ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

European Coal and Steel Community

The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was a group of countries in Europe that joined together to work on things made from coal and steel. Coal is a black rock that is used to make energy, and steel is a strong and durable metal used for building things like bridges and skyscrapers.

The ECSC group was created in 1951 when six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) decided to work together on coal and steel. The idea was that by working together, the countries could make sure that everyone had enough coal and steel to use, and that they could make it all as efficiently as possible.

One of the biggest reasons for creating the ECSC was to help prevent wars between the countries. Before the ECSC, there had been a lot of conflict and fighting in Europe because different countries wanted control of resources like coal and steel. By working together, the countries could avoid fighting over these resources.

The ECSC had its own rules and set up a governing body to oversee things like pricing and production of coal and steel. The countries in the ECSC also agreed to reduce the trade barriers between them, which made it easier for them to buy and sell coal and steel with each other.

Over time, the ECSC group grew and evolved into the European Union (EU), which is still around today. The EU has expanded its focus beyond just coal and steel and now works on many different things that affect the countries in Europe, such as trade, transportation, and environmental regulations.