THATCHER 1979-90 CHAPTER 16

Question 1

THE FALKLANDS

• Has been a British colony and naval base since 1833.
• Ownership of the islands had been claimed by Argentina since

Answer 1

independence in 1817 based on previous Spanish claims.

Question 2

THE FALKLANDS

• By 1970s, the islands no longer had much strategic inheritance, and the foreign office was prepared to negotiate with Argentina over the future of the British Isles, but the islanders were keen to

Answer 2

remain British.

Question 3

THE FALKLANDS

• 1981 foreign secretary lord Carrington approved the withdrawal of HMS Endurance, leaving south Atlantic

Answer 3

without British naval presence.

Question 4

THE FALKLANDS

• The Argentinian military group in power since 1976 too this as a hint that Britain was letting the Falkland’s off.
• The leader general Gualtieri

did what

Answer 4

sent an invasion force to occupy the islands claiming Argentinean sovereignty.

Question 5

THE FALKLANDS

wining back the islands by force would be difficult and dangerous; but despite this, thatcher immediately announced that a naval task force would be set to

Answer 5

remove Argentinian forces and assert the right of the islanders to self-determination.

Question 6

THE FALKLANDS

thatcher’s decision sent her previously unpopular government

Answer 6

soaring in the opinion polls, and the patriotic national mood took most people including TV reporters at the scene.

Question 7

THE FALKLANDS

• 2 may - chances of a peaceful settlement disappeared when a British submarine sank an Argentinian battleship causing heavy losses of life.
• Many applauded the action, but anti-war protesters claimed..

Answer 7

that the sinking had been unnecessary and designed to finish of the chances of a peaceful outcome.

Question 8

THE FALKLANDS

• It was also necessary to get assurances of support from the United States  would be impossible to fight battles 8000 miles from home without the use of American bases like Ascension Island.
• Unlike Suez in 1956,

Answer 8

the Americans gave the green light to go ahead  strengthened the special relationship and the personal ties between Thatcher and Reagan.

Question 9

THE FALKLANDS

• American diplomatic intervention was crucial in preventing the Argentine forces from obtaining enough missiles to severely weaken the British task force.
• On 21 May,

Answer 9

British troops landed at San Carlos Water, the passage between East and West Falkland.

Question 10

THE FALKLANDS

• Once the landings were secured, however, victory was certain.
• The Argentine forces

Answer 10

surrendered on 14 June.

Question 11

THE FALKLANDS

The impact on Britain’s foreign position was less clear-cut:

2 sides

Answer 11

• Thatcher’s critics believed that the war was unnecessary because Britain would sooner or later end up negotiating a deal with Argentina over the Falklands.
• On the other hand, the psychological impact was important.

Question 12

THE FALKLANDS

In the 1970s, Britain’s international position had seemed to be in decline; now there was a resurgence of national pride in Britain.

this was not true for everyone - why

Answer 12

This was not true for everyone: some objected to the gloating of the tabloids and what they saw as Thatcher’s triumphalism in celebrating victory as if it was the Second World War all over again.

Question 13

THE FALKLANDS

Diplomatic relations with Argentina reopened in

when - what did this mean

Answer 13

1989
Overall, the Falklands was merely a blip in world affairs.

Question 14

THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA

There was a strong bond between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, both personal and ideological.

how

Answer 14

Both were from the generation whose lives had been shaped by the Second World War - Thatcher was particularly influenced by her wartime memories. Her view of twentieth-century history revolved around the idea that American armies had twice ridden to the rescue after those Europeans had made a mess of things.

Question 15

THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA

Throughout the 1980s, on issues such as the Falklands War, deploying Cruise missiles and being tough with the USSR, the Thatcher- Reagan link was powerful.

example - in 1986

Answer 15

Thatcher gave permission for the US to use British air bases to bomb Libya despite it being an unpopular decision in Britain.

Question 16

THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA

However, there were still some differences
- give an example

Answer 16

in 1983 the US invaded Grenada after a Communist coup against the advice of Thatcher.

Question 17

MOVES TO END THE COLD WAR

By the late 1970s the West seemed to be losing the Cold War.

how?

Answer 17

When Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979, it was thought in the West that this was a dangerous threat to Western interests.

Question 18

THATCHER AND THE SECOND COLD WAR 1979-85

Nobody in the West knew how weak the Soviet Union was at this time.
Between 1979 and 1981, three new ‘cold warriors’ emerged

who?

Answer 18

, a British prime minister, a Polish Pope, and an American president, each determined to challenge Soviet power, both militarily and ideologically.

Question 18

MOVES TO END THE COLD WAR

After the opening of Soviet archives from 1991, it became obvious that the Soviet Union was on its last legs by the early 1980s, hopelessly overstretched militarily and led by

Answer 18

a generation of old men eking out the last days of their power.

Question 19

THATCHER AND THE SECOND COLD WAR 1979-85

1983  200, 000 people marched with CND in London to oppose nuclear weapons.
Similar demonstrations were held across Europe, including one with

Answer 19

600,000 people in West Germany.

Question 19

THATCHER AND THE SECOND COLD WAR 1979-85

The new Cold War began. It was marked by tough rhetoric and rising tension.

Thatcher’s willingness to support the United States can be seen by her agreement to the deployment of US cruise missiles in Britain.

what were they? what did they do

Answer 19

Cruise missiles were remote-controlled rockets carrying powerful warheads and capable of hitting targets from many hundreds of miles away. They were later to play a prominent part in the First Gulf War of 1991. Stationing the missiles in Britain was part of the deliberate policy of deterrence: stoking up the pressure on the USSR and convincing the Brezhnev regime that it was impossible to keep pace with the West in the new high-technology arms race.

