foreign relations

Question 1

schuman plan

Answer 1

set out proposals for a coal and steel community that would inegrate French and Germany heavy industry

aim to promote rapid economic reconstruction

Question 2

why didnt britain initially get involved

Answer 2

very few politicians in favour of Britain taking up a leadership role in europe

believed it was an issue for continental europe

assumption britain was still a great world power

britain wanted to keep its special relationship with america

Question 3

left view of european involvement

Answer 3

suspicious of free market principles behind the common market

Question 4

right view of european involvement

Answer 4

regarded the trade links with australia, candada and new zealand as more important

Question 5

treaty of rome

Answer 5

1957
launched the EEC

britain observed but not join

Question 6

shift in british attitudes

Answer 6

1960 britain took the lead in the formation of European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

Question 7

1961 application hopes

Answer 7

would bost industrial production

would increase industrial efficiency with greater competition

stimulate economic growth

Question 8

US opinion on british entry to EEC

Answer 8

keen

saw britain as a vital link between europe and america

Question 9

difficulty joining the eec

Answer 9

britain wanted to keep its position with the commonwealth and the US

EEC already had economic structures the UK found hard to conform too

Question 10

why didnt britain get accepted 1st time

Answer 10

Charles de Gaulle veto britain application

was a shock and other 5 members dissapointed

Question 11

post war government and nuclear

Answer 11

labour government committed britain to developing an independent nuclear deterrent

Question 12

US and nuclear power

Answer 12

stopped sharing nuclear assets with britain

if britain wanted to become a nuclear power, would have to do alone

Question 13

CND

Answer 13

formed in 1958

wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament

quickly became most powerful pressure group in UK

backed by many intellectuals

Question 14

CND demonstration

Answer 14

1958

8000 protestors

aldermaston in berkshire

Question 15

blue streak

Answer 15

britains own rocket project

abandoned in 1960

replaced by dependence on the American Polaris submarine weapon systems

Question 16

korea at end of ww2

Answer 16

occupied by soviet union in north, by US in south

2 seperate governments established, both claimed to be legitimate

Question 17

1950 invasion

Answer 17

forces from north korea supported by soviets and china, invaded the south

Question 18

UN action

Answer 18

condemned the action and sent UN forces to combat the invasion

Question 19

conclusion of korean war

Answer 19

ceasfire in 1953

Korea would be split between a communist North Korea and a non-communist South-Korea

Question 20

what did korean war demonstrate

Answer 20

britain’s willingness to continue to play a major role in world affairs
- despite economic restraints

US was greatest power

Question 21

suez canal

Answer 21

main connection for trade routs from the mediterranean to asia, austrialia and new zealand

VITAL for oil shipments
- 80% oil passed through suez

Question 22

Aswan Dam

Answer 22

US and Britiain planend to invest in it but pulled out in 1956

in response, Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company to provide finance for the Aswan Dam

Question 23

eden understanding of the situation

Answer 23

influenced by his belief that Britain was still an imperial power

saw nasser as an ‘evil dictator’

Question 24

secret plan

Answer 24

israel would invade egypt then Britain and france would intervene

concealed from parliament and the US

Question 25

excuse for suez intervention

Answer 25

enforce peace on Eygypt and israel

Question 26

real effect of suez invasion

Answer 26

seize control of the suez canal zone

Question 27

how did invasion of egypt go

Answer 27

badly at the start, but suceeded in the end

soon realised it was essential to pull out

Question 28

british reaction to suez

Answer 28

storm of political protests

labour opposed the conflict

anti-war protests were held

Question 29

US opinion on suez

Answer 29

opposed the action

Question 30

impact of US opinion

Answer 30

britiain were not strong enough to stand up to US pressure

Britian plunged into a financial crisis

Question 31

impact of suez - government

Answer 31

humiliated eden

lied to parliament and public

appeared weak

divided the conservative party

eden resiged in january 1957

Question 32

impact of suez - world position

Answer 32

highlighted britain’s inability to function without US support

provoked Khrushchev to threaten britaina

increased soviet influence over Egypt

Question 33

impact of suez - financial

Answer 33

canal closed for 5 months therefore british access to fuel and oil was limited

petrol rationing

unstable economy

Question 34

ghana

Answer 34

independent in 1957

first british african coloniy to be granted independence

Question 35

kenya

Answer 35

mau mau rebellion in 1952
assumed to be able to be squashed but too strong for british military

granted independence in 1963

Question 36

‘winds of change’

Answer 36

macmillan speech

capetown 1960

‘winds of change’ blowing through africa, change in polict and decolonisation

Question 37

was winds of change successful

Answer 37

yes

very swift

by 1964 the transition from empire to commonwealth seemed to represent a large achievement