79-87 Foreign Policy

Question 1

the falklands situation

Answer 1

-islands independent since 1817, had been claimed by argentinians, islanders keen to remain british
-carrington approved hms endurance withdrawal 1981
-led to galtieri sending invasion force to occupy the falklands

Question 2

britains decision for the falklands

Answer 2

-winning back islands would be difficult and dangerous
-thatcher decided to send a task force to reclaim
-thatcher soared in opinion polls
-led to a patriotic national mood

Question 3

the falklands war

Answer 3

-diplomatic attempts by britain
-2 may belgrano sank by sub, killed hundreds
-americans gave green light to invade
-21 may british forces landed
-14 june argentina surrendered

Question 4

the falkland wars impact

Answer 4

-britains international position was in decline, sparked resurgence of pride
-gloating from tabloids
-thatcher celebrated greatly as if it was ww2 again
-many critics of belgrano sinking and war

Question 5

Special relationship with USA

Answer 5

-thatcher and reagan had a strong ideological bond
-1986 us could use british air bases to bomb libya
-1983 us invaded grenada after a communist coup on thatchers advice

Question 6

The 2nd cold war

Answer 6

-1979, soviets invaded afghanistan
-1981, reagan elected
-1983, cruise missiles at greenham common
-1984, thatcher meets gorbachev, 85 gorb ussr leader
-1986, reagan and gorbchev meet in reykjavik, iceland

Question 7

Reaction to cold war

Answer 7

-1984 bbc drama ‘threads’ aftermath of nuclear attack
-when the wind blows by raymond briggs 1986
-pop songs about nuclear war, kate bush and sting
-1983, CND march of 200k people in london

Question 8

The ending of the cold war

Answer 8

-discussions between reagan and gorbachev 1986
-1987 intermediate range nuclear forces treaty signed in washington, limited short range weapons

Question 9

Thatchers relationship with europe

Answer 9

-first priority was to secure a deal for britain over financial contributions to the EEC
-campaign for a rebate achieved success 1984
-good relationship with french president mitterand

Question 10

Single european act

Answer 10

-negotiated 1986, passed with little controversy
-changed the assembly into european parliament and set up possibility of future european monetary union
-made free market in europe a reality