Western

European
Renaissance
West Germany
 Issues faced by West Germany
after the war
Many infrastructures had to be rebuilt
West Germany had to provide shelter for
12 million refugees who had been
displaced by the boundary changes made
at the end of the war
The need for new leaders
Many Nazis were prosecuted for their crimes
(denazification) but since the country was in
need of new leaders, some former Nazis later
held office.
*Denazification the process of eliminating
practices and influences of Nazism
 Konrad Adenauer
One of the
founders of
the Christian
Democratic
Union
Turned West
Germany
into the
economic
 The economy during Adenauers rule
West German exports increased
by 75%; It continued to steadily
climb through the 1950s and
standard of living improved.
Average income:
1949: $320 1973:$4,943
-West Germany was a heavily industrialized region and had
supplies of coal and iron ore.
-The presence of East German refugees increased labor;
Opportunities to earn higher wages attracted labor from south
and south-eastern Europe.
-Since many factories, mines, and transportation networks had
to be completely rebuilt, they took advantage of the opportunity
to install modern equipment and up-to-date techniques.
Willy Brandt
Was part of the Social
Democratic party
(which opposed
Adenauers strict
control of the
government)
Promoted West
German prosperity
Ostpolitik (Eastern
policy) improved
relations between
 Helmut Schmidt

Emphasized the economy, increasing trade

and participation in the Common Market
(a.k.a. European Economic Community)
In the 1980s, the economy was troubled by
inflation and unemployment
France
 Fourth Republic rebuilds France
In 1946, a coalition
government representing
sharply differing political
views established the Fourth
Republic
Since the Nazis confiscated
the countrys machinery,
motor vehicles, and
agricultural goods (for use in
 Jean Monnet
A Banker and diplomat named to head
a planning agency that set production
goals, made economic forecasts, and
encouraged investments.
In the first five years of Monnets plan,
Frances GNP increased by 14% over
what had it been in 1938.
 Political Issues divide France
Economic crises led political parties to
difficulty in working together
The admission of West Germany to the
NATO pact in 1955 stirred controversy
in France due to the countrys
experience with German aggression in
three wars: WWI, WWII, and Cold War.
*NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
 Colonial Wars weaken the
Fourth Republic
Frances colonies in Indo-China had
been occupied by Japan in WWII.
Vietminh (a communist-led nationalist
movement in Vietnam) was at war with
the French Colonial Forces. Despite
being aided by the U.S., they were
defeated due to that Vietminh was
backed by the Chinese Communists in
years of guerilla warfare.
 De Gaulles rise to power
As Algeria was governed as a
part of France, the Algerian
Muslims demanded complete
independence. French settlers or
colons, on the other hand,
wanted Algeria to remain a part
of France.
1954: NLF (National Liberation
Front) began attacks on French
military posts and French
 De Gaulle
Made efforts to make the Fifth
Republic more unified and
stronger than the Fourth
He gave Algeria its
independence in 1962.
He negotiated with the NLF and
gave Algerian Muslims more land
and a greater voice in the
government. Some colons formed
the Secret Army Organization,
while others left Algeria.
 De Gaulle
Increased Frances
economic ties with
other European
nations and signed
treaty agreements
with other French
Colonies
Offered jobs in
French industries to
people in Algeria,
Southern Italy, and
 De Gaulle
Believed in Frances national
sovereignty and often blocked
efforts towards European
unity. Particularly sought to
show the countrys
independence of American
influence.
Withdrew Frances forces
from NATO
 Other leaders
Georges Pompidou and Valery
Giscard dEstaing
France moved towards more
economic and military cooperation
with other European countries but,
built up its own nuclear defenses.
1970s: Unemployment and
inflation occurred
 Other leaders
Francois Mitterand
Nationalized several banks and
industries; Looked for ways to
increase the benefits the
French government could offer
to its citizens; These however,
did not solve all of Frances
economic issues.
Put less emphasis on French
 United
Kingdom:
Britain
 State after the war
Though remained unconquered,
cities and industries were heavily
damaged; Merchant ships sunk
hence, reducing foreign trade;
There were also severe shortages
of food and other goods.
 The Labour Party
Headed by Clement Attlee
Campaigned for extensive government
assistance Welfare State
Attained resounding victory in the 1945
elections
Intended that the government must
assume responsibility for its citizens
well-being from the cradle to the
grave
 The Labour Party
The Parliament passed the
National Insurance Act and
National Health Service Act
Britain nationalized banks and
certain industries
To address issues regarding
trade:
Wartime rationing on food (e.g.
sugar and meat) to decrease
imports were continued
 Colonies and other territories demanded
independence
1947: India and Pakistan
1948: Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Burma
Discontented with the current economic state of
Britain, voters returned the Conservatives into
office. Despite returning them to office, Britains
economy could not keep up with the pace of the
fast-growing economies of other Western
European nations.
1980s: Margret Thatcher, the first female British
Prime Minister, tried to decrease government
spending drastically, but inflation and
unemployment was still a problem.
 United
Kingdom:
Ireland
 Civil war in Northern Ireland
Majority of positions in the
government of Northern Ireland
were occupied by Protestants
thus, Catholics had little voice in
the country.
Many Catholics (who were
nationalists) wished that Ireland
would be reunited
1968: Riots between the two
 Civil War in Northern Ireland
The IRA (Irish Republican Army
a nationalist group) later came
into the picture accusing the
British of sympathy with the
protestants. The fight became
more violent as the dispute
prolonged.
1972: The British government
assumed control of the Northern
Ireland government and
 British army
(paratroops)
shoots 13
unarmed
demonstrators
during their
protest against
internment
without trial.

