Britain's Position in the World 1951-1997 Flashcards
1
Q
Name 4 International Crises that Britain was Involved in
A
- Korean War
- Suez Crisis
- Falklands Crisis
- Gulf War
2
Q
Name 4 Reasons why Britain felt they had to be involved in Korea
A
- It was vital for Britain to maintain links with the US and support its stand against aggression
- Britain was committed to resisting Communist aggression and preventing Communist expansion - especially considering they still held territories in Asia
- Britain wished to demonstrate that it was still a world power
- It was the first major challenge to the credibility of the UN of which they were a founding member
3
Q
How did the Korean War demonstrate that the British were a junior partner in their relationship with the US
A
- Britain only lost 700 troops throughout the conflict compared to America’s 34,000
- Through Britain was involved in the decision to invade the North, the majority of the troops were American
4
Q
Name 3 advantages to participation in the Korean War
A
- Britain confirmed its special relationship with the US
- Britain helped check communist aggression and establish the UN as an effective agency
- NATO was strengthened due to fear of further communist aggression
5
Q
What was the drawback to participating in the Korean War
A
The increased defence expenditure added to the difficulties of Britain’s economy
6
Q
How successful was British participation in the Korean War?
A
- Britain had shown that it would take part in defending independent states, supporting the UN and working alongside the US
- The North Korean invasion was defeated and South Korea was protected
- However, political and strategic control of the war remained firmly in American hands
7
Q
Give 4 reasons why Eden wished to retake the Suez Canal in 1956
A
- It was vital to continuing British imperial interests in the far east - nearly 1/3 of ships using the canal were British
- It was a vital trade route through which 2/3s of European oil supplies passed through
- Eden feared that it was the first step in a plan to establish Egyptian domination over the Middle East
- Nasser would allow the USSR to extend influence in the region
8
Q
What was the outcome of the Suez Crisis
A
- The USSR condemned the invasion as imperialist and strengthened ties with Nasser
- The US was publically furious at the use of force, and soured relations between the US and UK
- It undermined western credibility and allowed the USSR to crush the Hungarian Revolt the same year
- It demonstrated that Britain was no longer an imperial power who could act on its own at will
- It led to the resignation of Eden in 1957
9
Q
What were the risks associated with British involvement in the Falklands War (4)
A
- British forces would have to fight a large Argentinian force 8,000 miles away from home, whilst being vulnerable to air attack
- There was no guarantee of international support, as many were suspicious of imperialism
- If they abandoned the islands they would suffer a loss of prestige by abandoning the islands’ pro-British population to Argentinian . rule
- If they had been defeated, the political consequences for Thatcher would have been considerable
10
Q
Why were the Falkland’s War successful? (4)
A
- A task force was assembled quickly and set sail 3 days after the invasion
- International Law supported the UK as a Security Council resolution demanded the withdrawal of Argentine Forces
- British forces were better trained
- The US provided the UK with the use of Ascension Island as a stage ground
11
Q
How successful was the Falklands War for the UK (5)
A
- Britain sunk the General Belgrano killing 360 Argentine Sailors
- They took over 11,000 Argentine POWs
- They successfully regained the Falklands just over 2 months after they were captured
- It boosted Thatcher’s political position
- Re-asserted that Britain was still a great power
12
Q
Give 4 reasons why the Falklands could be seen to be unsuccessful for the UK
A
- It reinforced British inferiority to the US - they could not go to war without active American support
- The Argentinians destroyed HMS Sheffield
- There was a high financial cost of the war and subsequent garrisoning of the islands
- The Argentinians still refuse to accept British sovereignty over the islands
13
Q
Why did the UK get involved in the Gulf War
A
- To show solidarity with the US (they provided 53,000 troops, the 3rd largest contingent)
- There were fears that Hussein would go onto seize Saudi Arabia’s oil supply gaining a monopoly of global oil
