Preview

Assess the Claim That Political Factors Were the Main Reasons Why British Attitude to Europe Changed During the Period from 1945-1963

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1541 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Assess the Claim That Political Factors Were the Main Reasons Why British Attitude to Europe Changed During the Period from 1945-1963
1955 saw the start of the Western European Union and talks began at Messina about a European Economic Community, the EEC. Britain maintained a strong opinion when referring to Europe and the EEC. This being scepticism, Britain didn’t take these plans very seriously. Such feelings were clearly displayed, when Britain didn’t even send an Ambassador to the Messina Conference. Instead, in keeping with their, thus far sceptical approach, only an observer was sent on the British behalf, rather than Foreign Sectary of State Harold MacMillan. Britain’s feelings hadn’t changed by 1957 when the Treaty of Rome, which created the EEC, which was signed by the six. Italy, France, Western Germany and the Benelux countries, but not by Britain.

There are many reasons why Britain had such a negative and sceptical attitude towards Europe. The main reason being European organisations such as the EEC and EDC. The motivation for Britain’s decline of the EEC, was because Britain politicians didn’t want British national sovereignty to be challenged. Britain was simply opposed to any supranational organisation. (Meaning “above the nation,” where nations, like Britain, give some national sovereignty, power, to European institutions.) The first possible supranational organisation was the EDC, European Defence committee. This was proposed by the French, along with the Schuman Plan, which led to establishment of the European Coal and Steal Community, ECSC. These were in a similar fashion to the Pleven Plan, which was a French solution to possible threat from Germany.

Above links directly to another reason why Britain was sceptical and not very interested by Europe. This being, that they didn’t share the same anxieties. The French felt threatened by the possibility of Germany becoming one of the strongest states in Europe, due to their great industry. France felt that Germany couldn’t be trusted with such a position, and instead need to be contained. They felt they could do this

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The opposing attitudes toward Great Britain that colonists held prior to and during the Revolutionary War. There were different attitudes towards Great Britain prior to and during the Revolutionary War. There were people who believed that they needed to be free from the rule of the British. They thought that the British were violating the rights of the colonists. They felt the tax laws were illegal because the colonists had no that could vote on the taxes.…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Which was a completely false because aforethought they were in a rough spot in the economy they had no intentions of sympathy. They only wanted to understand why this has happened, when they thought they were good allies with the British for the moment. Soon there was much talk there actually being a war between Britain and Germany. This was was a false political claim that was made just to see if Germany would retaliate to the information.…

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ww1 M.A.I.N Causes

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Britain had yet to decide it`s position . London was suspicious of the growing might of Germany , but she had clashed with France over the Sudan in 1898 . In late 1903 Britain and France signed the ` Entente Cordiale ` . It was not a formal alliance , but a friendly `understanding` , and neither country was under any obligation to come to the aid of the other in the event of war . In August 1907 Britain strengthened it`s commitment to France by signing an agreement with Russia. Europe was divided into two powerful blocs.…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Effects of wwi on britain

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Britain had always run it empire on limited means; Britain relied on its large navy and had huge influence because of its large and powerful empire. It had some independence in its actions and nobody used to say anything. Britain felt the same independence and strength after the war, however there were now many limits on Britain’s foreign policy, which meant that they weren’t so free like they were before.…

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    According to Native Americans In The United States (Oct. 2008), “Since the end of the 15th century, the migration of Europeans to the Americas, and their importation of African’s as slaves, has led to centuries of conflict and adjustment between societies ” (para. 2). The European Union was designed for a purpose of ending the injured from fights amongst neighbors, which occurred in the Second World War. The European Coal and Steel Community began to come together as of 1950. European countries worked hard towards economic and political order to protect peace and happiness. The History Of The European Union (n.d) website states the EU’s founding fathers were citizens that boasted themselves on similar appeals for a peaceful, united and prosperous Europe. Others have worked tirelessly towards The European Project as well. In the 1960’s the youth culture broadened the generation gaps and created a cultural revoultion. It was a good time in the economy; joint control over food production, and there is even surplus agricultural produce to ensure every person has enough to eat.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The main reasons as to why the British portrayed the Germans as uncivilized and barbaric are to influence neutral countries to enter the war against…

