Union française French Union ← 1946–1958 ↓ Flag Coat of arms Motto Liberté, égalité, fraternité (French: Liberty, equality, brotherhood) Anthem La Marseillaise Territories of the French Union Capital Paris Language(s) French Political structure State union Historical era Cold War  - Fourth Republic October 27, 1946  - Indochina leaves 1954  - Morocco leaves 1956  - Tunisia leaves 1956  - Fifth Republic October 5, 1958 Currency French franc CFA franc CFP franc French Indochinese piastre Preceded by Succeeded by Provisional Government of the French Republic French Community Kingdom of Laos State of Vietnam North Vietnam Cambodia under Sihanouk (1954-1970) Morocco Tunisia French Guinea

The French Union (French: Union française) was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" (Empire Français) and to abolish its "indigenous" (indigène) status.

[edit] History

Established by the French constitution of October 27, 1946 (Fourth Republic), it lasted until 1958, when it was replaced by the French Community by Charles de Gaulle's Fifth Republic.

[edit] French Commonwealth

The French Union was modelled on the British Commonwealth.

The French Union included France, French overseas départements, territories, settlements, United Nations trusteeships (Cameroun, etc.), French colonies (which became overseas départements of France) and associate states (protectorates) which became autonomous.

[edit] Dissolution

The associated states of French Indochina withdrew from the union in 1954, as did Algeria in 1962; French Morocco and Tunisia gained their independence in 1956.

[edit] See also

• Decolonization
• First Indochina War
• CEFEO
• French Community
• French colonial empires

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