Topic 4: FP (1979-87) Flashcards
1
Q
3
Describe the Falklands War
A
- Argentian dictator Galteri invaded Falkland Islands in April 1892
- Belligerent Thatcher overruled concilliatory FO and Lord Carrington (FS) resigned 3 days after invasion for failing to recognise threat
- Sent Task Force to South Atlantic
2
Q
4
Describe the sinking of the Belgrano
A
- Argentinian warship Belgrano sunk for heading towards imposed exclusion zone
- Yet sunk outside exclusion zone
- 368 Argentinian crew members died
- HMS Sheffield sunk in retaliation
3
Q
3
Describe the end of the Falklands War
A
- South Georgia recaptured by April
- By June, the Falklands were recpatured and Argentina surrendered
- 2-month war marked first military victory since 1950s, evoking past imperial triumphs
4
Q
3
Describe public support for the Falklands War
A
- Opinion polls at time indicated 83% public support for war
- Patriotic fervour swept up right wing press
- e.g. Sun ran headline ‘Gotcha!’ following Belgrano sunking
5
Q
2
Describe how the UK used the special relationship in the Falklands War
A
- USA allowed use of air base on Ascension Island
- Provided anti-radar weapons, sidewinder missiles and military intelligence
6
Q
5
Describe the failures of the Falklands War
A
- 225 British lives lost with 800 casualties
- Cost estimated at £1.6bn
- Thatcher could not meet 3% defence spending target (excluding Falklands costs) that Callaghan had agreed to
- Exposed flaws in military and intellgience capabilities
- Exposed reliance on US
7
Q
3
Describe Thatcher’s importance of the special relationship
A
- Thatcher founded FP on special relationship rather than European alliance
- ‘Special relationship’ had meaning for 1st time since Macmillan
- Agreement over trade/regional policy in areas such as Latin America
8
Q
3
Describe the Thatcher-Reagan relationship
A
- Ideological and personal soulmates
- United on most issues: Falklands, deployment on cruise missiles, strong stance on USSR
- Yet division over US invasion of Grenada in 1983
9
Q
4
Describe defence policies under Thatcher (1979-87)
A
- Britain pledged to build 5 new submarines
- US would supply 13 Trident missiles per submarine
- Revived debates over ‘British independent deterrent’
- Defence Sec (1983-86) Heseltine promoted image of Tories being strong on defence to counter pacificism of Labour
10
Q
3
Describe changes to the British deterrent
A
- Polaris system had become obsolete
- Dec 1979, Carter offered Britain new Trident system as replacement
- 1980, Thatcher accepted deal at cost of £5bn over 10 years (soon spiralled to £10bn)
11
Q
6
Describe defence cuts under Thatcher
A
- 1980s defence policy characterised by pressure to increase NATO expenditure and cut back expensive military
- Callaghan had committed to increasing NATO spending by 3% in real terms until 1986
- Economic issues, costs of weaponry and mounting service pay forced reconsideration
- Royal Navy became focus of planned expenditure cuts
- 1981 White Paper had proposed sale of new aircraft carrier Invincible to Australia, reducing carrier fleet to 2 vessels
- Falklands War delayed/cancelled plans
12
Q
4
Describe controversy over the stationing of US missiles
A
- Controversy over decision to station 96 radar-evading cruise missiles at US bases in Britain (decision taken by Callaghan govenment) from 1983
- Decided in response to USSR stationing of missiles in Central Europe
- CND saw highest spike in populairty since 1960s (e.g. UDI demonstration at Greenham Common)
- 1983, 200k marched with CND in London to oppose nuclear weapons
13
Q
3
Describe the US invasion in Grenada
A
- 1983, US invaded Grenada without first notifying Britain
- Put special relationship under some strain
- Yet overall, relationship remained strong (thanks to Reagan-Thatcher bond)
14
Q
4
Describe the bombing of Libya
A
- 1986
- Thatcher allowed USA to use British bases for long range attacks
- Argued bombing was to dislodge Gaddafi regime
- Gaddafi survived with significant civilian casualties)
15
Q
3
Describe the context of Cold War in 1979
A
- By 1979, Soviet Union assumed to be winning Cold War (e.g. Marxist turn in Zimbabwe)
- Yet 1979 USSR invasion of Afghanistan exposed reality that Soviet military was overstretched
- Thatcher/Reagan (in 1980) used weakness to direct rising tensions and rhetoric after decade of detente
16
Q
5
Describe the ‘New Cold War’
New Cold War is post-Afghanistan
A
- NATO military exercises in North Atlantic
- Cruise missiles stationed in Europe
- Soviet jets shot down Korean passenger jet that had strayed into Soviet airspace in 1983
