Britain's position in the world 1945-1997 Flashcards
What is the reaction to suez
Combined plot with France and Israel invade Egypt ans secure the Suez Canal.
USA was furious and put financial and diplomatic pressure on Britain to retreat.
The suez finishes Eden and brings Macmillain into power.
What colonial issues are in France and Belgium
Defeated and uprising in their colonies causing strain on supplies and a potential withdrawal.
What was macmillains ‘audit of empire’ what responses are received
Asks his civil servants to give him profit and less account of the British Empire.
Colonial office- shocked retreat is bad.
Treasury- costs and benefits- retreat is good.
What process does MacMillan favour and what gives the green light for decolonisation
Retreating the empire
Malayan- fighting anti- communist guérilla campaign
1957- Gold Coast (Ghana) organised a national movement against colonialism which was successful
What did the period of 1960-73 mark?
Rapid change from an imperial past future to an European past future- independence from the colonies.
What did people view Macmillains ‘winds of change’ speech as
Britain is going to move towards a black majority rule in its colonies and speed up decolonisation
What are they key messages of the speech
- Need to keep Africa in the western bloc of the Cold War
- Warning that racial segregation with jeopardise the western bloc allegiance.
What does this symbolise for Britain
Rapid decolonisation
Iain Macleod- colonial office he was mostly responsible because of his inexperience with the colonies
1970
Decolonisation nearly complete
What was the CED
Central African federation
Strengthen states/ provide allies
1953- Rhodesia and Nysaland
Britains international outlook
- Redefinition of British identity
- A turn to europe
How did the idea of imperial subjecthood change
The old commonwealth immigrants act was abolished
Had to be born or have British parents to claim British citizenship
What happened by 1973
Enters the EEC. Regarded themselves as British
British rejects Australian/ New Zealand
Britain claims that the European sphere cannot provide economic sessions
Britains new future
Less imperial and more European
USA steps into the power vacuum
What was happening in South Africa?
Alliance between English/ Afrikaans collapses
1948- right wing nationalist party rises to power which increases racial segregation
Sharpeville Massacre- protest against pass laws.
What was happening with the federations?
Collapsed
Indies- dissolved
CAF- dissolved in 1963
Singapore leaves Malayan alliance in 1961
What happened in southern Rhodesia
Pushed with Northern Rhodesia
Breaks down- SR sphere of influence of South Africa which the British resisted
1965- unilateral Declaration of Independence.
What happened in 1968
Withdraw troops from the far east
Retreat from empire
What does decolonisation possibly predict for the future
Will be reinvented
Timescales for political change can change rapidly
Policy plans don’t always have a rational set responding to changes
How did Britain handle Korea in 1950
Britain would defend indépendant states, strategic , South Korea was protected
Influence decisions and a loyalty to the USA.
Remained with the USA
American contribution dwarfed British and commonwealth forces
Increased defence expenditures
How did Britain handle suez?
1952- Pro British regime overthrown
Joint invasion
Nasser sunk ships in the canal preventing its use
Condemned by the USA and ussr
Imperialist invasion
Difficult to collaborate with the us who wanted peace humiliation
How did Britain handle the falklands 1982
Thatcher reacted swiftly to the invasion
Demanded by UN Argentinian withdrawal
Justified England’s actions
Reagan didn’t see the utility of the war
The issue remained
Cost £1.5m per island to defend and places needed to be rebuilt.
How did Britain handle Kuwait 1990
Un support and quick war
British armed forces were effective
England still had diplomatic influence by Englisting support.
Conflict between Thatcher and Bush.
British/ Us imperialism
Continued into 2003
Anglo- American Korean war
England joined un forces
United under a coalition of other states
Attlee met Truman
Demonstrated loyalty to the us
Us overpowered British
Suez crisis ANAM
Both agreed to lend Egypt money to build a dam and modernise the economy
USA wanted to solve the crisis peacefully
Uk plotted with France and Israel to invade, Eisenhower was furious
1960s Berlin anam
Kennedy regardée Macmillain has a political father and consulted him
Britain didn’t play a major role
Cuba
Ken consulted Mac
Little influence
Vietnam
Wilson tried to broker peace but failed, shows little influence over us policy
Wilson angered Johnson.
1970s
Warmer relations restored under carter and Callaghan
Under health relations were cool England prioritised europe
1980s
Ragean and thatchers similarities agreed on the same issues and sometimes opposed the UN.
Thatcher disliked SDI Thatcher dismayed by Raegans willingness to bargain away the wests nuclear deterrent.
Us invasion of Grenada
1990
Operated strongly during the first gulf war.
European nato powers cooperated with the USA
Allies by 1997
Thatcher sacrificed British interests to support the USA.
