Foreign Relations Flashcards
Info that is on the specification
What does the EEC stand for?
European Economic Community
What is the purpose of the EEC?
To have an economic union within Europe
When did Britain attempt to join the EEC?
1961 - Macmillan
What happened to Britain’s EEC application?
rejected in 1963 by a veto from French president Charles De Gaulle
What does the EFTA stand for?
European Free Trade Association
What is the EFTA?
a free trade area set up in 1960 which served as an alternative to the EEC
When had Britain, the USA, and the USSR once been allies?
the second world war
Why did only Britain and the USA remain allies after WW2?
they both wanted to stop the spread of communism
What is Britain’s and the USA’s relationship often referred to as?
a special relationship
What event caused tension between the USA and the USSR?
The Cuban Missile Crisis
What event caused tension between the USA and Britain?
The Burgess and Maclean Affair
What was a consequence of this affair?
USA stopped sharing nuclear secrets
What did the labour government commit to Britain developing?
an independent nuclear deterrent
Which conservative prime minister continued the nuclear plans set out by labour?
Winston Churchill
When were the first tests for the atomic bomb and the ‘H’ bomb?
atomic = 1952
‘H’ = 1957
What group was formed that opposed nuclear advancements?
CND - Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
When was the CND set up?
1958
What did the CND aim for?
a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament
What status did the CND achieve in a very short amount of time?
the largest pressure group in Britain
When was the Korean War?
1950-1953
What two countries were involved in this war?
United States and Soviet Union
How was the land unofficially separated during this period of fighting?
US in the south and Soviets in the north
How did the north and south differ?
north (Soviets) - communist
south (US) - non-communist
What was the event that kick-started the war in 1950?
forces from the north (Soviets & China) invaded the south
What role did the United Nations play?
they agreed that the north had no place to invade so they 20+ countries sent troops to help the south (US)
How many soldiers did Britain send?
over 90,000 (second largest after US)
What was the end result of the war?
a stalemate which led to a ceasefire in 1953
What was a term of the ceasefire?
Korea would be split into North Korea & South Korea (communist & non-communist)
What did Britain’s contribution show about it as a country?
showed Britain’s willingness to play a major role in world affairs despite economic restraints
What key event happened in 1956?
Suez crisis
What is the Suez canal?
a main artery connecting trade routes - vital for oil shipment (80% of Western Europe)
What leader was a cause for concern for Britain’s strategic plans?
Colonel Nasser
What policy did Nasser strongly believe in?
nationalism
How did Eden (British PM) view Nasser?
as an ‘evil dictator who should not be allowed to get away with unprovoked aggression’
Which 3 countries were involved in this crisis?
Britain, France, and Israel
What was their plan?
- Israeli forces would invade Egypt
- British and French forces would then intervene
What is important to note about this plans?
they were hidden from both parliament and America
When did this operation take place?
29th October 1956
What was the reaction to this?
- public political protest (within Britain esp.)
- America opposed
What did Macmillan (as foreign secretary) realise?
it was vital to pull out to avoid a financial crisis/ American pressure
What happened to Eden’s reputation because of this failure?
severely damaged
What were the global consequences of this crisis?
- Britain’s reputation was questioned
- Highlighted Britain’s inability to act without American support
- Britain no longer being considered a world power
What happened in 1951 in regards to the British empire?
a retreat was already starting
What were Britain constantly fighting against as a consequence of still having their empire?
national independence movements - e.g., in Kenya and Cyprus
What rebellion took place in 1952?
Mau Mau Rebellion - Kenya
What was the Mau Mau rebellion?
a violent nationalist uprising
Which was the first British colony to gain independence?
Ghana - 1957
What was the famous speech given by Macmillan called?
Winds of Change
What was the point of the speech?
a call for decolonisation and recognition of independence
How was Macmillan’s speech received?
very successfully