- Show that Britain was still a major power
14
Q
How can the Gulf War be seen as a success for the UK (5)
A
- They successfully liberated Kuwait within 100 hours of hostilities breaking out
- It strengthened US-British relations
- Major demonstrated that Britain still had diplomatic influence, enlisting US and European support for his plan to create ‘safe havens’ for the Kurdish population guarded by allied troops and protected by allied aircraft
- Just 47 troops died
- RAF planes played a significant role in the bombing campaign
15
Q
How can the Gulf War be seen to have been successful for the UK
A
- Saddam Hussein was allowed to maintain control of Iraq
- It was seen by many in the Middle East as British and American Imperialism
- It indirectly led to further war in Iraq in 2003 which had far greater consequences
16
Q
Why were US-UK relations close in the post-war period? (5)
A
- They had just fought alongside one another in WWII where hundreds of thousands of US troops had been stationed in Britain
- The two countries cooperated over the Berlin Blockade in 1948-1949
- The US gave Britain financial aid under the Marshall Aid plan
- Membership to NATO after 1949 and the sharing of nuclear secrets and military intelligence during the cold war reinforced relations
- Britain and the US had strong ties of language, culture, trade and history
- British forces fought alongside the US in Korea (1951-1953)
17
Q
Why were US-UK relations limited in the post-war period? (2)
A
- Britain was subordinated in decision making throughout the Korean War
- Suez soured relations, and demonstrated that Britain could not act independently of, and certainly not in opposition to, the US
18
Q
How was the damage to US-UK relations mitigated following Suez
A
Macmillan exploited his wartime friendship with Eisenhower
19
Q
Why were US-UK relations close in the 60s and 70s? (2)
A
- Kennedy regarded Macmillan as a political father figure and consulted him during the 1961 Berlin Crisis and 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
- Personal chemistry between Callaghan and Carter restored warmer relations
20
Q
Why were US-UK relations limited in the 60s and 70s? (4)
A
- The decline in Britain’s economic power made it very much the junior partner in the ‘special relationship’
- Britain’s limited capabilities after giving up its Far Eastern bases made it a fairly redundant ally for the US in their Far East interests
- Wilson’s failed attempts to broker peace in the Vietnam War only irritated Johnson who was already disappointed that there were no British troops fighting
- Heath’s focus on Europe cooled relations
21
Q
Why were US-UK relations close under Reagan and Thatcher? (4)
A
- They shared a warm friendship and agreed about most policy issues
- The US allowed Britain the use of Ascension Island during the Falklands War
- Thatcher allowed the US to use British based F111s to bomb Libya in 1986
- Both Thatcher and Reagan opposed UN sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa
22
Q
Why were US-UK relations limited under Reagan and Thatcher?
A
- Thatcher was sceptical about Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ initiative’
- Thatcher was worried that Reagan might make too many concessions on nuclear disarmament
- Thatcher held private reservations about the US invasion of Grenada to remove a left wing government in 1983
23
Q
Give 3 military initiatives that the UK and US coordinated on in the 90’s
A
- The First Gulf War
- A bombing campaign against the Serbian population in Bosnia in retaliation for the Srebrenica refugee camp
- Brokered the Dayton Peace Accords following the violence in the Balkans in 1995
24
Q
Why were US-UK relations close during the 90s
A
- Washington valued British diplomatic and military support in times of crisis
- Britain still relied on the US to supply its nuclear deterrent
- Britain usually exercised its influence in the SEcruit Council in cooperation with America
25
Why were post war Anglo-Russian relations strained?
There were fears among Western powers that the USSR wished to destabilise Western Europe
26
What initially caused Anglo-Russian relations to improve?
The death of Stalin in 1953
27
What was the name of Khrushchev's policy with with the UK
**Peaceful Co-Existence**
28
What did the policy of peaceful co-existence mean?
Avoid war if possible, but continue competition with the West for influence around the world
29
How can Anglo-Russian relations be seen to be cool under Krushchev?
