Foreign affairs Flashcards
Info that is on the specification
What was Wilson’s views on America?
He was pro-American and was a keen supporter of the Atlantic Alliance
What event caused the relationship between Britain and the US to come under strain?
the Vietnam war
What is an overview of the Vietnam war?
- began 1955
- Vietnam divided into communist north and non-communist south
- Vietcong vs. US
- US withdraw in 1975
What did Wilson do in relation to the Vietnam war that caused tension between Britain and the US?
- resisted military action
- only offered moral support
Why did Wilson resist military action?
could not afford it financially or politically
What did Wilson apply for in 1966?
EEC
What was the thing that de Gaulle required Britain to give up in order to join the EEC?
detach itself from its special relationship with the US
What happened to Britain’s 2nd application to the EEC?
it was vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle for the second time
Why did Britain have to withdraw from East of the Suez?
reduction in Britain’s military commitments became necessary for economic reasons
Who was in charge of the defence budget?
Denis Healey
What did Healey aim to accomplish?
spending cuts to reduce the defence budget to £2 million by 1970
What economic crisis put a hole in Healey’s plans?
devaluation crisis - 1967
How did the devaluation crisis effect Healey’s plan?
withdrawal from East of the Suez was accelerated
What first caused tension in Rhodesia/ southern Africa?
Macmillan’s wind of change speech which he delivered in Cape Town
How did southern Africa react to Macmillan’s speech?
they viewed it as a challenge and a threat
