Political Developments: Developments with Nuclear Weapons Flashcards
What was agreed between Britain and the USA in 1944?
Churchill and Roosevelt would continue nuclear collaboration after WWII
What happened to the nuclear collaboration agreement after Roosevelt’s death?
Truman, the new President, went back on it
What was nuclear capacity seen as by Britain?
A key to staying on the ‘top table’
What year did Britain do their first atomic bomb test?
1952
What year did America test their hydrogen bomb?
1952
When did Britain test their first megaton bomb? Who helped?
1957, with help from America
What did Sandys’ 1957 White paper show about the benefit of nuclear weapons to Britain?
Nuclear weapons were cheaper than armies
What year did Macmillan agree to the stationing of 60 American nuclear missiles in Britain?
1957
What could be the long term significance of what Macmillan allowed?
Although UK and US would need to consent to launch, if America needed to quick, Britain could do it for the USA
What happened to Britain’s personal nuclear programme? When? Why?
Blue Streak Missile Programme was cancelled in 1960 due to the cost
What nuclear missiles did Macmillan by from America? What year?
Polaris Missiles, 1962
Which side of Labour heavily opposed nuclear weapons? Who supported nukes?
Left, but the leading Labour side supported them
What was a significant event in Labour left opposition?
Nye Bevan nearly expelled in 1955 when opposing development of a hydrogen bomb
What was CND? What year was it formed?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Formed in 1958
What did the CND try and get Britain to do in 1960?
The CND tried to get Britain to leave NATO
What did Labour pass in their party in 1960?
Unilateralist resolutions
What happened to what was passed by Labour in 1960?
Gaitskell passionately campaigned to reverse unilateralism in 1961
What had happened to the CND by 1964?
It had mostly disappeared
Due to the CND being weakened by 1964, what was the benefit for Labour?
It likely helped the ability for Labour to win the 1964 election
How independent was Britain as a nuclear deterrent by 1964?
Only independent development of own atomic bomb 8 years after USA. USA help UK make a megaton bomb
What year did Britain test their own Hydrogen Bomb?
1957
What was the main class demographic of CND supporters?
Middle-class
How many people took part in the CND’s first march?
8000