Question 20

THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87

Margaret Thatcher’s contribution to ending the Cold War rested on three pillars:

Answer 20

• her combative style and determination to confront the USSR in the early 1980s.
• her willingness to negotiate with the new reformist Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, from 1985
• above all, the fact that Thatcher’s foreign policy was founded on Britain’s special relationship with the United States.

Question 21

THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87

Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
He was a realist who knew things could not go on as they were.
Gorbachev made a remarkable impression on the hard-line conservatives, Thatcher and Reagan

what did she say about him

Answer 21

Thatcher met Gorbachev for the first time in 1984 and declared herself to be impressed. ‘I like Mr Gorbachev’, she said, ‘He and I can do business together.

Question 22

THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87

Thatcher encouraged Reagan to negotiate with Gorbachev and in 1986, at the Reykjavik summit, Reagan and Gorbachev discovered that

Answer 22

each was prepared to make compromises. Although that meeting ended without agreement, it paved the way for future progress.

Question 23

THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87

1987  the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in Washington. This historic treaty

did what

Answer 23

limited short-range weapons and began a process of mutual disarmament.
The Cold War had not yet ended but for the first time in many years it appeared an end might be possible.

Question 24

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

Thatcher’s relations with the EEC were marked by many contradictions.

handbag diplomacy

Answer 24

• There were occasions when her ‘handbag diplomacy’ caused consternation and ruffled the consensual politics favoured by other European leaders.

Question 25

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

but there were also many issues on which Britain cooperated closely with Europe:

channel tunnel project

Answer 25

• Thatcher established a good working relationship with the French president, Mitterrand (president from 1981 to 1995). They cooperated closely over the Channel Tunnel project, which was agreed in 1986 (opening in 1994). Sharing in the creation of such a symbolic link between Britain and France was hardly proof of any anti- Europeanism on Thatcher’s part.

Question 26

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

• Thatcher’s firs priority in Europe was to secure a better deal for Britain over financial contributions to the EEC

why

Answer 26

Britain was paying in much more to the EEC than being returned in benefits.

Question 27

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

• Thatcher’s persistent campaign for Britain to be given a rebate (paid back) eventually achieved success in 1984.

impact?

Answer 27

It played well to her supporters at home but irritated some of her European partners.

Question 28

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

• In 1986 Thatcher negotiated the Single European Act with the other members of the EEC  this was the most important piece of European legislation since the United Kingdom had joined. Thatcher was enthusiastic about the Single European Market when it was negotiated in 1985 to 1986.

what did it mean?

Answer 28

• It changed the Assembly into the European Parliament and mentioned the possibility of future European monetary union (a shared currency across the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty set out the conditions for this. It came into being in 1999).

Question 29

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

pros and cons of the single european market?

Answer 29

• For Thatcher and her supporters, it would make a free market in Europe a reality.
• But at the same time, in hindsight, it is obvious that it also surrendered some elements of British sovereignty.

Question 30

THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE

• In 1987 it was clear that the Conservative Party still appeared to be

pro or anti europe?

Answer 30

a broadly pro-European party and Britain’s future was clearly within the EEC.

Question 31

DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE

• When Thatcher first became prime minister the divisions in the Conservative Party were between the ‘wets’ and the ‘dries’.

who became dominating?

Answer 31

• As the decade progressed the ‘dries’ started to dominate the Conservative Party. Thatcherite ideas had prevailed.

Question 32

DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE

• Electoral successes in 1983 and 1987 and the improvements in the economy vindicated Thatcher’s leadership. The Conservative Party appeared

Answer 32

united behind their leader.

Question 33

DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE

• it was not apparent that a serious schism would emerge over Europe. During the early 1980s, most cabinet ministers were

Answer 33

pro-European and favoured its expansion.

Question 34

DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE

• The creation and strengthening of a free market across the members of the European Economic Community was in line with Thatcherite economic goals.

what was the westland affair was about?

Answer 34

the Westland affair was, in part, about whether European ties should be encouraged above other ties.

Question 35

DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986

On the surface, the Westland affair was about who would take over the failing British helicopter company Westland. However, what this dispute really showed were

Answer 35

deep divisions about the role in government in economic decisions, Thatcher’s style of leadership and Britain’s relationship with Europe.

Question 36

DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986

what did thacther and heseltine want?

difference between who they wanted the takeover from

Answer 36

Michael Heseltine, the Defence Secretary, favoured a takeover from a European consortium.
Thatcher favoured no interference from government even if that meant the company would go to the US company Sikorsky.

Question 37

DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986

Heseltine believed that Thatcher blocked discussion about the decision in cabinet and would not let concerns about a US takeover be made public.

what did he then do?

Answer 37

He stormed out of a cabinet meeting and resigned.
Thatcher later said that this crisis was the closest she ever came to resigning.

Question 38

DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986

However, when the Single European Act was debated in Britain, there were only a few Conservative backbenchers such as

who spoke against it

Answer 38

Enoch Powell who spoke against it.

Question 39

THATCHER AS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE

Margaret Thatcher was not very experienced in foreign affairs when she became prime minster.
By 1987 she was a respected stateswoman:

nickname? why?

Answer 39

Her tough stance against the Soviets earned her the nickname the Iron Lady and she gained admiration across the world for being instrumental in bringing Gorbachev and Reagan together.

Question 40

THATCHER AS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE

Supporters pointed to her revival of the special relationship with the USA.
Other people thought she would not stand up to Reagan;

what did the Labour politician Denis Healey call her and why?

Answer 40

called her ‘Reagan’s poodle’ and Enoch Powell, for example, feared the UK was becoming a satellite of the USA.

Question 41

THATCHER AS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE

Her combative style in Europe won Britain a rebate, although this style also limited her allies.
But at the same time, she had shown herself willing to

Answer 41

work with her European allies in strengthening the EEC.