The European Union
European states pooled sovereignty to prevent war and boost trade.
About this topic
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership of 27 member countries in Europe, born from the wish to prevent another devastating war. In 1951 six countries, including France and West Germany, formed the European Coal and Steel Community, so that nations sharing key war industries would be unlikely to fight. The 1957 Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community, and the Maastricht Treaty of 1993 created the EU.
It operates a single market, allowing free movement of goods, services, capital and people, so a citizen of one member state can live and work in another. Nineteen to twenty countries use the euro, introduced in 2002 and managed by the European Central Bank, and many belong to the Schengen Area with no border checks. Institutions include the European Commission, which proposes laws, the Parliament, directly elected, and the Council.
Benefits include peace, trade and common standards such as consumer protection and environmental rules. Challenges include the eurozone debt crisis, migration, and disputes over sovereignty; in a 2016 referendum the United Kingdom voted to leave, completing Brexit in 2020. Example: students can study abroad with the Erasmus programme. Misconception: the EU is not a single country or the same as Europe; it is a union of sovereign states that share some powers. It won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.
Key ideas
- Treaty of Rome 1957
- Euro 2002
- Brexit 2020
Quick check
Use cases: where The European Union helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The European Union before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall The European Union without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how The European Union changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain The European Union in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is The European Union?
European states pooled sovereignty to prevent war and boost trade.
What will I learn in The European Union?
Treaty of Rome 1957. Euro 2002. Brexit 2020.
Is The European Union part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The European Union lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The European Union?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.