    • 309 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The only reason they started to build their army was only to protect themselves. But other countries took that as Germany was trying to start a war or about to attack them. So all the countries started to build their army’s and they competed with each other. This created the arms race. Every one of the countries that participated in the war participated in the arm race except Italy. Every country wants to expand its empire and also wanted to be the best and the rules of the world and be the best of the best. All of the countries participated in imperialism so they could have the best empire. Great Britain had the great empire, they ruled over most of Africa. When every country builds their army’s up, tension rise and get everyone on the edge. When the two teams get together, Germany gets new battleships so upgrade their navy. This got Great Britain Nerves that Germany would be the strongest country. So they joined The Triple Entente to get stronger and protect their rank. When Germany tried to invade Belgium, Belgium called England for help to protect them. Germany Could not have Invaded Belgium and get Great Britain mad and start a…

    • 947 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dbq Ap Euro

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Many countries were tired after WW1 and WW2, and interested in finding a possible source of peace. As Konrad Adenaver states "Nations cannot continue to live exclusively according to their own desires and inclinations."(Doc 6). The ideas of new imperialism and nationalism were being replaced with ideas of peace and unification. In this hope for new found peace , countries such as France, Germany, and many other countries became involved in the European Economic Community(EEC). Sir Winston Churchill wished to be more like the U.S, and to form a council of Europe. (Doc1) Being the former Prime minister Britain, he might want this due to Britain ties and respect for the U.S.…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Concerns Over National Efficiency – Britain’s position of being a world power was under threat from emerging powers such as Germany. In order to…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Battle of Britain

    • 1617 Words
    • 7 Pages

    When Hitler decided to attack and try to take over Britain he did not expect the country to retaliate as it did. Not only did the military forces fight, the citizens fought. They spent their time making war products and growing food. They kept their spirits high for their country, because “Britain has never been taken over, and the people did not want it to ever happen.” The Britain’s wanted to stay free from Nazi control, and fought to keep their country free of it. People came by the hundreds signing up to be in the military so they could fight for Britain. Britain’s patriotism was at record highs for fear of the Nazi forces invading and taking over their beloved country, as Richard Hough said “when France joined in aiding Britain by sending planes and food, Britain’s moral shot up.” Germany had no way…

    • 1617 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the early 20th century Germany had the strongest and largest army in the world. Britain dominated the oceans, and both countries were working furiously to better each other in both aspects. (Humanities Alive 4, pp 5) The contest between the countries with large military forces built up conflict and tension, breeding mistrust and hatred between the nations and alliances. This conflict was greatest between Britain and Germany and both counties had no reservations about going to war with the other. There was great suspicion between the two. This brought the two countries and their alliances one step closer to war. The other larger nations in Europe were intent on increasing their military strength though conscription and also through new warfare technologies as well. (Humanities Alive 4, pp 5) This put the whole of Europe on edge and ready to fight and go to war. This frenzy for building up military force was encouraged by nationalism, the development of loyalty to your country.…

    • 999 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    He decided against renewing a treaty with Russia, effectively opting for the Austrian alliance. Germany's western and eastern neighbours, France and Russia, signed an alliance in 1894 united by fear and resentment of Berlin. In 1898, Germany began to build up its navy, although this could only alarm the world's most powerful maritime nation, Britain. Recognising a major threat to her security, Britain abandoned the policy of holding aloof from entanglements with continental powers. Within ten years, Britain had concluded agreements, albeit limited, with her two major colonial rivals, France and Russia. Europe was divided into two armed camps: the Entente Powers and the Central Powers, and their populations began to see war not merely as inevitable but even…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    because of a couple of reasons. France was mainly focused on only defending France itself during the war, while Britain who devoted much of it’s own resources to the campaigns that were against France in North America. France did not have any of the geographic advantages that Britain had.…

    • 239 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Conservative government of Winston Churchill came into office again during the negotiations on EDC. Churchill did not follow the EDC because that would threaten the British sovereignty directly. On 28 November 1951, the British Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, said that Britain would not participate in the EDC in a NATO Council meeting in Rome. Specifically, Eden strongly believed that the Pleven Plan would fail because the cost of joining in the EDC for potential states was considerable. Meanwhile, there was also opposition to the EDC from civil servants, who thought Britain would get in trouble with merging its armed forces into a European army and would surrender British sovereignty to European authority (Stephen, 1991, p. 40-41).…

    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays