Why Britain Tried to Join the EEC in the 1960's

Why Britain Tried to Join the EEC in the 1960's

Before the 1960s Britain deceived itself and thought of itself as the

leader of the world. Britain therefore saw its future as secure. The

reality, by the 1960s, was that Britain used to be a world power and

was no longer a leader of the world. Britain watched its empire

crumble around itself. Britain subconsciously knew that it was

becoming ever less powerful but did not fully recognise it until the

1960s.

Britain joined the EEC because of many related factors. Firstly Great

Britain finally, by the 1960s, recognised their loss of great power

status. Prime Minister Macmillan spoke his ‘Winds of Change’ speech in

February 1960. This speech outlined the fact that Britain had to

recognise its lower international great power status and had to act

quickly.

The recognition of Britain’s loss of great power status factor is

closely linked with the fact that Britain’s empire had disintegrated.

Britain saw its empire come apart. In the 1940s India, Burma and

Ceylon became independent. Britain had lost their ‘Jewell’ of the

empire, India. Britain had now lost its empire which led to the

breakdown of Britain’s great power status.

The fact that Britain had lost its empire is linked to the fact that

Britain could no longer have the close relations with other countries

anymore which led to the breakdown of British trade and therefore its

economy. Britain had economic difficulties by the 1960s. The EEC was a

solution in fixing these economic problems. Britain could not turn to

its ‘good friend’ the US because the relationship between the two

countries was breaking down. Britain could not keep up with the cold

war arms race due to its weakening economy.

Linked to why Britain tried to join the EEC, was the success of the

EEC. As an organisation it worked perfectly. It was constantly growing

economically and physically. The EEC offered Economic co operation

which worked well. The EEC united Europe. Britain wanted to be a part

of it.