Foreign Policy Flashcards
What is a foreign policy
The collection of strategies a country uses to guide its relationships with other countries
Britain after ww2
Damaged with huge debts and in a shadow of of new military superpowers (USA and USSR). Britain became bankrupt and had to withdraw commitments in Greece and turkey.
What was the Schuman plan of 1950
Named after the French foreign minister, who set out the proposals for a coal and steel community to integrate French and German heavy industry to promote rapid economic reconstruction. This became the European economic community EEC
Why did Britain and America support the European economic community (EEC)?
The scheme was supported as an important contribution to the security of Europe.
Why did Britain not initially become involved with the EEC?
There were few politicians in favour of Britain taking up the leadership role in Europe. Britain still wanted to maintain a “special relationship” with USA. The left tended to be suspicious of the free market principles behind the common market.
What did Britain do in 1959
Took the lead in the formation of the European free trade association (EFTA)
EFTA vs EEC
It was moderately successful, but the new organisation was not able to match the economic growth of the EEC.
What did Britain do in 1961
Submitted Britain’s application to join the EEC.
Why did Britain apply to the EEC
In hopes that it would boost industrial growth and increase industrial efficiency, also to stimulate economic growth with rapid economic expansion seen in the EEC already
What other positions did Britain want to be apart of
The common wealth and the US, this made EEC negotiations difficult. Britain’s commonwealth trade partners including New Zealand would have been blocked by the EEC.
Who was Charles de Gaulle
Leader of the French forces and French president, he blocked Britain’s application which led to bad relations between France and Britain.
Britain’s, USA and USSR
Britain, USA and the Soviet union had been allysed during the war however, Britain and United States state allies in opposing the expansion of communism
Britain’s policies towards USA and USSR
Britain supported USA during Korea war, macmillan had plans with soviet leader for a summit conference. JFK informed macmillan on the Cuban missile crisis. Britain was dependant on USA power.
USA, Britain and nuclear deterrent
America stopped sharing nuclear secrets with Britain, so Britain wanted to become a nuclear power by itself.
What did Ernest Bevin the labour foreign secretary say.
To continue nuclear power development, no matter how much it costs. Churchill continued the policy and Britain tested its first atomic bomb in 1952.
What was Britain the 3rd country to do
The third country to develop world nuclear weapons however, USSR and USA were already developing more powerful hydrogen bombs.
What did concerns of development lead to the formation of
The campaign for nuclear disarmament (CND). Became the powerful pressure group in Britain backed by middle class protestors.
What did mobilising middle class protestors do about nuclear weapons
They wanted to reject nuclear weapons and follow a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament.
Campaign for nuclear disarmment
What happened between 1958 and 1959
8000 people took part in a demonstration at the weapons research base. CNDs “Unilateralism” became a powerful magnet for Anti government protests.
What did American do in 1958 with their nuclear weapon secrets
Shared nuclear technology with Britain and Britain’s own rocket project was abandoned in 1960 and was replaced by dependence on Americas Polaris submarine weapon system.
Who occupied Korea after ww2
The north of the soviet union and south of the United States. They were separate governments that were set up and each one claim to be legit.
What did Korea do in 1950
With the support of the Soviet union and China Korea invaded the south of America. Over 20 count supplied troops Britain sent over 90,000 soldiers.
What was agreed in 1953
A ceasefire, which agreed that Korea would be split between a communist North Korea and a non-communist South Korea.
What did the Korean War show
Show how, the Cold War was being fought across the world and Britain’s willingness to continue to play a major role in foreign affairs, despite economic constraints.
What was made in 1858
Suez Canal was made as a connecting trade route from the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Used mainly to transport 80% of western Indian oil Imports.
Who was concerned about her Suez Canal
Colonel nasser worried about Britain’s strategic interests. Nasser announced the nationalisation of the canal to provide finance needed for the Aswan dam in which Britain had pulled out of.
How did Eden respond to nassers actions
Eden saw nasser as an evil dictator, who couldn’t get away with unprovoked aggression. Eden encourage France and Israel to a secret plan.
What did Eden encourage Israel to do?
He encouraged Israel to invade Egypt, so British and French forces would then intervene to enforce peace on Egypt and Israel, so they could seize to control the Suez Canal.
The result of the Suez Canal secret plan
The military action didn’t go smoothly and ended in a cause a storm of political protest for Britain. Labour Party and America opposed to the action and Britain wasn’t strong enough to stand up to American pressure so plunged into a financial crisis.
Aftermath of the suez crisis
Britain faced and accepted fairly and humiliation and Eden reputation was damaged. The crisis highlighted the inability of Britain to act without the support of United States.
Britains situation by 1951
Britain retreat from the empire, with the withdrawal of India in 1947.
What began to happen in the 1950s
There were pressures of colonial independence movements which became harder to contain british forces were fighting against national independence movements in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus.
Britains gradual transition from the empire to the new common wealth
British rulers believe they could manage the transition and the colonial resistant movements until people are ready for independence.
The mau mau rebellion in Kenya 1952
Violent nationalist uprising against British colonial rule. The leader was imprisoned by the authorities, but later emerged as president.
Struggle to contain the mau mau rebellion
The struggle to contain the rebellion, demonstrated the problems with Britain’s colonial policies. British policy makers began to reconsider the pace of decolonisation.
Countries who gained independence between 1957 and 1963
1957 - Ghana
1960 - Cyprus and Nigeria
1961 - Tanganyika and Sierra Leone
1962 - Uganda
1963 - Kenya
MacMillan and the “wind of change”
Speech at Cape Town, called for decolonisation and recognition of independence movement. He also seek to persuade countries to accept majority rule. White majority rule was preferred in Africa.
The wind of change policy.
It was successful, and British decolonisation was completed more swiftly and less violent. By 1964 the transition from Empire to Commonwealth seem to represent a significant achievement.
What country you became first African colony to be granted independence in 1957
Ghana
