Ap European Unification Dbq

DBQ

Throughout the years, European history had undergone hurdle after hurdle with the devastating world wars and the advent of the Cold War. From 1946-1989 many different views had begun to emerge and were held over whether or not the European states should be unified. Once again the continent had become divided, with war separating Europe into opposing alliances and turned nations against others. Conflicting arguments soon arose on how to address the state of Europe and whether it should be kept divided or reunified once more. Some believed a unified Europe would bolster its strength, some were more doubtful and undecided, while others declared themselves to be completely opposed to the very notion of unification.

To begin with, a unified

Europe is what many craved after the devastating wars that had split Europe apart time after time. For example, according to the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, a unified Europe must be done, but first, a cooperation between France and Germany is necessary. (Doc 1) Here Churchill declared that a mirror of the United States should be formed in Europe and as such demonstrated that he supported it immensely. However, without the renewal of relations between France and Germany, it would be utterly impossible to accomplish this. To begin the first steps toward bringing Europe together, a council would need to be formed and in declaring this, Churchill demonstrated his willingness and determination in paving the way towards a reunified continent. Additionally, West Germany's Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, also shared Churchill's sentiments as he wrote in his novel that the age of exclusive isolation between nations is over and that the nations of Europe must unite. ( Doc 6) Mirroring Churchill, Adenauer strongly believes that Europe must be united and as such the interests of each nation must be merged together as one collective body. Through this Adenauer demonstrated great insight on how a unified Europe must act and that nations can no longer selfishly focus on their own interests but instead see Europe as a whole. Furthermore, even Robert Schuman, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs announced his allegiance to the idea of unification despite France being ruled by the doubtful Charles de Gaulle. (Doc 5) Schuman announced a plan to establish a common market in Europe and even invited Germany to join in, and by doing this demonstrated an immense step and reiterated Churchill's point that only with the cooperation of Germany and France will a truly united Europe be able form and blossom. While this gesture to Germany may have seemed small and insignificant, that was far from the case as such a move would allow both nations to put aside past grudges. As such, despite the differences they may have once had, many countries began setting them aside and cooperated together in order to pave a way toward a reunited Europe.
While those who support unification did so steadfastly, there were others who were more doubtful and had concerns to the unity.

To demonstrate, Harold Macmillan, Britain's finance minster held many economic concerns over the possible outcomes of Britain joining the EEC and the possible damage to its Commonwealth. (Doc 7) Macmillan described how the United Kingdom faced a dilemma, it could either stay out of the EEC and lose trade advantages to the European market or join and result in the collapse of its own system of favoring trade within its Commonwealth. Seemingly trapped between, Britain is forced to look one way or another and as a result, those such as Macmillan became extremely doubtful and concerned over the prospect of a united Europe. While the idea was not entirely out of the question, it only served to deter those who pushed for a unification as these issues caused many to remain undecided and unsure of which path to take. Furthermore, France's willingness to stay in the EEC hinged on the very decisions Britain will make as declared by Charles de Gaulle, President of France. (Doc 8) As stated by Macmillan Britain had two paths to take, one that would lead it into the EEC or one that would keep it out. Gaulle however declared that if Britain entered the EEC unhinged with no restrictions, it would push France out of the market for the very reason it joined in the first place. Not only does this mean that the very notion of unification remained extremely uncertain

it could also cause reversal effect and serve to tear nations apart if France withdrew the EEC as a result of Britain joining. Finally, Britain's Prime Minster, Margret Thatcher, felt that though Europe should be unified, a different approach would be needed and as such had concerns of her own. (Doc 12) Thatcher had a unique perspective on the issue and felt that instead of trying to suppress national identities in favor of a strong central union, it is instead the separate nations, with their own customs and identity, that would create a truly strong and united Europe. Her concerns were neither economic or political but in fact, social and cultural. This did not mean however, that she was entirely opposed to the notion of unification, but it did mean that she has concerns and is doubtful of the direction Europe is heading towards unity. In contrast to Churchill's view that national interests must be merged into one, Thatcher viewed that the national identities must be preserved and that unless that is the direction Europe is headed in, Thatcher remains doubtful of the unity. While those that are uncertain of unity are not entirely against it, unless their concerns are pacified, little can be done to sway them towards either side.
Finally, there are those that are completely opposed to the very idea of unification due to a variety of conditions.

To illustrate, Duncan Sandys, leader of the British European Movement describes his talk with Gaulle on the Franco-German partnership and how Churchill's speech was badly received in France. (Doc 2) For Gaulle and many French, Germany should not be allowed to reunify under any circumstances and that meant that without a unified German state cooperating with France, that there would be little success in achieving a united continent. Additionally, the sentiments shared by many French was that of a deep hatred against Germany, rooted from the humiliating defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian war. As a result there was little that could be done to reverse this mindset of the French as they wanted no such thing as an enlarged Germany. As Churchill stated however, a reunified Germany was the only way to begin paving the path towards uniting Europe. Through this it became clear that Gaulle and the French were against a unity in Europe. Additionally, Andrei Vyshinsky, the Soviet Foreign Minister, declared that the Marshall Plan was only for the United States to gain more leverage in Europe and that this would only serve to split Europe into two camps. (Doc 3) Instead of a unified Europe, it would only be divided into two sides, the West, largely under the influence of the United States and the East, under the control of the Soviet Union. In addition, Vyshinsky

announced that the United States was ignoring the interests of countries that suffered from Germany during the world wars such as France. Through this, Gaulle's views were mirrored and as such the Soviet Union did not support the unification of Europe in that not only did it not wish to relinquish control of its eastern European states, but it also did not support the reunification of Germany, which had left the Soviet Union which was originally the Russian Empire in ruins after the first World War. Finally, through the Soviet Union's political cartoon of West German Finance Minster Ludwig Erhard, it is further emphasized by the Soviet Union that the United States was only using Germany to gain leverage in European affairs. (Doc 4) Despite it being made clear by nations such as France and the Soviet Union that the reunification of Germany is out of the question, the United States in the Soviet's eyes, used Germany's power to destroy the sovereignty of the nations of Western Europe. Once again the issue of Germany had arose as many in the Soviet Union did not wish to see it reunified and expand in power once more. They were driven by the devastating memories from World War I and II and by rejecting a reunified Germany, they are therefore rejecting a unified European continent. Driven by the past and the previous wars, there are some that refuse to see a unified Europe come to pass due to past conflict.
Throughout the decades, the nations of Europe all had conflicting views regarding the unity of the continent. Some were dedicated and advocated the idea greatly, suggesting many steps to take in order to pave the way towards unifications. Some had many concerns regarding the idea and remained doubtful and undecided. Finally there were those, who for a variety of reasons, completely rejected the very idea of unity. Clouded by turmoil, Europe has undergone many changes and time after time alliances had left Europe divided into factions. Now, however was an opportunity to once again reunite the torn continent. Through these different viewpoints a great understanding of European affairs was formed and in the end, it was these very same viewpoints that shaped Europe onto a path towards where it is today.