Chapter 4 Flashcards
What situation was Britain in by the end of world war 2
Britain was badly damaged, burdened with massive debts and now in the shadow of two big military powers, USA and USSR
What happened as a result of Britain’s bankruptcy after world war 2
Britain had to withdraw from commitments in Greece turkey and Palestine.
What happened as a result of Britain’s bankruptcy after world war 2
Britain had to withdraw from commitments in Greece turkey and Palestine.
What happened in 1947 that marked Britain’s retreat from empire
Independence was granted to Pakistan and India
What was the schuman plan
The schuman plan in 1950 set out the proposals for a coal and steel community that would integrate French and German heavy industry in order to promote rapid economic reconstruction and also to bind together historic enemies and eliminate the threats of future wars this was the foundations of the eec
What was Britain and America’s reaction to the schuman plan
This scheme was strongly supported by Britain and the united states as an important contribution to the security of Europe.
Why did Britain not initially become involved in the eec
- there were very few politicians or journalists in favour of taking up a leadership role in Europe
-the left tended to be suspicious of the free market principles behind common market “the Durham miners won’t wear it I’m afraid”
-the right wanted to preserve original trade links with Australia Canada and New Zealand
-there was an assumption that Britain was still a great world power - Britain wanted to balance its involvement in Europe with maintaining the special relationship
What did Charles de Gaulle think about Britain and ecc
From 1958 Charles de Gaulle opposed Britain’s involvement as they believed they bought influence of the us
What treaty launched the eec
The treaty of Rome in 1957
What organisation did Britain establish in 1959
European free trade association
(EFTA)
When did Britain apply to join the eec
1961
Why did Britain apply to join the eec
Fundamental reason was economic it hoped it would:
Boost industrial production
Increase industrial efficiency
Stimulate economic growth
What made the negotiations to join the eec very difficult
Britain wanted to keep its position in the commonwealth and the us
What policy in the eec did Britain find difficult to conform to
Common agricultural policy
Who led the negotiations to join eec
Edward heath
Why was Britains application declined
In 1963 Charles de Gaulle vetoed Britain’s application.
What was Britain’s role in nato
They were a founding member of 1949
What happened to Britain and americas relationship after the war
Remained close allies in the Cold War
Britain supported United Nations in Korea
It also worked with United States to sustain West Berlin.
What was the Cuban missile crisis
Cuba which was communist requested ussr to station missiles Cuba being only 90 miles this worried us America responded by setting up a blockade. It is scene as close as it got to nuclear war.
What was Britain’s role in the Cuban missile crisis
British chancellor Peter thorneycroft described Britain as a bystander but kenedy kept macmillan informed
What events put the special relationship under strain ?
The burges and Maclean affair, the eec and the suez crisis
What was the burgess and Maclean affair
Guy burgess and Donald Maclean were highly placed officers in British intelligence they defected to the Soviet Union in 1951. The revelation of British spies leaking vital secrets to Moscow worried America and they were now more hesitant to share info with Britain
How did America effect Britain as a nuclear power
The United States had stopped sharing its nuclear secrets so if Britain wanted to become a nuclear power it would have to do so itself
How determined were Britain to be a nuclear power
Ernest Bevin famously said “ I don’t want any other foreign secretary of this country to be talked to or at by by a Secretary of State in the United states we’ve got to have this bloody thing over here no matter what it costs and we’ve got to have the bloody Union Jack on top of it
How determined were Britain to be a nuclear power
Ernest Bevin famously said “ I don’t want any other foreign secretary of this country to be talked to or at by by a Secretary of State in the United states we’ve got to have this bloody thing over here no matter what it costs and we’ve got to have the bloody Union Jack on top of it
When where Britain’s first tests of the nuclear bomb
1952 made Britain the third country
When was britains h bomb tested
1957
When was cnd set up
1958
What was the first protest for cnd
Around 8000 people took part in a demonstration at the weapons research base at aldermaston in Berkshire in 1958 a second in 1959
What was the mutual defence agreement
In 1958 the United states one again agreed to agree nuclear technology with Britain.
When was the Korean War
1950-53
What happened to Korea after the war
In the north it was occupied by the Soviet Union
In the south it was occupied by the United States
What happened in 1950 in Korea
Russia and china invaded the south
How did Britain respond to the Korean invasion
They sent 90,000 troops to Korea to resist the communist movement
How many British troops died in Korea
1000
What did the Korean War demonstrate
Demonstrated the Cold War was being fought across the whole world it also demonstrated Britains willingness to continue to play a major role in world affairs. However it was clear that Britain was the greater power
What percentage of Western Europe’s oil passed through the Suez Canal
80%
Who was the leader of Egypt
Colonel nasser
When did Britain pull out of investing in the Aswan dam
1956
Why did coloner nasser nationalise the Suez Canal
After funding was cut from the Aswan dam the nationalisation allowed Egypt to fund it again
What was the impact of suez
Britains position in the world as a power for good had to be reassessed
Highlighted the inability of Britain to act without the support of America
Undermined Britain as one of the worlds major powers
Also caused a run on the pound
What was the belief about decolonisation in early 1950s
Britains believed they could manage a gradual transition from empire to new common wealth and the colonial resistant movements could be controlled until they were ready for independence
When did the mau mau rebellion break out
1952
Which Kenyan led the rebellion against the British
Jomo Kenyatta
What effect did the mau mau rebellion have on Britain
Damaged their reputation after the mis treatment of Kenyans in at the hola prison camp also showed problems with British colonial policies
What was the first colonie to gain independence
Ghana
When did Nigeria and Cyprus gain independence
1960
When did tanganyiaka and Sierra Leone gain independence
1961
When did Uganda gain independence
1962
What changed after wind of change speech
Asking country’s to expect majority rule
And encouraged decolonisation
Who were the original six countries in the European coal and steel community
France, west Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Belgium
Who proposed a Western European Union and what was it for
Anthony Eden (during Churchill)
It was a defensive alliance without supranational implications it allowed west Germany to re arm
What did Eden say about postbags showing why Britain should not join eec
90% of letter where from beyond Europe
What conference was called in spring of 1955 by Benelux countries
Messina conference
What were the results of the messina conference
The Spaak committee emerged which undertook detailed discussion on the twin issues of a common market and collaboration over nuclear energy
What did Britain do in 1955 concerning common market
Britain withdrew its representation from discussion in November 1955
Britain proposed a free trade area which unlike the emerging common market would have no common external tariff against the rest of the world
What did Britain do in 1955 concerning common market
Britain withdrew its representation from discussion in November 1955
Britain proposed a free trade area which unlike the emerging common market would have no common external tariff against the rest of the world
What military alliance did the Russians set up in response to NATO
Warsaw pact
Who was soviet leader during the Cuban missile crisis
Chrushchev
In 1960 Britain abandoned its independent rocket project what was this called
Blue streak
What American submarine weapon system replaced blue streak
Polaris