- US plan for ‘Star Wars’ anti-missile shield - proposed in 1983
- 1985 spy scandal saw rival spies expelled from both Moscow and London
17
Q
2
Describe the response to the fear of a nuclear attack
A
- Published ‘Protect and Survive’ booklets, informing public what to do in case of a nuclear attack
- BBC TV drama, Threads, gave documentary-style account of aftermath of nuclear attack
18
Q
5
Describe the role of Thatcher in easing Cold War tensions (1983-87)
A
- 1984, met Gorbachev and claimed ‘he and I can do business together’
- Won international admiration for encouraging Reagan to negotiate with Gorbachev
- 1986 Reykjavik Summit between the 2 leaders proved positive and laid the groundwork for future agreements
- Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty 1987
- defence spending increases
19
Q
3
Oultine defence spending increases under Thatcher
A
- Outmatched USSR spending
- Real terms increases throughout 1980s
- Peaked at £54.1bn in 1984/85
20
Q
4
Describe the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty 1987
A
- arms control agreement between US and Soviet Union
- limited short-range weapons
- cut 1692 missiles across US and USSR
- began process of mutual disarmament
21
Q
5
Describe relations with Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia) under Thatcher
A
- Under heavy FO pressure, Thatcher forced to make concessions to black nationalists
- 1979 elections went ahead despite guerilla activity from Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe
- Ian Smith largely served constitutional role since 1978 Internal Settlement and stepped down following GE loss in June
- Nov 1979, British sanctions ceased and Zimbabwe given legal independence despite Thatcher unwillingness given guerilla activities
- 1980 elections gave huge majority to Marxist Mugabe and ZANU
22
Q
3
Describe the impact of Zimbabwe’s end of white supremacist rule on British relations with Africa
A
- Relations with Black African states improved after Smith left office
- Thatcher gained personal popularity following appearance at Commonwealth Conference in Lusaka, 1979
- Formed close relationship with President Kaunda of Zambia
23
Q
3
Describe Thatcher’s policy towards Africa
A
- Clashed with African states by resisting calls for economic sanctions on South Africa
- Argued that sanctions would do more harm to black majority
- Britain continued to support sporting and cultural events in Africa
24
Q
6
Describe the Thatcher’s attitude to Europe in 1979
A
- Pro-marketeers welcomed her ascension having ran on manifesto claiming there was no alternative to the EEC and having previously expressed support for the EMS
- Yet adopted nationalist attitude to EEC, seekin to ‘win arguments’ in Brussels to increase popular support
- Frequently clashed with European heads of state
- Saw EEC as a vehicle to consolidate Western Europe against Communist threat
- Wished to develop EEC defence activity and FP further, but resisted economic integration
- Reflected preference for special relationship (see Westland Affair)
25
Q
5
Describe the Dublin Summit (EEC) 1979
A
- Thatcher was highly belligerent in her demands for a refund of British contributions, damaging relations with Germany and France
- Offered £350m rebate - rejected offer against FO advice
- By mid-1982 she allowed Carrington and Gilmour to finalise negotiations, though not to her liking
- Compromises over budget and agricultural policy
- Approach hailed by right-wing press
26
Q
3
Describe the EMS
A
- Countries linked currencies to prevent large fluctuations in value
- Done through ERM
- Aimed to foster continental financial stability
27
Q
4
Describe Thatcher’s attitude towards the ERM in her first term
A
- Continued to resist joining despite past Conservative criticism of Callaghan’s refusal to join
- Monetarist policies contradicted those of EEC members
- High oil prices in 1979, high inflation and volatile interest rates would confirm refusal to be beneficial
- from 1979-83, numerous alterations in ERM’s central rate failed to produce currency stability until the mid-1980s
28
Q
3
Describe the European Parliament Elections 1979
A
- 1st direct European elections
- British turnout at 34% - lowest in Europe
- General feeling that membership had brought no great economic gains
29
Q
4
Describe EEC policy success under Thatcher (1979-83)
A
- Deteriorating relationships with France and Germany relieved by appointment of new premiers: Mitterand and Kohl
- Steps taken to reduce overproduction of CAP
- Settlement, though not generous, reached on fishing quotas
- General EEC support over Falklands policy
30
Q
3