- In 1955, the Russian and British navies exchanged goodwill visits
- Khrushchev visited Britain in April 1956
- Macmillan visited Moscow in 1959
30
How can Anglo-Russian relations be seen to have remained mutual hostile under Krushchev?
- They each accused each over of imperialism
- The USSR tried to win the support of the decolonised nations of Asia and Africa as them emerged from colonialism
- The West regarded the communist states of eastern Europe as a part of a Soviet Empire
31
How can Anglo-Russisan relations be seen to have been strained in the 60s and 70s? (3)
1. Though the USSR concentrated most of their attention on the US following decolonisation, the UK still saw the USSR as their principle enemy
2. Each side was involved in espionage
3. Britain and NATO were concerned about the build-up of Soviet forces after the Cuban missile crisis
32
How many diplomats accused of spying did Britain expel in 1971?
105
33
How can Anglo-Russian relations be seen to have improved under Thatcher?
- Though Thatcher made her anti-communist stance clear, she said she liked Mikhail Gorbachev in 1984 and that they could "do business together"
- She met Gorbachev in Moscow in 1984 and hosted a return visit
34
How did the collapse of the USSR improve Anglo-Russian relations
- Yeltsin was grateful for the immediate diplomatic support Britain provided when Soviet hardliners tried to take power in August 1991
- British efforts helped bring Russia into the G8
- In 1992, Yeltsin visited visited Britain to sign a set of wide-ranging agreements on trade and military co-operation
- London became an attractive city for the Russian oligarchs which began to emerge
35
Give 5 key principles of the UN charter
1. Maintenance of **international peace** and **security**
2. **Prevention of aggression**
3. Peaceful **settlement** of **international disputes**
4. Addressing **economic, social** and **cultural problems**
5. Promotion of **human rights** and **fundamental freedoms** for all
36
Why does Britain have considerable influence over the UN?
- As one of the 'Big Three' victorious powers at the end of WWII they played a key role in establishing the UN and writing up the UN charter
- Britain is one of the 5 permanent members of the SC, giving it the ability to veto Security Council decisions that are otherwise binding on all members
37
How has the UN influenced British policy
British governments have always tried to present their actions as conforming to the principles of the UN in order to win international and domestic public opinion for their policies
38
Give 5 ways Britain can be seen to support the UN
1. Britain has been a major contributor to the UN budget providing 6.7% of the budget between 2013-2015
2. British-born officials have played a significant role in the agencies of the UN
3. Britain has had one judge on the ICJ
4. Britain has been a member of the Economic and Social council
5. British governments have been anxious to obtain UN support for policies e.g. the Gulf War was justified by the UN condemnation of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait
39
Give 3 instances where British forces have taken part in peacekeeping missions
1. Korean War (1950-53)
2. Balkan Conflicts (1992-1995)
3. Cyprus (1964-present)
40
Give 2 ways Britain can be seen to clash with the UN
2. Britain has asserted its own interests above the UN using the veto 32 times since 1956
2. British military support for the UN has been relatively limited
41
Give 3 instances of Britain vetoing SC resolutions
1. Britain acted outside of the parameters of the UN in the Suez Crisis and vetoed a SC Resolution
2. Britain vetoed 6 security resolutions on minority rule in Rhodesia
3. Thatcher joined the US in vetoing a UN condemnation of US bombing of Libya in 1986
42
How many troops did Britain deploy to support humanitarian aid and peacekeeing in the Balkans
2,500
43
How can Britain be seen to have been involved in European unity immediately after the war? (4)
1. Played a central role in creating the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) set up in 1948 to administer Marshall Aid
2. Founding member of NATO
3. Founded the Council of Europe to promote unity and human right sin 1949
4. Committed itself to a series of treaties with European countries
44
Why did Britain initially avoid European unity? (3)
1. Britain had strong links with the Commonwealth
2. There were hopes of fostering a special relationship with the US
3. There were fears of loss of sovereignty
45
Why did Britain start to try and involve itself in European unity under Macmillan (2)
1. It was becoming clear that the Empire had no future
2. Britain started to experience economic difficulties which made Europhiles in both partie believe that Britain needed to join the Common Market
46
Why did factions of the Labour and Conservative parties dislike joining th EEC
Labour: felt the free market economy of Europe would be at odds with their socialist agenda (nationalised industry)
Conservative: looked at the Empire nostalgically and opposed entry fearing it might sever Britain's remaining ties with the Commonwealth
47
How did Macmillan involve himself in European unity
Created the EFTA which would not infringe on national sovereignty
48
Why did Britain join the EEC in 1973 (4)
- The EFTA was under performing compared to the EEC
- Heath was pro-european
- There was encouragement from the US to join
- De Gaulle retired
49
Why did British attitudes towards European unity sour in the 80s (3)
- Thatcher believed that Britain was making disproportionately large contribution to the EEC demanding a rebate ("I want my money back!") which damaged relations with other member countries
- Thatcher credited Conservative economic policy with Britain's economic recovery and not the EEC
- There were fears that closer European integration would threaten British sovereignty, with Thatcher denouncing 'a European super-state exercising dominance from Brussels'
50
How did Britain continue to play a role in European unity in the 80s?
Some of Thatcher's senior ministers convinced her to join the ERM in 1989
51
Why did British attitudes towards Europe continue to deteriorate in the 90s? (2)
1. Britain's humiliating withdrawal from the ERM and subsequent economic recovery demonstrated that Britain's economic growth did not depend on Europe
2. The Maastricht Treaty encouraged fears of loss of British sovereignty among Eurospektics leading to Major opting out of the Euro and the Social Chapter
52
Why did Europhiles believe Eurosceptic fears were exaggerated in the 90s? (4)
1. Britain benefitted from being part of the world's largest single market
2. The free movement of good, capital and labour removed obstacles to business within Europe
3. Common regulations benefitted all member countries
4. The EU attracted more investment into Britain that Britain could do alone
53
How can Britain be seen to have played a major role in the European Union
1. British statesmen served as European commissioners
2. Britain accepted the bulk of European regulations and was a contributor to European institutions
3. Britain accepted unpopular policies such as restricting Commonwealth cheap food imports and being part of the Common Agricultural Policy
4. Accepted restrictions on sovereignty and elections to a European Parliament based on a system of PR
54
Give 3 arguments for Britain possessing a nuclear deterrent
1. There were fears in 1947 that in the event of an attack from the USSR, the US might not support Europe
2. Possession of a nuclear deterrent maintains Britain's great power status
3. Without an independent deterrent, Britain would have little negotiating power on a world stage
55
Give 3 arguments against Britain possessing a nuclear deterrent
1. Britain's nuclear weapons program has been dependent on American since 1962 when America began supplying Britain with Polaris Missiles
2. There was strong ethical opposition to the destructive capability of nuclear weapons
3. The heavy costs in maintaining the arsenal reduced government budget for other areas
56
Why did ethical opposition to nuclear weapons exist? (3)
1. People were horrified by the damage done to Japan
2. There was increased fear of mutually assured destruction
3. Scientists became more uneasy with the power of their creation particularly after the development of the H-Bomb
57
How did the ethical opposition to the destructive capability of nuclear weapons present itself (3)
- The CND marches from Aldermaston to London
- The all women's protest at Greenham Common
- The uneasiness of scientists with the power of the weapons they had just created
58
How were Nuclear weapons contentious in the 50s and 60s?
- CND (founded in 1958) began a series of annual protests from Aldermaston to London attracting 100,000 in 1960
- Supporters maintained that Britain needed to be strong to prevent Soviet aggression
59
Give 2 nuclear treaties Britain partook in
1. Nuclear Test Ban (1963) - banning tests underwater, in space, and in the atmosphere
2. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) - agreed not to share nuclear tech with other nations
60
What nuclear treaty did Britain notably not partake in?
