POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY: THE FALKLAND ISLANDS By: Caleb, Donald, Haley, Josh, and Michael

THE DISPUTE The Falkland Islands (also called the Islas Malvinas) is an archipelago whose sovereignty is claimed by both the United Kingdom and Argentina In 1981, a new general took over control of Argentina and realized that the country needed a boost to nationalism to distract its citizens from its lack of human rights In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands and other South Atlantic British posssessions The British retook all of their possessions and the war ended in an Argentine surrender

PHYSICAL BARRIERS No physical barriers were put in place due to this conflict The ocean makes an acceptable natural barrier Negotiation makes an acceptable diplomatic barrier

SIGNIFICANCE Cultural – primarily British culture Strategic – oil exploration, shipping Historical – the islands were at one time or another French, British, Spanish, or Argentine Natural Resources – oil, fish, sheep Economic – commercial fishing, tourism, little industry

RESULT Governmental Impact – protests expelled the Argentine military junta - The UK Conservative Party became more popular - UK Foreign Secretary resigned Cultural Impact – strengthened Falkland-UK relations Economic Impact – UK productivity increased by 3% - UK military investment and fishery development in Falklands Boundary Result – Status quo

LARGE SCALE MAP

WORLD MAP

THE FALKLANDS CAMPAIGN

FACTS Today, Argentina peacefully maintains a claim over the islands but the UK remains firmly present. British troops remain stationed on the islands where they patrol the areas, build roads, and monitor minefields The UK controlled the Falklands for 150 years prior to Argentina’s invasion on April 2, 1982 Casualties for the war include 655 Argentines, 355 Britons, and 3 Falkland Islanders Argentina has been claiming ownership over the islands since the 1800s Argentina planted some 25,000 mines on the islands over the course of the war, and while no people or animals have ever been killed by one, many remain to this day The war came to an end on June 14, 1982, when nearly 9,000 Argentine soldiers surrendered following the British capture of Stanley, the capital of the Falklands Britain’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, became very popular because of the country’s victory Full British citizenship was granted to residents of the Falkland Islands in 1983 The first action of the war came with declaration of a 200-mile exclusion zone around the Falklands

WORKS CITED BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | The Basics | past_elections | 1983: Thatcher triumphs again. (2005, April 05). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Department of History - Western Conflicts Since (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Conflicts Since 1958.aspx Falkland Islands Map. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from kingdom/falkland-islands/ Falkland Islands location on the World Map. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Hickman, K. (2014, December 13). A Guide to the Falklands War. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Key facts: The Falklands War. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Neild, B., & Gilbert, D. (2013, January 3). What lies behind renewed tensions over the Falkland Islands? Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Wilde, R. (n.d.). The Falklands War. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from