
54
What caused the Korean War?
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
How did the UN respond to the Korean conflict?
They sent UN forces in response, with Britain supplying 90,000 troops, the biggest contributor after the US
56
When was the Suez Crisis?
1956
57
What was the Suez Canal?
An important trading route between Europe and the Middle East
58
In 1956, the Egyptian president, Colonel Nasser, announced that he was going to...
nationalise the canal
59
What was Britain's concern about this?
This would put their trade link at risk
60
What did Prime Minister Eden do in an attempt to prevent the Suez Canal being nationalised?
He secretly planned with France and Israel to return the canal to British control.
61
What was this plan?
Israel would invade Egypt, allowing Britain and France to intervene in a peacekeeping role
62
When did Israel invade Egypt?
October 1956
63
When were British and French troops sent to Suez and what did they do?
November 1956; they defeated the Egyptian forces, though the canal was blocked
64
What was the reaction of the British public to Eden's coordinated attack?
> The Labour Party opposed the attack > Protests against the attack were held across the country
65
What was the global response to Britain's actions at Suez?
The British were condemned internationally, including by the US
66
Following the Suez Crisis, the US put Britain under...
financial pressure, and Chancellor Macmillan warned Eden that Britain could not withstand this.
67
How did Eden respond to these consequences?
He declared a ceasefire after the US' disapproval, and a year later resigned citing ill-health
68
What impact did the Suez Crisis have on Britain's global image?
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
After WW2, most British people felt that...
rebuilding their own country was more important than holding onto distant lands
70
The economy was also changing: trade with Europe and America was...
becoming more important than trade with the empire
71
However, Britain did not lose all links with former colonies:
British empire became BRITISH COMMONWEALTH. All former members of empire invited to become members of Commonwealth.
72
The Commonwealth was voluntary organisation mainly aimed...
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
Independence movements included...
Strikes, boycotts, individuals and political protests
74
The British withdrew from some areas because...
they felt the country was ready to rule itself democratically, for example India.
75
Britain no longer had financial or military strength to...
dominate territory within Asia. The British wanted to leave some countries because the area was causing them problems.
76
By 1951, Britain had to accept that...
imperial decline was inevitable
77
In 1951, Britain's...
retreat from the empire was well underway
78
The Suez Canal was a vital route for oil shipments:
80% of Western oil imports passed through the canal.
79
The treatment of Suez was fuelled by...
the idea of military action rather than diplomacy
80
Eden prided himself on...
the mastery of foreign policy > He had little faith in diplomacy with Nasser
81
Most of the cabinet wanted to act quickly as...
they felt Nasser threatened African stability
82
Eden had kept Suez arrangements secret from...
from most of Cabinet and US
83
What was the US' reaction?
Eisenhower was shocked > US annoyed at lack of consultation and fear that Nassar may now turn to USSR for help
84
Britain learned an important lesson from Suez:
| the importance of diplomacy rather than military intervention
85
Suez was the last independent military intervention by Britain:
any future conflict was part of organization or with US > realized it no longer had the power to act alone
86
The winds of change speech encouraged...
recognition of independence movements and the need for decolonisation
87
The speech was really aimed at...
Heads of state from around the Commonwealth and to public opinion back home.
88
Macmillan urged South African leaders to...
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
By 1964...
the transition from Empire to Commonwealth was a significant achievement
90
The EEC had already made economic arrangements:
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
The war was an important factor in opinion against the EEC:
Germany lost the war, and France had been occupied by Germany
92
After Suez...
attitudes towards foreign policy began to shift
93
The EEC had already developed many procedures that Britain could not see itself accepting:
e.g. Common Agricultural Policy which Britain could not see itself accepting > Heath tried to negotiate special trade exemptions for Imperial nations
94
In terms of affording the Empire:
Britain had recently agreed to pay India it’s war costs of £1200 million
95
Which countries gained independence in 1960?
Nigeria and Cyprus
96
When was the EEC formed?
1956
97
What were the key changes in 1956-61 that affected Britain's decision to apply for EEC membership?
> 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
Meaning of 'world power'
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)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions