#7. Britains Position In The World 1951-97

Question 1

what are examples of the USA and Britain becoming close after WW2

Answer 1

Marshall aid given to Britain
cooperated over Berlin Blockade
NATO 1949
51 Britain supports Korean war

Question 2

what were the strains between the USA and Britain after WW2

Answer 2

suez crisis, Vietnam war

cuban missile crisis

Question 3

how did Reagan and thatchers relationship show strengths

Answer 3

well publicised visits to each other
opposed sanctions together
Reagan lent US assistance in Falklands war
US allowed to use air force bases

Question 4

what were the weaknesses with Thatcher and Reagans relationship

Answer 4

disliked US invasion of Grenada
sceptical of Reagans star wars
worried about concessions to disarmament

Question 5

what was the example of US cooperation in the 1990s

Answer 5

Gulf war 1993

Question 6

what caused issues with anglo Russia relationships

Answer 6

Korean war 1950
arming of West Berlin by allies/ Berlin wall 1961
Suez crisis
1956- Hungarian revolt 
soviet diplomats expulsion 1971

Question 7

what were the positives to anglo Russian relations

Answer 7

1953- more contact after stalins death
1956- Khrushchev visits Britain
Thatcher had state visits with Gorbachev
fall of USSR control in Eastern Europe and breakup of USSR in 1991 improved relations

Question 8

Britains positive relationship with the UN

Answer 8

permanent member of security council
6.7 of budget comes from UK
British judge in the international court
anxious for UN support of policies eg gulf war

Question 9

what are examples of Britain conflicting with the UN

Answer 9

suez crisis of 1956
vetos 32 times since 1956
Thatcher vetos condemning US bombing of Libya 
does not do much to help in Rwanda 
colonial policies of the UK

Question 10

how can Britain be seen to be an outsider to Europe

Answer 10

scepticism over Britain joining due to commonwealth
not until 1961 until they applied for EEC
1972 joins
referendum in 1975 under wilson
euroscepticism eg not joining the euro

Question 11

how can britain be seen to have strong links to europe

Answer 11

helped set up NATO 1949 and EFTA 1960
accepted bulk of European regulations 
agreed to common agriculture policy 
accepted issues on sovereignty 
no anti EU party yet

Question 12

when did the UK build atomic weapons

Answer 12

1949

Question 13

why were nuclear weapons controversial

Answer 13

mutually assured destruction
campaign for nuclear disarmament begins 1958
left in labour party did not agree
beginning of intercontinental ballistic missiles
cuban missile crisis 1962

Question 14

what were the levels of Britains nuclear arsenal by 1991

Answer 14

fewer then 200 missiles

4 trident submarines

Question 15

when did Reagan supply thatcher with Trident missiles

Answer 15

1987

Question 16

when was the Korean war

Answer 16

1950- 53

Question 17

why did Britain get involved in the Korean war

Answer 17

prevent communist expansion
possessions in Asia
credible force in UN

Question 18

what were the results of the Korean war

Answer 18

NATO strengthened
special relationship confirmed
700 British and commonwealth troops killed
economic issues worse

Question 19

when was the Suez crisis

Answer 19

1956

Question 20

what were the reasons for the Suez Crisis

Answer 20

nationalised canal-
was vital route to europe
UK feared potential spread of arab nationalism
Eden disapproved of Nasser and thought the USA would approve

Question 21

what were the results of the suez crisis

Answer 21

Nassers postion stronger. USA was not consulted and USSR claimed imperialism
distracted west from Hungarian rising
leads to resignation of Eden 1957

Question 22

when was the Falklands war

Answer 22

1982

Question 23

what was the cause of the Falklands war

Answer 23

invasion of Falkland islands by Argentina. British prestige was at stake as well as the reputation of Thatcher

Question 24

who did Thatcher gain support from on the Falklands

Answer 24

both the UN and EU supported
the British press
all political parties
USA helped through intelligence and allowing to use base of Ascension

Question 25

what was the results of the Falklands war

Answer 25

reputation of British forces rose
Thatchers popularity increased
high financial cost
Argentine military regime fell

Question 26

when was the gulf war

Answer 26

1991

Question 27

what caused the gulf war

Answer 27

prevent further invasions by Saddam Hussein
show solidarity with the USA
protect oil
support international law
show Britain as a major power

Question 28

what was the result of the gulf war

Answer 28

Kuwait was liberated

greater relations with USA however led to war in iraq in 2003

Question 29

how can Britain be shown to have decolonised well

Answer 29

india, pakistan and ceylon left successfully
commonwealth supported Korean war
loyalty to the Queen kept diplomatic ties
decision of South Africa to rejoin in 1994 showed success

Question 30

how can Britain be shown to have decolonised poorly

Answer 30

colonial wars eg Kenya
suez crisis
South Africa withdraws due to apartheid
commonwealth critical of failure in Rhodesia
Britain failed at making new states - Central African Federation
disliked restrictions to immigration 1962
entry in to EEC caused dislike