Britain quick notes Flashcards

Question

1980 Housing Act

Answer 1

- Tenants could buy council homes at a discount; home ownership rose by 12%. - Councils banned from using proceeds to build new homes → homelessness more than doubled (1979–81).

Answer 2

- Introduced grant-maintained schools & City Technology Colleges. - Promoted a market-based education system, but uptake was limited (only 1/24 schools grant-maintained). - Criticism: accused of being anti-intellectual (Oxford denied her honorary degree).

Answer 3

- Economic downturns: recessions in 1979–81, 1984, 1990–92. - GDP in 1990 was no higher than in 1979 (adjusted for inflation). - NHS spending increased slowly; £1 billion in “efficiency savings” by 1990. - Stock market crash (Oct 1987) wiped 24% off share values. - Inflation rose again (8% in 1989) due to excessive tax cuts; high interest rates hit mortgage-holders hard.

Answer 4

- Negotiated 66% rebate from EEC (1984). - Opposed European integration: clashed over ERM; key ministers (Heseltine, Lawson, Howe) resigned. - Reluctantly joined ERM in 1990. - By 1990, Labour led polls by 16 points; Conservatives lost by-elections and EU elections.

Answer 5

- The 1992 election reduced Major's Conservative majority to just 21. - After 18 years of Conservative rule, many felt it was time for change. Labour, under Blair, adapted to this sentiment. - Blair's Labour Party dropped Clause IV, promising to reverse Thatcher's privatisation policies. This won support from businessmen and diminished the image of the Conservatives as the party of business. - Similar to the Tories in 1951, Blair adopted many popular Conservative policies, like income tax cuts, reducing trade union power, and focusing on law and order while promising more spending on health, education, and support for working families. - Scandals within the Conservative Party, like David Mellor's sexual indiscretions and Neil Hamilton's corruption involving Mohamed Al-Fayed, further undermined their credibility, especially since they had promoted family values.

Answer 6

- British defeats in Asia during WW2, like the fall of Singapore to Japan, highlighted the vulnerability of white colonial rule and sparked nationalist movements in colonies such as Malaya. - GB's weakened post-war economy and debt (25% of national wealth and $29 billion owed to the USA) made it increasingly difficult to maintain its Empire. - The cost of defending the Empire was unsustainable, and Britain was forced to withdraw from colonies like India (1947) and Palestine (1948) due to the pressures of Indian nationalism and financial constraints. - In places like Malaya, Kenya, and Cyprus, attempts to maintain control often led to violent uprisings and costly conflicts. - Despite this, some colonies like Malaya and Ghana were granted independence, although tensions remained.

Answer 7

- In Malaya, a 12-year Communist rebellion (1948-60) and the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya were examples of violent nationalist struggles against British rule. - The Suez Crisis of 1956, where British intervention in Egypt was met with international condemnation, exposed Britain’s inability to act without US support and marked the beginning of the end of British imperialism. - The British Commonwealth began to transition from an empire to a more cooperative, post-colonial structure, with South Africa rejoining in 1994 after the abolition of apartheid. - The success of post-colonial transitions was marked by former colonies seeking independence or closer ties with Britain, despite past tensions.

Answer 8

- Korean War (1950-53): A significant conflict where over 700 British soldiers died, and Britain was involved alongside 19 other countries. - Suez Crisis (1956): A disastrous intervention that revealed Britain's diminished global influence, ending Eden’s career and damaging relations with the USA. - Falklands War (1982): The first time since WW2 that British territory was invaded, but unlike previous conflicts, the UK had to fight alone with only US support in terms of logistics and intelligence. This was a significant moment for British military reputation but much smaller in scale compared to previous wars. - First Gulf War (1990-91): Britain supported the US in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, with minimal British casualties, and the result was largely predetermined due to the overwhelming US and coalition forces.

Answer 9

- Cold War Involvement: Britain supported the USA during the Cold War, particularly by participating in the Berlin Airlift (1948-9) and the Korean War (1950-3), and maintaining a military presence in West Germany and West Berlin throughout the Cold War period. - Thaw in Relations: After Stalin’s death in 1953, tensions eased slightly with Soviet Premier Khrushchev visiting Britain in 1956 and British Prime Minister Macmillan visiting the USSR in 1959, signaling a brief "thaw" in relations. - Avoiding "Hot War": Despite ideological and military rivalry, both the USSR and the USA sought to avoid direct confrontation, realizing the devastating consequences of a "hot" Cold War.

