EFTA and EEC

Question 1

what did ww2 do to Britain?

Answer 1

left Britain badly damaged, and burdened with a lot of debt, the shadow of two military superpowers (USA and USSR)

Question 2

in 1947

Answer 2

britain’s ambassador in Washington had to inform the Americans that Britain faced bankruptcy and would have to withdraw commitment to Greece, Turkey and palestine

Question 3

in 1947 as well which countries were granted independence?

Answer 3

India and Pakistan- signal start of Britain’s ‘retreat from empire’

Question 4

Atlantic alliance

Answer 4

term used to refer to NATO, formed in 1949 to defend the Western alliance the Cold war- made up of 12 countries including Britain
-if one member attacked, defended by all

Question 5

what acted as the foundations of the European Economic Community (EEC)

Answer 5

The Schuman Plan of 1950

Question 6

The Schuman Plan of 1950

Answer 6

-named after foreign minister Robert Schuman
-set out the proposals for a coal and steel community that would integrate French + German heavy industry in order to promote rapid economic reconstruction
-also to bind together historic enemies France and Germany + eliminate dangers of future wars between them

Question 7

the schuman plan was strongly supported by

Answer 7

Britain and US, important contributions to the security of Europe
-seen as vital in beginning of the cold war

Question 8

Britain did not initially become involved with EEC why? (leadership role)

Answer 8

• few politicians or journalists in favor of Britain taking leadership role in Europe that was on offer

Question 9

Britain did not initially become involved with EEc why? (the left)

Answer 9

-the left tended to be suspicious of the free market principles behind the common market

Question 10

Britain did not initially become involved with EEC why? (continental Europe)

Answer 10

-belief that it was an issue for continental Europe, Germans had been deadly wartime enemies, France had been overrun + occupied whist Britain had ‘won the war’

Question 11

Britain did not initially become involved why? (right)

Answer 11

-right tended to regard the preservation of traditional trade links with Australia, Canada and New Zealand as far more important than those with Europe

Question 12

Britain did not initially become involved why? (assumption of Britain)

Answer 12

-there was an assumption that Britain was still a great world power

Question 13

Britain did not initially become involved why? (special relationship)

Answer 13

-Britain wanted to balance its involvement in Europe with maintaining its ‘special relationship’ with the US

Question 14

special relationship

Answer 14

describes the close relationship between the united kingdom and the us
-strengthened by allies during cold war, common objective resisting power of the ussr

Question 15

where did the EEC take shape?

Answer 15

took shape at an international conference in Messina, Sicily in 1955

Question 16

agreements were then developed in detail and what was launched?

Answer 16

The Treaty of rome launched the EEC, without Britain, in 1957

Question 17

the EEC was dominated by?

Answer 17

the partnership between France and Germany

Question 18

what was the EEC(European Economic Community)

Answer 18

an economic union, often known as the common market
-first established by the treaty of Rome in 1957 as a common market to promote economic growth in its 6 founding countries
- six founder members were: France, Germany, Italy, and ‘Benelux’ countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)

Question 19

what did the EEC become in 1992

Answer 19

the European Union

Question 20

What was the french president from 1958, Charles DeGaulle determined to protect?

Answer 20

he was determined to protect the partnership from Britain

Question 21

in 1959 Britain took the lead in the formation of?

Answer 21

the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

Question 22

the EFTA compared to the EEC

Answer 22

the EFTA was only moderately succesful and the new organisation was not able to match the economic growth of the EEC

Question 23

EFTA(European Free Trade Association)

Answer 23

-created in 1960 by Britain along with Austria,Denmark,Norway,Portugal,Sweden and Switzerland as an alternative to EEC

Question 24

EFTA why was it created

Answer 24

created by Britain as an alternative to the EEC as a free trade area.
-members were known as the ‘outer seven’

Question 25

order of creations

Answer 25

-the Schuman plan(1950)
-EEC(1957)
-EFTA(1960)

Question 26

what happened in 1961?

Answer 26

the Macmillian gov submitted an application for Britain to join the EEC