Chapter 7 - Britain’s position in the world, 1951-97
How successfully did Britain respond to international crises?
The Korean War, 1950-53
Britain joined a UN force to defend South Korea against invasion by Communist North Korea.
There were both advantages and disadvantages to Britain’s involvement.
Aims Results
Wanted to challenge communist aggression South Korea was protected.
to prevent another war. Had helped to resist communist aggression.
Remain a world power. Britain influenced decisions to invade Korea.
Show the effectiveness/ strength of the UN NATO was strengthened and established
and NATO, as Britain was a founding permanently, which tied the USA to the defence
member of both these organisations. of Europe.
If Britain failed to join, the US might
withdraw its commitment to NATO and the
defence of Europe.
Maintain a ‘special relationship’ with the Britain had demonstrated loyalty to the US.
USA. However:
As one official said, ‘Demonstrate to the Britain was only a junior partner, as political and
Americans that we were one of the two strategic control of the war was done by the US.
world powers outside Russia’. The British suffered 700 killed in action, but the
Americans had lost nearly 34,000.
British PM Clement Attlee flew to Washington
over fears that the US wouldn’t consult Britain
over the use of nuclear weapons.
Other failures:
The war was costly - 700 British and Commonwealth troops had been killed
Britain’s economic problems were worsened by high defence expenditure
The Suez Crisis (1956)
Britain allied with France and Israel to attack Egypt, whose ruler (Nasser) had nationalised the
Suez Canal. Previously, the British government had been the majority shareholder in the
company running it.
There were no successes.
, Aim Failure
Regain the Suez canal. The invasion failed. Nasser responded by
Nearly a ⅓ of the ships using the Canal were sinking ships in the canal, preventing its use.
British and more than ⅔ of the oil supplied to
western Europe passed through it.
Stop the spread of communism in the middle Nasser’s position was strengthened.
east.
Believed that Nasser wanted Egyptian The USSR condemned the invasion as
domination of the Middle East, and would imperialist and strengthened ties with Nasser.
allow the USSR to have influence in the
region.
Nasser was prepared to buy arms/ accept aid
from the USSR and was reluctant to follow
pro-western policies.
Maintain relations with the US. Eisenhower was furious that he had not been
Eden had assumed that the USA would consulted about the attack.
approve of the invasion. Insisted that Eden withdraw the invasion.
The invasion coincided with the USSR’s
invasion of Hungary and the Suez crisis made
it difficult for him to condemn the USSR.
Humiliation - led to Eden’s resignation.
Maintain status as an imperial power, Demonstrated that Britain was no longer a
reassert British influence in the Middle East. great imperial power that could act at its own
will.
Britain’s actions brought about much
international criticism:
- Even the British Cabinet recognised
that Nasser’s decision was not illegal.
(invasion seen as unjustified).
The Falklands Crisis, 1982
Aim Result
Britain sent a The Argentine forces surrendered and the military regime fell as a result.
force to retake Many admired the resolution and skill that Thatcher and the British army had
the Falklands displayed.
islands (a
British colony However,
in the South Argentine air force pilots succeeded in sinking several British ships.
Atlantic), e.g HMS Sheffield, killing 20 crew members.
, which had High financial cost of the war itself and Britain was left with the substantial
been occupied costs of maintaining a military presence and continuing to defend the islands.
by Argentina. Critics regarded the war as a costly enterprise of little significance.
Issue of sovereignty of the islands remains unresolved today.
Maintain world Thatcher boasted that her policies had restored Britain’s ‘greatness’ - defeat
role. would have ended any lingering ideas that Britain was still a great power.
British Reputation of British forces rose.
prestige as a
major power
was at stake.
Maintain good Thatcher gained support for military action from the UN, the EU, the British
relations with press and all political parties.
allies The UN Security Council (at Britain’s request) demanded the withdrawal of
Argentine forces, ensuring that Britain's actions were justified in law.
The European Community imposed sanctions on Argentina.
The US Defence Secretary was strongly pro-British and provided the task
force with weapons, vital military intelligence and the US air base on
Ascension Island.
However,
President Reagan did not think the islands were worth a war and the US
Secretary of State made intensive efforts to mediate.
The war reinforced the lesson of Suez - Britain couldn’t go to war without the
active support of the USA.
Other:
Thatcher’s popularity at home increased, contributing to her landslide election victory in 1983.
The Gulf War, 1991
Aim Result
Work as part of a US-led coalition to Coalition forces succeeded in liberating Kuwait.
liberate Kuwait after an Iraqi Britain provided the third largest contingent of troops to
invasion. the coalition, RAF planes played a significant part.
Protect oil supplies - if Iraq seized Fostered an ongoing commitment to maintaining
Saudi Arabia’s oil fields it would peace in the region.
have control over most of the world’s
supply. However,
Prevent further invasions from Action in Kuwait indirectly led to further war in Iraq in
Saddam Hussein, the Iraq leader. 2003, which had far greater consequences.
