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British History - Topic 4 > Thatcher and Foreign Policy 1979-1987 > Flashcards

Thatcher and Foreign Policy 1979-1987 Flashcards

1
Q

What was the Falklands war?
- Key factor in their win

A
  • 1982 The Argentine dictator, Galtieri, expected little opposition to invasion - nope under Thatcher
  • A Task Force set off for the South Atlantic recapturing South Georgia by end of April
  • Helped by USA
  • By end of campaign, British had 6 ships sunk and 10 badly damaged
  • 255 British lives lost
  • with almost 800 casualties, many serious
  • cost of operation estimated at £1,600 million
  • exceeded since
  • 1982 Falkland capital had been recaptured
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2
Q

Controversy surrounding Falklands war?

A
  • Sinking of the Argentine ship, Belgrano at a time when it was sailing away from the conflict area + outside the british imposed exclusion zone
  • 368 crew members lost
  • Shortly after HMS Sheffield was sunk by an Exocet missile
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3
Q

Why did Thatcher respond to Falklands invasion?

A
  • Thatcher took her familiar belligerent stance
  • Opinion polls at the time indicated that military response had support of 83% of British public
  • Conservatives disliked Argentine government for being aggressive foreigners + labour attacked Galtieri’s regime
  • immense wave of patriotic fervour swept Britain
  • encouraged by right wing press
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4
Q

How did the US help britain win falklands war?

A
  • USA helped British win the war:
  • allowing use of US air base on Ascension Island
  • provided anti radar weapons
  • Sidewinder missiles
  • and military intelligence
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5
Q

Why was Falklands factor so impactful?

A
  • Triumph beyond all expectations for Thatcher
  • major factor for continuing her as PM
  • Seen as spectacular success
  • changed public and political climate:
  • a mood of self-confident patriotism enveloped nation as it basked in first military triumph since war
  • Tory Party became popular overnight, opinion polls showed 12.5 point lead over the Alliance; labour third place
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6
Q

Describe the special relationship between Thatcher and USA?

A
  • strong bond between Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
  • similar ideological beliefs
  • Thatcher-Reagan link powerful: particularly for Falklands War and Cold War
  • 1986 Thatcher gave permission for US to use British air bases to bomb Libya
  • They did differ in opinions over the US invasion of Grenada in 1983
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7
Q

Thatcher and Defence
- how was relation to America important to this?

A
  • Falklands
  • Agreement with America over trade policy + over regional policy in areas e.g Latin America
  • Needs of Britain and USA came closer together
  • The deal on Trident, to provide so-called “British independent deterrent”, symbolised this unity
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8
Q

What were the problems with NATO?

A
  • 1980s, defence policy torn between
  • pressure from NATO to increase expenditure
  • and realisation it could not maintain higher levels than trade rivals
  • Callaghan gov committed to spending extra 3% in real terms for NATO until 1986
  • Economic problems and spiralling costs of new weapons and service pay –> prevented
  • Royal Navy seen as target for expenditure cuts but Falklands War forced gov to postpone this option
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9
Q

What was the trident system?

why was it controversial?

A
  • Britain’s Polaris submarines were becoming obsolete
  • 1979, President Carter offered Britain new Trident system as replacement
  • 1980 deal accepted at £5 billion over 10 years
  • provoked furious controversy
  • Cost spiralled, soon to be assessed at £10 billion
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10
Q

What was the Cruise missiles issue?

A
  • Further Controversy fuelled by government decision to station 96 radar-evading Cruise missiles at US bases in Britain
  • to be divided between Greenham Common and Molesworth bases
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11
Q

How did the Cruise missile spark controversy?

A
  • Cruise injected new life into CND
  • passionate demonstrations
  • e.g series of demonstrations by feminists and other woman supporters of unilateral nuclear disarmament at Greenham Common
  • violent clashes between women and police
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12
Q

How did Thatcher keep the view of her regarding defence positive?

However?

A
  • tapped into nationalist sentiment
  • Defence Secretary, Michael Heseltine, promoted image of Tories as strong on defence
  • anti-Cruise demonstrations caused embarrassment for the left
  • she strengthened her rep as tough, determined champion of British national interests
  • iron lady
  • falklands conflict reinforced this
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13
Q

Second Term
What happened with Grenada?