The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaties (SALT) in 1972 and 1979 between the US and USSR
61
What 2 key nuclear developments in the 70s lead to controversy within the UK
- The USSR began deploying SS-20 intermediate range missiles capable of hitting targets anywhere in Europe
- In 1979 NATO agreed to deploy US intermediate range cruise missiles in response
62
Why did the nuclear developments in the 70s incur controversy in the UK?
It increased the likelihood of Europe becoming a nuclear battleground
63
What was the result of the nuclear developments in the 70s
A group of women set up a protest camp at the USAF base at Greenham Common in 1981 which lasted for 19 years
64
Why did Thatcher oppose the Greenham Common protest?
She was alarmed by the negotiations of the 'zero option' because she believed it would leave Europe exposed to the conventional forces of the USSR, and believed that the stability in Europe was a direct result of nuclear weapons
65
How can Britain's nuclear program be seen to have been nominally independent, but de facto dependent on the US (3)
- The US began supplying Britain with Polaris missiles in 1962 which provided rockets for Britain's warheads
- Britain allowed the US to use air bases for a possible nuclear strike
- The US began supplying Britain with trident missiles in 1987
66
How can Britain's nuclear position be seen to be controversial following 1992 (2)
- The fall of the USSR meant that Britain's primary threat is no longer from a great nuclear power but from regional conflicts and terrorism
- Britain's defence is heavily reliant on its 4 nuclear submarines possessing 200 nuclear warheads for which it spends 1/5 of its military budget
67
Give 4 reasons why Britain decolonised
1. The impact of WWII
2. Britain's economic weakness
3. The growth of colonial nationalism
4. International opinion
68
How did the impact of WWII lead to decolonisation (4)
1. Japan easily conquering European assets in South East Asia demonstrated Britain's weakness
2. Colonial administrators exploited the resources of the Empire more effectively during the war which disrupted many traditional and rural societies
3. The colonies were unable to purchase manufactured goods from Britain which was essential to mercantilism and encouraged the rise of nationalist movements
4. The war saw greater unrest in India resulting in acceleration of British withdrawal
69
How did economic weakness lead to decolonisation (2)
1. Britain began exploiting the resources of the colonies even more extensively after the war due to its economic weakness which increased resentment
2. British economic weakness meant it could no longer supply the colonies with the investment capital and manufactured goods
3. The rising colonial nationalism made the cost of defending British rule too high
70
How did the growth of colonial nationalism lead to decolonisation? (3)
1. The growth of resentment to British rule encouraged figureheads to emerge demanding independence
2. They were encouraged by the success of Nasser in challenging British rule
3. It coincided with a worldwide challenge by non-white races against white supremacy e.g. the African American protests
71
How did international opinion lead to decolonisation? (3)
1. The USA publically disapproved of the Empire and the USSR denounced British imperialism
2. Many newly independent nations denounced colonial rule and established the Non-Alignment movement in 1955
3. The growing condemnation of imperialism and made it difficult for Britain to conduct international relations as an imperial power
72
Give 6 instances of countries which were decolonised
1. Malaya
2. Ghana
3. Nigeria
4. Kenya
4. Cyprus
6. Rhodesia
73
How can Britain's decolonisation of Malaya be seen to be successful (3)
1. Deployed 40,000 British and Commonwealth troops to fight a guerrilla war against the Malayan Chinese insurgents (45% of the population) from 1948-1960
2. This was eventually successful because the largely Muslim Malay community (40% of the population) disliked the atheist communists
3. Britain granted independence in 1957 to a government of conservative Malay leaders
74
How can Britain's decolonisation of Ghana be seen to be "the model of ordered withdrawal - having been achieved with minimum violence" (3)
1. Britain grants universal suffrage and creates an elected parliament in 1948 following riots in the capital city **Accra***
2. Radial nationalist leader, **Kwame Nkrumah** wins the election in 1951, beating the conservative nationalists
