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
With the 60 American missiles stationed in 1957, what did Britain need in order to launch them?
Needed consent from America
What year was the Blue Streak Missile program cancelled? Why?
1960, it was too expensive
What nuclear missiles did Macmillan by from America? What year?
Polaris Missiles, 1962
Which side of Labour heavily opposed nuclear weapons?
Left, but the leading Labour side supported them
What year was Nye Bevan almost expelled from Labour? Why?
1955, due to opposing the development of hydrogen bombs
What was CND? What year was it formed?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Formed in 1958
What year did the CND try to get Britain to leave NATO?
1960
What year did Labour pass unilateralist resolutions?
1960
How did Gaitskell respond to the unilateral resolutions passed by Labour?
Gaitskell tried to reverse them
What had happened to the CND by 1964?
It had mostly disappeared
What was the benefit for Labour of the CND being weakened by 1964?
It likely helped them to win the 1964 election
What year did Britain get help from the US to make a megaton bomb?
1957
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
