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 islands on April 2nd, 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 British, under [[Margaret Thatcher]], put together a naval expedition to travel half way around the world and retake the islands.  The Argentines had a great deal of time to solve the conflict peacefully as the British slowly came closer, but eventually conflict broke out when the British arrived.  The Argentines were no match for the British forces, who had a quick victory once their ground troops reached the island, although a weakness in the British vessels from missiles was uncovered during the conflict.  On June 15th the Falkland Islanders were liberated.  The embarrassing defeat for Argentina helped to hasten the downfall of the military government while in England Thatcher's party surged to victory in elections the following year.  255 British military personnel lost their lives.  Argentina still lays claim to the islands to this day, although they have never again tried to take them by force.

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 islands on April 2nd, 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 British, under [[Margaret Thatcher]], put together a naval expedition to travel half way around the world and retake the islands.  The Argentines had a great deal of time to solve the conflict peacefully as the British slowly came closer, but eventually conflict broke out when the British arrived.  The Argentines were no match for the British forces, who had a quick victory once their ground troops reached the island, although a weakness in the British vessels from missiles was uncovered during the conflict.  On June 15th the Falkland Islanders were liberated.  The embarrassing defeat for Argentina helped to hasten the downfall of the military government while in Britain Thatcher's party surged to victory in elections the following year.  255 British military personnel lost their lives.  Argentina still lays claim to the islands to this day, although they have never again tried to take them by force.

France and Spain have previously laid claim to the islands.

France and Spain have previously laid claim to the islands.