britains position in the world Flashcards
what were relations with the USA
due to cold war relations became closer
- USA gave brtiain aid under marshall plan
- britain cooperated over the berlin blocade in 1948
- britain and USSR were members of NATO
- 1950 britain and USA sent troops to defend south korea against chinese communists
- britains intervention in the suez was not supported by USA
- britain did not offer military support in war with vietnam
relations between thatcher an reagan
thatcher an reagan were opponants of communism
reagan lent some assistance to britain in the falklands war
thatcher was scepital about reagans star wars
she disliked the US invasion of grenada to remove a left wing government in 1983
what were relations with the USSR
distrust an disapproval characterised relations with ussr
britain and the ussr kept military presence in germany to guard russian expansion
russia disapproved of the suez crisis and was critical of britains imperialism while britain was critical of USSR repression
british condemned the building of the berlin wall and soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980
why did britain support UN
britain was a leading member of the UN
britain had been a member of secruity council
britain was a major contributor to the UN budget
britain was a member of social and economic council
why was there conflict with the UN
britain had the right to veto which it had used 32 times since 1956
britain acted outside the UN in suez crisis
when the UN wished to condemn US bombing of libya britain vetoed
britain ignored crisisms within the UN about its colonial policies
how was britain a major player in europe
britain was a major power in the north atlantic treaty organisation in 1949
britain established european free trade area in 1960
however it was not a major player due to having to accept unpopular policies such as restricting common wealth imports and CAP
also accepted restrictions to sovereignty
why did british nuclear policy become controversial
there was increasing fear that nuclear war would bring about assured destruction after russians developed atomic weapons
there was a campaign for nuclear disarmament in 1958 by 1960 100,000 marchers took part
there was divisions within the labour party
left thought that britain would have little part to plan in world events if it had no deterrent
public unease about danger of nuclear war
as the cold war remained cold the argument of the danger they posed had been countered with the view nuclear weapons had been successful in keeping peace
did britain have an independent deterrent
less independant after 1962 when usa supplied britain with polaris missiles
britain did take part in its own right in banning nuclear testing but it was not taking part in the strategic arms limitations task in 1972 and 1979
1987 thatcher was persuaded to supply britain with trident middiles carried by britains submarines
what was britains response to korean war 1950
britain joined UN to defend against invasion of communist north korea
due to cold war britain was committed to resisting communist threat
also thought that the korean war had to be supported for britain to remain a world player
vital for britain to maintain links with USA
what was the result of korean war
NATO was strengthened due to fear of further communist expansion
britain had confirmed its special relationship with the USA
war was costly to britain 700 british and commonwealth troops killed
britains economic problems made worse
what was britains response to the suez crisis
1956 britain, france and israel attacked egypt, nasser had nationalised the suez canal
was important as it was vital route -two thirds of oil supplies for europe was passed through it and it carried half of britains food supplies
eden saw nasser as a dictator
what were the results of the suez crisis
the invasion failed
humiliating for eden, lost his career and he resigned shortly after
USA felt like they hadnt been consulted
USSR critisied british imperialism
demonstrated britain was no longer a great imperial power
what was britains response to the falklands war 1982
sent to retake falkland islands which had been occupied by Argentina
thatcher gained support from UN and EU
british press
politcal parties
USA intelligence support and the use of US base on ascension
what were the results of the falklands war
reputation of british forces rose as they succeeded
thatcher popularity increased
high financial cost of war
argentine military regime fell
what was britains response to the gulf war 1991
britain sent forces as a part of the US led coalition to liberate kuwait after iraq invasion in order to
show solidarity to USA - provided third largest contingent of troops
prevent further invasions of saddam hussain
protect oil supplies
show britain was still a major power
