relations with europe Flashcards
when did eden help form the western european union and what was it
1954
helped western germany rearm without stirring up memories of german militarism
when was NATO created and who was in it
1949
usa and western european allies
why would joining the eec improve the special relationship with the us
the us thought it would help to have britain to act as a counterweight to the anti-us rhetoric of the french president charles de gaulle
when did de gaulle die
1970
what was heaths maiden speech in the house of commons in the 1950s
to advocate for britain joining the ecsc
why did heath quickly agree to terms to join the eec and when
another threat of devaluation due to the end of bretton woods (dollar based on gold) in 1971
when did britain join the eec
1st january 1973
when was the labour referendum to decide whether to stay in or leave the eec
1975
what was the outcome of the eec referendum
2:1 for remain
17 mill stay
8 mill leave
example of britain focussing economic opportunities on empire rather than europe
1947 tanganyika groundnut scheme
when did britain refuse to join the ecsc
1951
when and where did eden make a speech introduced euro-sceptism by stating that joining a european federation was ‘something whcih we know, in our bones, we cannot do’
columbia university 1952
when was the eec formed and from what treaty
1957 the treaty of rome
when was macmillans winds of change speech that incdicated the end of the british empire and the beginning of a new relationship with europe
1960
what were labour and tory views on the ecsc in the 1955 election (in their manifestos) and why
both opposed membership
labour: thought it was anti socialist
tory: thought it threatened national sovereignty
when and why did talks between britain and france having a free trade area break down
1956
britains withdrawal from the spaak committee
suez
dunkirk
when did macmillan try and join the eec
1961 and 1963
why didn’t de gaulle want britain to join the eec
claimed britain and us special relationship would threaten european independence
he also felt he was snubbed in world war two
when did macmillan create the efta and what was its impact
1960
seen as a rival to eec
was established deliberately to not infringe on sovereignity
when did wilson hold a parliament vote to enter eec and what was the outcome
1967
accepted 488 to 62
biggest majority for almost a century
when did wilson apply for eec
1967
why was a good relationship with europe important in the 60s compared to other countries
special relationship with us was under strain because of the vietnam war
strains with the commonwealth because of rhodesia
when did de gaulle and brown meet and what did de gaulle say
1966
‘two cocks living in one farmyard’
what was significant of the timing of de gaulles veto of wilson’s application to the eec
november 1967 - a week after devaluation
what were the issues with the terms heath agreed to when joining the eec
britain would need to subsidise any potential damage caused to french farmers
when and why did roy jenkins resign
1973
the decision of labour to support conservative rebels on the issue of a referendum
what helped iron out divisions in the labour party over the eec
holding a referendum
who opposed joining the eec
powell
labour (officially)
benn and foot (specific labour)
the tuc
ian paisley dup
group of tory backbenchers
main arguments to opposing joining the eec
protect workers rights, loss of sovereignty and independence, cost of living would rise
who supported joining the eec
roy jenkins, heath, jeremy thorpe (liberal), thatcher
most of the press
businesses
how many company chairmen wanted to leave the eec
only 4 out of 419
what was the main argument for joining the eec
benefit british economy and give britain a greater voice in the world
impact of the referendum for europe
soem worried that the referendum showed a lack of commitment
impact do the referendum for tories
high point of unity - but many backbenchers worried about brussels power over parliamentary sovereignty
impact of the referendum for labour
although it avoided a split in the short term, the party moved very left and became increasingly anti europe
what is parliamentary sovereignty
parliament is the supreme legal authority in britain which can create or end any law
