Britain & its place in the world

Question 1

What was the significance of the Suez Crisis to Britain’s international position & its leadership?

Answer 1

• US was furious w Britain, placing financial and dip. pressure that caused the £ to collapse
• signified a major international defeat for BR. suggesting it was no longer a great power
• led to the replacement of Eden w/ more pragmatic Macmillan

Question 2

What was the majority’s view of Mac’s Winds of Change speech?

Answer 2

many believed that this speech was an indication that Br. would move towards a black maj. rule in most colonies & rapid decolonisation

Question 3

What were the key messages of the WOC speech?

Answer 3

1. the need to keep Africa in the western bloc
2. warning to south Africans that if apartheid continued this could jeopardise allegiance to the western bloc

Question 10

Evidence that Br. skilfully handled Korea

Answer 10

• military commitments demonstrated loyalty to the USA
• Incheon landing successfully pushed NK out of SK
• successful in stopping commie aggression
  Thus involvement reaffirmed its status as a world power

Question 11

Evidence that Britain poorly handled Korea

Answer 11

• increased defence expenditure worsened Br. economic state, making it harder for the nation to recover from WW2
• inability to match us commitment demonstrated Britain was a junior partner rather than an equal

Question 17

Evidence of hostility between Br. & Russia

Answer 17

1945-53: Churchill = wartime ally publicly warned in USA of an Iron Curtain forming

Question 18

Evidence of Friendship between Br. & Russia

Question 19

Evaluation of ‘HFDYA that anglo-russian relations were characterised more by hostility than friendship’