The war was seen by many in the Middle East as
How successfully did Britain respond to international crises?
The Korean War, 1950-53
Britain joined a UN force to defend South Korea against invasion by Communist North Korea.
There were both advantages and disadvantages to Britain’s involvement.
Aims Results
Wanted to challenge communist aggression South Korea was protected.
to prevent another war. Had helped to resist communist aggression.
Remain a world power. Britain influenced decisions to invade Korea.
Show the effectiveness/ strength of the UN NATO was strengthened and established
and NATO, as Britain was a founding permanently, which tied the USA to the defence
member of both these organisations. of Europe.
If Britain failed to join, the US might
withdraw its commitment to NATO and the
defence of Europe.
Maintain a ‘special relationship’ with the Britain had demonstrated loyalty to the US.
USA. However:
As one official said, ‘Demonstrate to the Britain was only a junior partner, as political and
Americans that we were one of the two strategic control of the war was done by the US.
world powers outside Russia’. The British suffered 700 killed in action, but the
Americans had lost nearly 34,000.
British PM Clement Attlee flew to Washington
over fears that the US wouldn’t consult Britain
over the use of nuclear weapons.
Other failures:
The war was costly - 700 British and Commonwealth troops had been killed
Britain’s economic problems were worsened by high defence expenditure
The Suez Crisis (1956)
Britain allied with France and Israel to attack Egypt, whose ruler (Nasser) had nationalised the
Suez Canal. Previously, the British government had been the majority shareholder in the
company running it.
There were no successes.
, Aim Failure
Regain the Suez canal. The invasion failed. Nasser responded by
Nearly a ⅓ of the ships using the Canal were sinking ships in the canal, preventing its use.
British and more than ⅔ of the oil supplied to
western Europe passed through it.
Stop the spread of communism in the middle Nasser’s position was strengthened.
east.
Believed that Nasser wanted Egyptian The USSR condemned the invasion as
domination of the Middle East, and would imperialist and strengthened ties with Nasser.
allow the USSR to have influence in the
region.
Nasser was prepared to buy arms/ accept aid
from the USSR and was reluctant to follow
pro-western policies.
Maintain relations with the US. Eisenhower was furious that he had not been
Eden had assumed that the USA would consulted about the attack.
approve of the invasion. Insisted that Eden withdraw the invasion.
The invasion coincided with the USSR’s
invasion of Hungary and the Suez crisis made
it difficult for him to condemn the USSR.
Humiliation - led to Eden’s resignation.
Maintain status as an imperial power, Demonstrated that Britain was no longer a
reassert British influence in the Middle East. great imperial power that could act at its own
will.
Britain’s actions brought about much
international criticism:
- Even the British Cabinet recognised
that Nasser’s decision was not illegal.
(invasion seen as unjustified).
The Falklands Crisis, 1982
Aim Result
Britain sent a The Argentine forces surrendered and the military regime fell as a result.
force to retake Many admired the resolution and skill that Thatcher and the British army had
the Falklands displayed.
islands (a
British colony However,
in the South Argentine air force pilots succeeded in sinking several British ships.
Atlantic), e.g HMS Sheffield, killing 20 crew members.
, which had High financial cost of the war itself and Britain was left with the substantial
been occupied costs of maintaining a military presence and continuing to defend the islands.
by Argentina. Critics regarded the war as a costly enterprise of little significance.
Issue of sovereignty of the islands remains unresolved today.
Maintain world Thatcher boasted that her policies had restored Britain’s ‘greatness’ - defeat
role. would have ended any lingering ideas that Britain was still a great power.
British Reputation of British forces rose.
prestige as a
major power
was at stake.
Maintain good Thatcher gained support for military action from the UN, the EU, the British
relations with press and all political parties.
allies The UN Security Council (at Britain’s request) demanded the withdrawal of
Argentine forces, ensuring that Britain's actions were justified in law.
The European Community imposed sanctions on Argentina.
The US Defence Secretary was strongly pro-British and provided the task
force with weapons, vital military intelligence and the US air base on
Ascension Island.
However,
President Reagan did not think the islands were worth a war and the US
Secretary of State made intensive efforts to mediate.
The war reinforced the lesson of Suez - Britain couldn’t go to war without the
active support of the USA.
Other:
Thatcher’s popularity at home increased, contributing to her landslide election victory in 1983.
The Gulf War, 1991
Aim Result
Work as part of a US-led coalition to Coalition forces succeeded in liberating Kuwait.
liberate Kuwait after an Iraqi Britain provided the third largest contingent of troops to
invasion. the coalition, RAF planes played a significant part.
Protect oil supplies - if Iraq seized Fostered an ongoing commitment to maintaining
Saudi Arabia’s oil fields it would peace in the region.
have control over most of the world’s
supply. However,
Prevent further invasions from Action in Kuwait indirectly led to further war in Iraq in
Saddam Hussein, the Iraq leader. 2003, which had far greater consequences.
The war was seen by many in the Middle East as
