3.3 - Conflicts since 1945 Flashcards
What did Britains nuclear deterrent mean?
Worked on the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction in which each side knew that if one side launched an attack on the other side then the other country would retaliate in their defence.
What happened to Britain in 1945?
No longer a great world power so to maintain its influence it allied closely with USA through NATO.
What happened in 1950s with Britains nuclear deterrent?
Created a fleet of V bombers armed with nuclear missiles.
What were the impacts to Britain in the Cold War in the 1950s-60s?
Responses to Nuclear Threat
Espionage
What were the impacts to Britain in the Cold War in the 1950s-60s?
Responses to Nuclear threat
Government provided detailed plans to keep country running if an attack took place.
Including, building underground bunkers to protect top government and military officials who would govern the country after an attack.
How did the British public react with the governments policy of nuclear deterrence?
Most British agreed as they believed the only thing keeping them safe was the threat of retaliation.
What were the impacts to Britain in the Cold War in the 1950s-60s?
Espionage
Government was anxious about Soviet Spies so people were urged to be careful about mentioning anything that might be helpful to the enemy.
Support for Britain’s Cold War policies
What was the Mass observation Project?
Designed to provide public opinion.
500 volunteers were asked to keep diaries and respond to questionnaires regarding their opinions and feelings towards Britain’s involvement in the Cold War.
Data suggests the majority shared the governments fears about communism therefore supported their policies in the Cold War.
Opposition to Britain’s Cold War policies
The most organised form of protest was against nuclear weapons.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament began in 1958. Some people believed this kind of weapon was immoral whilst others just thought it was too expensive.
There was also a real fear of a nuclear accident.
Very popular = early 1960s
Not so popular = late 1960s
When was ‘The Troubles’ - Northern Ireland & the IRA campaigns ?
1969-94
What kind of conflict was ‘The Troubles’?
Late 1960s = series of marches by Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to challenge discrimination against Catholics. They were attacked by loyalist mobs and police did little to protect the marchers.
Violence soon spread and loyalist mobs attacked Catholics further. Some fought back and by 1969 Sectarian violence had become so serious that the British government sent troops to restore the peace.
