Changes

==Sovereignty==

==Sovereignty==

The Islands have been a territory of the [[United Kingdom]] for 170 years, but the British claim to sovereignty is disputed by Argentina. A war was fought over the issue when Argentina seized the under defended islands on April 2, 1982 without warning.  Argentina was run by a military junta at that time and was experiencing a time of economic difficulties and social unrest at home. The new government in Argentina saw capturing of the peaceful Falklands as a perfect solution to the social problems that were happening at the time. The military junta was suported by the [[Communist]] [[Soviet Union]].

The Islands have been a territory of the [[United Kingdom]] for 170 years, but the British claim to sovereignty is disputed by Argentina. A war was fought over the issue when Argentina seized the under defended islands on April 2, 1982 without warning.  Argentina was run by a military junta at that time and was experiencing a time of economic difficulties and social unrest at home. The new government in Argentina saw capturing of the peaceful Falklands as a perfect solution to the social problems that were happening at the time. The military junta was supported by the [[Communist]] [[Soviet Union]].

The British, under [[Margaret Thatcher]], put together a naval expedition to travel approximately 8,000 miles and retake the islands.  Strenuous diplomatic efforts were made to resolve the issue, and the Argentines were given a great deal of time to solve the conflict peacefully as the British slowly came closer, but their refusal to recognise the Islands' right of self-determination forced the British to use military force to expel the invaders.  British long-range air attacks (against the Islands' airport, then being used by the Argentinian air force) did not begin until 1 May, a month after the initial Argentinian invasion, with the naval battle beginning the following day.

The British, under [[Margaret Thatcher]], put together a naval expedition to travel approximately 8,000 miles and retake the islands.  Strenuous diplomatic efforts were made to resolve the issue, and the Argentines were given a great deal of time to solve the conflict peacefully as the British slowly came closer, but their refusal to recognise the Islands' right of self-determination forced the British to use military force to expel the invaders.  British long-range air attacks (against the Islands' airport, then being used by the Argentinian air force) did not begin until 1 May, a month after the initial Argentinian invasion, with the naval battle beginning the following day.