Answer 10

- Labour’s position on the European Economic Community (EEC) was complex; the Labour Left viewed it as a capitalist scheme, but Wilson’s Labour government applied to join in 1967. - Public opinion was initially against EEC membership, but after the 1975 referendum, the majority voted to stay, reflecting changing views on Europe. - The "special relationship" between Britain and the USA became stronger after WW2, fostered by shared wartime experiences. PMs like Churchill and Macmillan worked to repair relations with the USA after the Suez Crisis, and Thatcher's close relationship with President Reagan in the 1980s solidified this bond.

Answer 11

- Thatcher’s Realization: Despite her strong anti-Communist stance, Margaret Thatcher recognized that the future Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, was different from his predecessors. She met with him in 1984 and later convinced President Reagan that Gorbachev was “a man we can do business with.” - Opposition to SDI: Thatcher was sympathetic to Soviet concerns about Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), fearing that it could undermine the concept of nuclear deterrence.

Answer 12

- United Nations: Britain used its veto power in the UN, such as in 1956 to block a resolution condemning its invasion of Egypt during the Suez Crisis and in 1963-73 over Rhodesia. - Nuclear Policy: Britain played an active role in nuclear arms control: - 1963: Joined the USA and USSR in banning nuclear testing in space, underwater, and in the atmosphere. - 1968: Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. - Britain also faced the challenge of Soviet SS20 missiles in Eastern Europe and responded with the installation of US Cruise missiles in the early 1980s, which was controversial but considered a necessary response to Soviet actions. - Thatcher strongly supported the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which she believed had ensured peace in Europe for 40 years.

Answer 13

- Post-USSR Relations: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations with Russia improved. Russian President Boris Yeltsin appreciated Britain’s support during the 1991 coup attempt by Communist hardliners. Yeltsin visited Britain in 1992 to discuss trade and military cooperation. - Economic Ties: Economic links between Britain and Russia grew, with Britain supporting Russia’s entry into the G8 and Russian businessmen investing in London.

Answer 14

CND Movement: Founded in 1958, the CND campaigned against nuclear weapons and escalated during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the 1980s, nuclear protests intensified due to the installation of US Cruise missiles in Britain and Reagan’s aggressive policies. This led to large-scale marches and debates on whether Britain’s nuclear deterrent was truly independent or too reliant on the USA.

Answer 15

- Subordination to the US: Throughout the Cold War and beyond, Britain’s relationship with the US was often one of subordination. For example, the invasion of Grenada (1985) occurred without consulting Britain, despite Grenada being a Commonwealth member. The installation of US Cruise missiles in Britain in the 1980s was seen by anti-nuclear protesters as evidence of British subservience to the US. - Limited Influence: Britain’s role in global arms control negotiations and European matters was limited. In particular, crucial decisions during the Cold War arms negotiations were made between the USA and USSR, with little involvement from Britain.

Answer 16

- Vietnam War: British PM Harold Wilson's decision not to send troops to Vietnam created tension with President Johnson, showcasing Britain's independent stance from the US in some conflicts. - NATO and EEC Membership: Britain’s membership in NATO and the EEC (European Economic Community) helped secure its safety and economic prosperity. Under Thatcher, Britain negotiated a significant reduction in its financial contribution to the EEC budget. - Loss of Empire: The decline of Britain’s Empire weakened its global influence. As US Secretary of State Dean Acheson noted, Britain had "lost an empire but not yet found a role," a sentiment reflecting the challenges faced by post-Empire Britain. - Suez Crisis (1956): The Suez Crisis highlighted Britain's diminishing ability to act independently on the world stage without US backing. This was further demonstrated by Britain's loss of influence in the Middle East and East Asia, with the US taking the lead.

Answer 17

- European Economic Community (EEC): Britain’s role in European integration was complicated. France, under De Gaulle, vetoed Britain’s entry into the EEC in the early 1960s, and Britain only joined in 1973. However, Britain’s influence in the EEC was limited by the dominance of France and Germany, especially on policies like agriculture and fisheries. - EEC Membership and Economic Strength: Membership in the EEC helped Britain economically, but the loss of its Empire reduced its global stature, making its role in the European project more important. Thatcher’s negotiation success in reducing Britain’s net contribution to the EEC budget by 66% was a major achievement.