AP European History Flashcards: The European Union
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What were the dual goals of the EU's increasing integration?
The EU aimed for both increasing economic and political integration, as well as establishing a shared European identity among its members.
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What were the dual goals of the EU's increasing integration?
The EU aimed for both increasing economic and political integration, as well as establishing a shared European identity among its members.
What is the central challenge that EU member nations continue to balance?
Member nations must balance questions of national sovereignty with the responsibilities of belonging to an economic and political union.
How did the European Union influence economic development after WWII?
The EU's formation led to increasing economic integration among member states, growing in size and scope throughout the second half of the 20th century.
What fundamental shift occurred among European states after World War II?
European states began to set aside nationalist rivalries in favor of economic and political integration through transnational unions.
What was the progression of organizations that led to the European Union?
The economic alliance began as the European Coal and Steel Community, developed into the European Economic Community (Common Market), and then became the European Union.
What was the European Coal and Steel Community?
It was an early economic alliance that developed into the European Economic Community (EEC) and eventually the European Union (EU).
How does the Euro currency relate to the core challenge of EU membership?
The Euro is an example of balancing national sovereignty, as adopting it means ceding control over monetary policy to the union, which is a key responsibility of membership.
Provide a modern example of the tension between national sovereignty and EU membership.
The Brexit issue, where the UK voted to leave the EU, exemplifies the conflict between national sovereignty and the responsibilities of union membership.
How did the European Union affect identity in Europe?
The EU's existence led to efforts to establish a shared European identity, which often coexisted or conflicted with traditional national identities.
What was the European Economic Community (EEC)?
Also known as the Common Market, the EEC was the transnational union that followed the European Coal and Steel Community and preceded the modern EU.