foreign relations

Question 1

what were Thatcher and Reagan viewed as + what views did they share?

Answer 1

political soulmates - they shared the same views e.g. emphasised new right and neoliberalism, both traditional + conservative

Question 2

evidence of a positive relationship between UK and US:

Answer 2

-initially the US was neutral in the falklands conflict but they then supported the UK, sending them weapons and allowing them to user US naval bases
-both western powers in the cold war, strongly anti-communist
-Thatcher was staunchly eurosceptic so she prioritised the relationship with america

Question 3

evidence of a negative relationship between UK and US:

Answer 3

-in the crisis in Grenada (where a communist government emerged) Reagan invaded Grenada without informing Thatcher - showed. clear power dynamic in the relationship
-Reagan felt like he was her superior, and the UK was seen as the junior power
-criticisms of relationship within politics - Healey said Thatcher was Reagan’s ‘poodle’, Powell saw the UK as a ‘US satellite state’

Question 4

what was Thatcher’s view on the Cold War?

Answer 4

-spoke out against communism
-was seen as a ‘cold war warrior’
-determined to challenge soviet power, but militarily and ideologically

Question 5

what did Thatcher allow Reagan to do in 1981?

Answer 5

deploy cruise missiles in Britain

Question 6

what was the UK public’s opinion of Britain’s involvement in the cold war?

Answer 6

-controversy and outrage that US missiles were being housed in the UK
-CND activism increased - 200,000 attended a peace protests in London 1983
-gov. issued ‘protect and survive’ manuals in 1985
-increased anti-nuclear messages in popular culture e.g. music by Kate Bush

Question 7

what was Thatcher’s relationship like with Gorbachev?

Answer 7

-they first met before he became premier in 1985
-he was younger and more open to compromise with western leaders
-he advocated openness and restructuring policies
-Thatcher encouraged Reagan to meet with Gorbachev in 1986

Question 8

what was the Reykjavik Summit?

Answer 8

-1986
-agreement that mutual disarmament was the way forward
-led to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed in 1987

Question 9

overall, sum up the UK and Thatcher’s involvement in the Cold War:

Answer 9

-Thatcher was instrumental in bringing together Reagan and Gorbachev, which did bring about the formal end to the war in 1989
-but Thatcher’s involvement was highly unpopular amongst the public