Political Developments: Debates over Nuclear Weapons

Question 1

When did Britain start to experiment with nuclear properties?

Answer 1

1930s

Question 2

What secret project did Britain get involved in to make the first Atomic Bomb?

Answer 2

Manhattan Project

Question 3

What was agreed in September 1944?

Answer 3

Churchill and Roosevelt would continue nuclear collaboration after WWII

Question 4

What happened to this agreement after Roosevelt’s death?

Answer 4

Truman, the new President, went back on it

Question 5

What was nuclear capacity seen as by Britain?

Answer 5

A key to staying on the ‘top table’

Question 6

When did Britain do their first atomic bomb test?

Answer 6

October 1952

Question 7

Why was Britain testing their own atomic bomb only a short term positive development?

Answer 7

In November 1952, America tested the more powerful hydrogen bomb

Question 8

When did Britain test their first megaton bomb? Who helped?

Answer 8

America helped Britain test their first megaton bomb in 1957

Question 9

What was apparent about British nuclear development in the future?

Answer 9

America would have to help the UK out heavily

Question 10

Why were nuclear weapons saving money in some way? Who showed this?

Answer 10

Duncan Sandy’s 1957 White Paper said nuclear weapons saved money on conventional forces

Question 11

What did Macmillan agree with American missiles in 1957?

Answer 11

Allowed stationing of 60 American Nuclear Missiles in Britain

Question 12

What could be the long term significance of what Macmillan allowed?

Answer 12

Although UK and US would need to consent to launch, if America needed to quick, Britain could do it for the USA

Question 13

What happened to Britain’s personal nuclear programme? When? Why?

Answer 13

Blue Streak Missile Programme was cancelled in 1960 due to the cost

Question 14

What was Macmillans alternative to Blue Streak? When?

Answer 14

Secured Polaris missiles from America in December 1962

Question 15

What was significant about Macmillan getting Polaris missiles from America?

Answer 15

It showed the special relationship was in a good place

Question 16

Which side of Labour heavily opposed nuclear weapons? Who supported nukes?

Answer 16

Left, but the leading Labour side supported them

Question 17

What was a significant event in Labour left opposition?

Answer 17

Nye Bevan nearly expelled in 1955 when opposing development of a hydrogen bomb

Question 18

What was CND? When was it formed?

Answer 18

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Formed in 1958

Question 19

What was significant about the CND by what year?

Answer 19

By 1960 it had the power to try and get Britain to leave NATO

Question 20

What did Labour pass in their party in 1960?

Answer 20

Unilateralist resolutions

Question 21

What happened to what was passed by Labour in 1960?

Answer 21

Gaitskell passionately campaigned to reverse unilateralism in 1961

Question 22

What had happened to the CND by 1964?

Answer 22

It had mostly disappeared

Question 23

What was significant about the poor state of the CND by 1964?

Answer 23

It likely helped the ability for Labour to win the 1964 election

Question 24

How independent was Britain as a nuclear deterrent by 1964?

Answer 24

Only independent development of own atomic bomb 8 years after USA. USA help UK make a megaton bomb

Question 25

When did Britain test their own Hydrogen Bomb?

Answer 25

1957

Question 26

What was the main class demographic of CND supporters?

Answer 26

Middle-class

Question 27

How many people took part in the CND’s first march?

Answer 27

8000