A
  • 1984
  • the US invaded Grenada without prior notification to Britain
  • put special relationship under some strain
  • overall had little impact
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14
Q

Second Term
What happened with Libya?

A
  • 1986
  • In bombing of Libya Thatcher allowed the USA to use British bases for long range attacks
  • argued bombing was to dislodge Qaddafi regime thus justified
  • faced criticism
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15
Q

Second Term
What happened with Zimbabwe?

A
  • Under pressure, Thatcher made concessions to black nationalists opposed to white supremacist regime of Ian Smith
  • Elections would go ahead despite guerrilla activity from Joshua Nikomo and Robert Mugabe
  • Sancions would cease from Nov 1979
  • Zimbabwe to be given legal independence
  • This led to 1980 election in which victory went to huge majority to Marxist, Robert Mugabe and a legally elected Zimbabwean state created
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16
Q

Second Term
What were Britains relations more generally with Black African states?

A
  • improved (partially cuz of Zimbabwe)
  • Thatcher gained personal popularly following appearance at the Commonwealth Conference in Lusaka where she formed good relationship with President Kaunda of Zambia
17
Q

Second Term
What did Thatcher struggle with in terms of commonwealth relations + foreign office relations?

A
  • credit for resolving Zimbabwe situation really belonged to foreign office and Lord Carrington
  • and mediation of other heads of state
  • Viewed repeated British withdrawals from colonial territories since later 50s with growing impatient, directed at consensus men in FO and Carrington
  • anti-colonialist “Eurospeak” FO, in Thatcher’s pov was “not one of us”
  • Zimbabwe set future mood for distrust
18
Q

What was Britain’s position in South Africa?

A
  • played a part in maintaining boycott of cultural and sporting events in South Africa
  • Africa, like Europe, low in British priorities
19
Q

Second Term
The New Cold War - describe sequence of events

A
  • 1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
  • 1981: Roland Reagan wins US election
  • 1983: Cruise Missiles based at Greenham Common
  • 1984 Gorbachev becomes leader of USSR
  • 1986: Gorbachev launches perestroika and glasnost and summits with the US begin
  • 1986: Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland
20
Q

By late 70s how was west doing in Cold war?

A
  • seemed west was losing
  • when soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979
  • was thought that this was dangerous threat to western interests
  • disastrous venture, bleeding away what was left of Soviet military might
  • soviet unions was on last legs in early 1980s
21
Q

Who were the new cold warriors?

A
  • Between 1979 and 1981, three “new cold warriors” emerged
  • Thatcher, Polish Pope, and American President
  • determined to challenge soviets
  • marked by tough rhetoric and rising tension Thatcher willing to support US through deployment of cruise missiles in Britain
22
Q

Did Britain fear a nuclear attack?

A
  • Gov published Protect and Survive booklets: told people what to do in case of nuclear attack
  • BBC TV drama, Threads: documentary style account of aftermath of nuclear attack
  • When the Wind Blows; 1986 cartoon by Raymond Briggs sowed elderly couple preparing for nuclear attack
  • pop songs - Kate Bush, Sting etc
  • 1983: 200,000 marched with CND to London to oppose nuclear weapons
23
Q

What was Thatcher’s involvement in ending the New Cold War?

A
  • her combative style and determination to confront USSR in early 1980s
  • Willingness to negotiate with new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985
  • Thatcher FP was founded upon special relationship with US
24
Q

Describe Thatcher’s meeting with Gorbachev and the ending of the cold war

A
  • Met with Gorbachev in 1984
  • declared “I like Mr Gorbachev” “he and I can do business together”
  • encouraged reagan to negotiate with him in 1986
  • Reykjavik, R and G prepared to make compromise (meeting ended without agreement)
  • paved way for future progress
  • 1987: the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed in Washington
  • limited short-range weapons and began process of mutual disarmament
25
Q

What was Thatcher’s stance on Europe?

A
  • Marked by many contradictions
  • abrasive stance towards EEC matched lack of enthusiasm for enterprise
  • clashed with European heads of state over Britain’s contributions
26
Q

First Term
What were the attitudes in 1979?