3. Nkrumah appeases Britain by agreeing to keep Ghana in both the Commonwealth and the British trade bloc (**sterling area**) and accepting a federal constitution which devolved power to diverse central and northern regions of the country where Khrumah had little support
75
How can Ghana's decolonisation be seen to be unsuccessful in the long term
Nkrumah's subsequent socialist policies and authoritarian rule made him controversial and he was overthrown in a military coup in 1966
76
How can Nigeria's decolonisation be seen to be unsuccessful
- Regional differences led to Britain imposing a federal constitution, before eventually handing over power to a coalition representing the north and the Igbo in 1960
- However Ethnic tensions caused instability and the country became engulfed in a brutal civil war between 1967 and 1970
77
How can Kenya's decolonisation be seen to be unsuccessful
- A guerilla campaign known as the Mau Mau uprising was brutally suppressed by British authorities from 1952 to 1957
- When Macmillan became Prime Minister he realised that the demand for independence was to strong to be resisted and granted them independence in 1963
- However, the failure of british colonial authorities to tackle racial divisions and the haste with which they withdrew led to subsequent difficulties in the country
78
How can Cyprus's decolonisation be seen to be somewhat unsuccessful
- In 1955, the Greek Cypriot people began a terror campaign to expel the British authorities and unite the island with Greece, involving 25,000 British troops
- In 1960, Macmillan succeeded in persuading the two communities to accept independence under a Greek President and a Turkish Vice President
- However, continued strife between the two communities and a Turkish invasion of the island in 1974 led to the partition of the island
79
How can Rhodesia's decolonization be seen to be somewhat unsuccessful
- Wilson ruled out the use of force to deal with the white minority government and hoped that trade sanctions would strangle the Rhodesian economy
- However, these had little impact and Wilson took the risky decision to try to reach a settlement with the Rhodesian leader, Ian Smith
- Had Smith agreed to Wilson's terms it is possible that the Commonwealth would have broken up
- The eventual independence of Rhodesia occured in 1980 more because of pressure from South Africa and the US than from British policy
80
Give 7 examples to demonstrate that Britain dealt with the changing nature of the Commonwealth well
1. White ruled nations of South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand retained strong ties to Britain despite being granted complete legislative autonomy in 1931
2. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka established a precedent joining as republics and recognising the King not as head of state, but head of the Commonwealth
3. Commonwealth troops fought alongside Britain and America in Korea
4. The decision of South Africa to rejoin after Apartheid in 1994 was an indication of its success
5. Mozambique and Cameroon became the first members to join the Commonwealth despite no historic connections to Britain in 1995
6. Commonwealth meetings and declarations of principles have maintained Britain's influence and the Queen has been a significant element in keeping cultural, economic and diplomatic ties
7. The Commonwealth has survived into the 21st century and despite its lack of political power it has remained a respected medium for cultural and economic exchange, and for promoting important democratic values
81
Give 7 examples to suggest Britain has not dealt with the changing nature of the Commonwealth well
1. Commonwealth nations were critical of Britain's actions in the Suez Crisis
2. The rapid decolonisation of Britain's empire in Africa and Asia between 1957 and 1954 led to costly conflicts and unstable countries
3. South Africa withdrew in 1961 over facing criticism for its apartheid policies
4. Britain was criticised for continuing links with apartheid South Africa - particularly in the sale of armaments - and failing to take action when a minority government in Rhodesia declared independence
5. British attempts to create larger federations of smaller states failed e.g. the Central African Federation
6. Commonwealth nations were resentful of the British Commonwealth Immigration Act 1962
7. Entry into the EEC involved ending preferential trade links with Commonwealth countries like New Zealand
