French Union

The French Union (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.

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.

French Commonwealth

The French Union was modelled on the British Commonwealth, which by coincidence became the Commonwealth of Nations that same year.

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.

Dissolution

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

See also

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