Describe EEC policy divergence under Thatcher (1979-83)
A
- By 1982, Thatcher criticised CAP’s wastefulness and Britain vetoed farm price increases (though overriden by majority of members)
- France talked of excluding Britain from new initiatives, creating a 2-tier Europe
- Divisions possibly encouraged French/German dicussion on supranational integregation which ultimately led to Thatcher’s downfall in 1990
31
Q
4
Describe Britain’s relationship with the EEC by 1983
A
- By 1983, accepted that EEC membership had not achieved great benefits for Britain with little growth
- Labour advocated withdrawal in 1983 manifesto
- Recession of 1979-81 had strengthened Thatcher’s resolve to reduce EEC funding
- Jenkins had stepped down as Commission President in 1981 to form SDP - limited British influence in German/French dominated bloc
32
Q
5
Describe the rebate (BBQ - British Budgetary Question)
A
- Thatcher ignored French suggestions that Britain should concentrate trade in Europe to achieve better return on budget contribution
- BBQ dominated Community agenda
- 70% of EEC budget directed towards CAP, which offered little benefit to Britain as it had a small agriucltural sector
- Thatcher threatened to end all payments
- Fontainebleau Summit 1984 - agreed to 66% reduction in net budget contribution
33
Q
5
Describe Thatcher’s attitude to European integration (1979-87)
A
- Forward progress seemed possible once BBQ removed from agenda
- Thatcher proposed closer cooperation on FP, environmental policy
- Produced policy paper (‘Europe - the Future’) to end all non-tarriff barriers in single market
- Yet resisted strengthening of European political institutions
- Only Greeks and Danes joined Britain in resisiting further integration
34
Q
3
Describe the Single Market concept
A
- Free movement of goods, capital, services, people
- Would make EEC more competitive than US or Japan
- Required some uniform practices and regulations across EEC, managed by Brussels
35
Q
4
Describe Thatcher’s early attitude towards the Single Market
A
- Thatcher naturally supportive due to free-market ideology
- Yet rejected proposals for equalised VAT across EEC
- Agreed to achieve a single market by 1992
- Thatcher agreed to not use the veto on items necessary to achieve the deadline
36
Q
5
Describe the Single European Act 1986
A
- Committed EEC to Single Market by 1992
- Slight increase to power of the European Parliament to permit this
- Majority vote in Council of Ministers could overturn individual nation’s veto
- Would give EEC common identity (e.g. ‘Ode to joy’ - had been adopted 1985)
- Thatcher signed in 1985
37
Q
3
Describe problems with the Single European Act 1986
A
- Britain forced to sign wider set of reforms than had intended
- Deemed preferable to two-tier Europe that would exclude Britain from much European policy decisions
- Act contained promises of future action which’s significance was vastly underestimated, notably a common monetary union
38
Q
3
Describe closer relations with the EEC by 1987
A
Applicable to Topic 4 (1979-87) or Topic 5 (1987-97)
- Pragmatic considerations of Anglo-French trade and the provision of jobs in the South East
- Led to the building of the Channel Tunnel (construction would start in 1988)
- Howe and Lawson more sympathetic to monetary union than Thatcher
39
Q
4
Describe divisons over Europe within the Conservative Party (1979-87)
A
- No apparent schism over Europe in early 1980s due to pro-market cabinet
- Electoral success in 1983 and 1987 vindicated eurosceptic ideas of ‘dries’
- Westland Affair
- However SEA had little opposition (UUP MP Enoch Powell being one of its only promient conservative critics)
40
Q
3
Describe Thatcher’s clashes with her Foreign Office
A
- Distrusted ‘eurospeak’ FO
- Credit for resolving Zimbabwe issue really belonged to FO and Lord Carrington, whi had chaired the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement negotiations
- had made constitutional changes to address the limited political power of the black majority
41
Q
1
What was Powell’s criticism of the special relationship
A
Feared UK was becoming satellite of USA
42
Q
2
Describe the ‘Iron Lady’ nickname
A
Soviet Army journal ‘Red Star’ derogatorily named Thatcher the ‘Iron Lady’ following 1976 speech lambasting the Soviet Union.
Used by Thatcher as political weapon
43
Q
3
Describe Commonwealth relations under Thatcher
A
- 1979 Zimbabwe settlement showed signs of promise
- Yet failed due to Thatcher reluctance to apply trade sanctions on SA
- Yet in 1986 UK sanctions extended to include voluntary ban on tourism and new investment