Bloody Sunday
(a.k.a.Bogside More on the Bogside
massacre: http://
Massacre) in cain.ulst.ac.uk/even
January 30, 1972 at ts/bsunday/mad.htm

Derry
 Civil War in Northern Ireland
1985: The British and Irish governments
signed an agreement that gave the
Republic of Ireland (Southern Ireland: Eire)
a voice in the affairs of Northern Ireland.
The agreement was hoped to bring peace
by reassuring the Catholic minority that
their interests would be protected.
Extremists however, denounced it; and
Protestants never claimed to accept it.
Italy
 Political unrest
A coalition government was
formed by the Christian
Democrats, Communists, and
Socialists. This however, led
to the instability of the
government like in France.
1980s: Some Communist
groups sorted to terrorism,
weakening the government of
 Economic growth
Italy made a rapid recovery from
the war partially due to the
Marshall Plan Aid.
Industry was built in the triangle
formed by cities of Milan, Turin,
and Genoa making the country an
economic leader (in Europe) next
to West Germany.
Greece
 The colonels
Disputes between supporters of
monarchy and those who desired
for a republic ended when the
colonels (a group of military
officers) announced that they
were to protect Greece from
communism.
Forced out King Constantine II
Suspended the constitution
Imposed censorship
Jailed many opponents
Constantine Karamanlis
Led the country when
the republic was
proclaimed after the
rule of the colonels.
Greece joined NATO and
the Common Market
After the Socialists
victory in the 1981
elections, Andreas
Papandreou questioned
Greeces involvement
with NATO military plans.
Portugal
and

Spain
 Spains economy rapidly grows
By the 1950s, NATO sought
to improve defenses against
the Soviet Bloc
The U.S. gave a billion dollars
to Spain in exchange for
placement of military bases.
Spain used those funds to
expand its industry and
 Dictatorship ends (Portugal)
Both neutral in the second
World War, the two countries
(Portugal and Spain) had been
ruled by dictators since the
1930s.
1960s: Portuguese colonies
rebelled, and Salazars reign
weakened
1970: Death of Antonio Salazar
 Dictatorship ends (Spain)
Dictatorship rule ended when
Francisco Franco died in 1975.
Juan Carlos I took the throne
as constitutional monarch and
began to move toward
democracy and economic
development.
 The Basques and Catalans
seek independence
The Basques and Catalans
are minority groups in Spain
and for centuries, have
sought for independence.
1980: They were granted
home rule within the Spanish
State
Yet, many still demanded for
Economic
union in
Western
Europe
 Economic union
Suggested by Jean Monnet
Architect of United Europe
Robert Schuman enacted
Monnets idea

Jean Monnet Robert Schuman

 Schuman Plan (1951)
ECSC (European Coal and Steel
Community)
Schuman proposed that six countries
to muster their supplies of important
resources.
France, West Germany, Italy, Luxemborg,
Belgium, and the Netherlands
Tariffs to be eliminated on coal, iron,
and steel
 Euratom
European Atomic Energy
Community
Aims to coordinate
development of nuclear
power for economic growth
 EEC
European Economic Community
also called the Common Market
Sought to encourage the flow of
goods within Europe by
eliminating tariffs on all goods
traded between nations
 EEC Common Market
EEC brought about an economic
boom in Europe (1960)
An estimate of 30 million
guestworkers migrated from less
developed countries to the center
of Industrial Europe
*guestworkers laborers and
farmworkers
 European Community
(1967) The ECSC, Common
Market, and Euratom formed the
European Community
The U.K., Denmark, Ireland,
Greece, Portugal and Spain were
added
Allowed former European colonies
to become associated members
Goods from these associated
members were imported at lower
 EFTA
European Free Trade Association
Composed of nations not in the
Common Market: Austria, Norway,
Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, and
Finland (an associate member)
Sought to get rid of trade barriers among
members however, allowed each member
to set its own tariffs on imports from other
countries.
 In 1973, the EFTA and
European Community agreed
to eliminate tariffs on industrial
goods traded between
members of either
organization; This made all of
Western Europe a single free
market zone for manufactured
 Rise in oil prices affects
European economy
1973: Arab nations decreased oil production,
and OPEC raised prices for crude oil
*OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries)
Most Western European countries are
dependent on oil for it is used to run factories,
transportation systems and heat their homes.
Their main source of oil is the Arab nations;
Thus, Western Europeans had to save more
expenses to purchase oil, and conserve it;
Consumers saved oil by slowing down business
however, this led to rise in unemployment.
 Rise in oil prices affects
European economy
To solve the issues of lack in
sources of oil and
unemployment, Britain began
off-shore drilling for large
reserves of oil and natural
gas that had been recently
discovered in the sea floor.
 References
Dorney, John. Today in Irish
History, Bloody Sunday in Derry,
30 January 1972. January 29,
2012.
http://www.theirishstory.com/20
12/01/29/today-in-irish-history-
january-30-1972-bloody-sunday-
in-derry/ (accessed May 4,
2015).
Perry, Marvin. A History of the