What mistakes do students make with Britain's entry into and relations with Europe; the…?

Claiming Britain joined the EU in 1973. State that Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC), as the EU was not formally established until the 1993 Maastricht Treaty. Assuming the 'special relationship' with the USA was consistently strong throughout the 1970s. Acknowledge the significant cooling under Heath, who explicitly prioritised European integration over American alignment. Treating British attitudes towards all communist states as identical. Distinguish between the hostile stance towards the USSR, such as the 1971 expulsions, and the improving diplomatic relations with...

What are the exam tips for Britain's entry into and relations with Europe; the… in History AQA A-Level?

Use the 1975 EEC referendum to demonstrate how foreign policy was heavily influenced by domestic political management, particularly within the Labour Party. Contrast Heath's relationship with Nixon against Callaghan's relationship with Carter to evaluate the changing nature of the 'special relationship'. When discussing the USSR and China, contextualise Britain's actions within the broader Cold War framework of détente and the Sino-Soviet split.

AQA · A-Level · History

Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017

Britain's entry into and relations with Europe; the state of the 'special…

Full specification wording

2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 – The end of Post-War Consensus, 1970–1979: Britain's entry into and relations with Europe; the state of the 'special relationship' with USA; attitudes to USSR and China

During the 1970s, British foreign policy shifted significantly.

Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on 27 September 2026.

Point 4 of 4

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

Evaluate the significance of the 1973 EEC entry and the 1975 referendum in shaping Britain's European relations.
Analyse the fluctuations in the Anglo-American 'special relationship', contrasting Heath's European focus with Callaghan's Atlanticist approach.
Assess the impact of the 1971 expulsion of Soviet diplomats on Anglo-Soviet relations during the broader period of détente.
Explain the strategic and diplomatic reasons behind the normalisation of relations with the People's Republic of China in 1972.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Claiming Britain joined the EU in 1973.
Put it right: State that Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC), as the EU was not formally established until the 1993 Maastricht Treaty.
Assuming the 'special relationship' with the USA was consistently strong throughout the 1970s.
Put it right: Acknowledge the significant cooling under Heath, who explicitly prioritised European integration over American alignment.
Treating British attitudes towards all communist states as identical.
Put it right: Distinguish between the hostile stance towards the USSR, such as the 1971 expulsions, and the improving diplomatic relations with China.

Exam tips

Use the 1975 EEC referendum to demonstrate how foreign policy was heavily influenced by domestic political management, particularly within the Labour Party.
Contrast Heath's relationship with Nixon against Callaghan's relationship with Carter to evaluate the changing nature of the 'special relationship'.
When discussing the USSR and China, contextualise Britain's actions within the broader Cold War framework of détente and the Sino-Soviet split.

Try the lesson

The start of the 2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 – The end of Post-War Consensus, 1970–1979: Britain's entry into and relations with Europe; the state of the 'special relationship' with USA; attitudes to USSR and China lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

Under which Prime Minister did Britain formally enter the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

During the 1970s, British foreign policy shifted significantly. Edward Heath prioritised Europe, successfully negotiating Britain's entry into the EEC in 1973. Harold Wilson subsequently cemented this through the 1975 referendum, despite deep internal party divisions over sovereignty. Consequently, the 'special relationship' with the USA cooled; Heath notably refused to support Nixon during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, though Callaghan later restored warmer ties with Carter. Regarding the USSR, Britain maintained a firm stance, exemplified by the expulsion of 105 Soviet diplomats in 1971 for espionage. Conversely, attitudes towards China thawed in line with global détente, leading to the establishment of full ambassadorial relations in 1972. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Evaluate the significance of the 1973 EEC entry and the 1975 referendum in shaping Britain's European relations. Analyse the fluctuations in the Anglo-American 'special relationship', contrasting Heath's European focus with Callaghan's Atlanticist approach. Assess the impact of the 1971 expulsion of Soviet diplomats on Anglo-Soviet relations during the broader period of détente. Explain the strategic and diplomatic reasons behind the normalisation of relations with the People's Republic of China in 1972. A common slip: Claiming Britain joined the EU in 1973. Instead, State that Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC), as the EU was not formally established until the 1993 Maastricht Treaty. Exam tip: Use the 1975 EEC referendum to demonstrate how foreign policy was heavily influenced by domestic political management, particularly within the Labour Party.

See it

A top-down flowchart headed 'British foreign policy in the 1970s', branching into four strands. The Europe strand leads to Heath prioritising Europe and negotiating EEC entry in 1973, then to Wilson cementing entry through the 1975 referendum despite party divisions over sovereignty. The USA strand leads to the 'special relationship' cooling under Heath, then splits into Heath refusing to support Nixon during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and Callaghan later restoring warmer ties with Carter. The USSR strand leads to a firm stance, shown by the expulsion of 105 Soviet diplomats in 1971 for espionage. The China strand leads to attitudes thawing in line with global détente, then to full ambassadorial relations established in 1972. — This shows how British foreign policy in the 1970s divided into relations with Europe, the USA, the USSR and China, with the key developments under each.

Put the events in order

Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

1. Referendum cemented Britain's EEC membership
2. Expulsion of Soviet diplomats for espionage
3. Britain negotiated entry into the EEC
4. Full ambassadorial relations established with China

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart headed 'British foreign policy in the 1970s', branching into four strands. The Europe strand leads to Heath prioritising Europe and negotiating EEC entry in 1973, then to Wilson cementing entry through the 1975 referendum despite party divisions over sovereignty. The USA strand leads to the 'special relationship' cooling under Heath, then splits into Heath refusing to support Nixon during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and Callaghan later restoring warmer ties with Carter. The USSR strand leads to a firm stance, shown by the expulsion of 105 Soviet diplomats in 1971 for espionage. The China strand leads to attitudes thawing in line with global détente, then to full ambassadorial relations established in 1972.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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