A
  • Manifesto declared in favour of EEC membership and European Monetary System
  • She seemed to promise a decisive and positive attitude to Europe
  • However, she adopted a nationalistic approach to EEC issues
  • wanted to be seen “winning arguments” rather than seeking compromise
  • policy in line with traditional British foreign policy
  • suspicion of European commitments, strong defence and close alliance with America
  • represented free market, anti-state wing of Conservatism, determined to make Britain an enterprise economy
  • saw EEC as means to consolidate Western Europe against communism
27
Q

When and What was the Dublin Summit?

A
  • Dublin summit of EEC countries in Dec 1979
  • Thatcher was highly belligerent in demands for a refund of British contributions, damaging relations with Germany and France
  • 1982: allowed negotiations to be finalised by Carrington and Gilmour
  • compromises were not to her liking: over the budget and agricultural policy
  • right wing British press acclaimed Thatcher’s policy in Europe - success
28
Q

What happened with the ERM?

A
  • Exchange Rate Mechanism
  • Chancellor, Geoffrey Howe repeatedly stated Britain would join when conditions right
  • 1979 oil price rises high inflation and volatile interest rates produced economic problems throughout Europe
  • 1979-1983: many alterations in ERM’s central rate: failed to bring real currency stability until mid 80s
  • young suggests real reason of Thatcher’s refusal to enter scheme was desire for monetarism
29
Q

What was the European Parliament Elections?

A
  • first held in June 1979
  • Fewer people voted in Britain than anywhere else in community
  • EEC membership had brought no great economic gains to Britain since 1973
  • opinion polls showed growing dissatisfaction with Europe
  • Depression of 1979-81 worsened this
  • EEC had little economic growth and members divided on many issues
  • strengthened Thatcher’s Eurosceptisim
30
Q

Describe EEC Budget Contributions at first?

A
  • Determined to get back some money Britain contributed to EEC (budget contributions)
  • Antagonistic approach caused friction with other members
  • Thatcher ignored FO suggestions and held firm
  • The BBQ dominated Community agenda despite loads other vital issues: oil price inflation, recession, unemployment, Cold War
  • Thatcher rejected placatory offer of £760 million (against FO advice)
  • Slightly improved offer agreed
  • BBQ continued to dominate discussion for next 3 years (needed permanent settlement)
31
Q

Describe EEC Budget Contributions when matter was finally resolved?

A
  • 1984 disagreements reached point where Britain threatened to end all payments to EEC and French talked of excluding Britain from new EEC initiatives
  • Matter finally resolved at the Fontainebleau summit with both sides apparently realising the dangers of disagreements
  • Divisive nature of BBQ had deflected debate and possibly encouraged France and Germany to focus on supranational integration issues
32
Q

How was Thatcher regarding EEC policies?
- CAP
- Relations
- positives

A
  • CAP still caused disagreements
  • 1982: Thatcher had criticised its wastefulness and Britain vetoed farm price increases
  • Veto overridden by majority of EEC members
  • Two sides far apart
  • Britain took anti-soviet line by establishing close links with US
  • Deteriorating relations with France and Germany relieved by appointments of new PM which she did not develop relations with either
  • EEC did generally support Britain over Falklands
  • some steps taken to reduce agricultural overproduction under CAP
  • settlement reached on fishing quotas
33
Q

How was membership after 10 years?

A
  • 1983; 10 years of membership
  • generally accepted that EEC membership had not achieved great benefits for Britain; but no great losses either
  • Britain’s failings to expand trade; improve investment and develop new technologies blames on them not EEC (by pro-marketeers)
  • Labour pro-marketeers split to form SDP under Roy Jenkins
  • Labour proposed negotiated withdrawal - part of direction that helped decimate labours vote
34
Q

Give a summary of Thatcher and Europe

A
  • Pro Thatcher commentators praise her stance over BBQ
  • others concentrated on detrimental impact of EEC relations and delays in dealing with other issues
  • strong stance reinforced britain’s growing loss of power to EEC
35
Q

Second Term
What did Thatcher propose in her second term in relation to Europe

A
  • Thatcher advocated closer cooperation on foreign technical and environmental policies
  • significantly a “single market” to end all non-tariff barriers to trade
  • this entitled “Europe-the future”: her most pro-euro policy to date
  • britain’s aim’s to control spending clear
  • Thatcher opposed strengthening the European Parliament or the Commission
  • Britain stood out as reluctant to take part in deeper integration

British History - Topic 4 (4 decks)

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