History of the European Coal and Steel Community (1945–57)

The European Coal and Steel Community was a group of countries in Europe that worked together to create a stronger economy. The group was formed after World War II to make sure that the countries in Europe could work together and share resources in order to rebuild their countries and to make sure they wouldn't fight again. The group was made up of six countries which were France, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemborg, and West Germany. The Coal and Steel Community was created in 1951. The countries in this group agreed to share the coal and iron ore resources that they had, as well as the steel that was made from them. They also agreed to share their industrial plants, research and transportation. This was so that all of the countries in the group could benefit from each other's resources. As a result of this sharing, the countries in the Coal and Steel Community saw a huge economic growth, which allowed them to rebuild after the War and make sure their economies ran smoothly. The Coal and Steel Community was also important because it was a first step towards creating what we now know as the European Union.