French Union

Infobox Former Country
native_name = Union française
conventional_long_name = French Union
common_name = French Union
continent = Afroeurasia
era = Cold War
status = State union
status_text =
empire =
year_start = 1946
year_end = 1958
event_start = Fourth Republic
date_start = October 27
event_end = Fifth Republic
date_end = October 5
event1 = Indochina leaves
date_event1 = 1954
event2 = Morocco leaves
date_event2 = 1956
event3 = Tunisia leaves
date_event3 = 1956|
p1 = Provisional Government of the French Republic
flag_p1 = Flag of France.svg
s1 = French Community
flag_s1 = Flag of France.svg
s2 = Kingdom of Laos
flag_s2 = Flag of Laos (1952-1975).svg
s3 = State of Vietnam
flag_s3 = Flag of South Vietnam.svg
s4 = North Vietnam
flag_s4 = Flag of North Vietnam 1945-1955.svg
s5 = Cambodia under Sihanouk (1954-1970)
flag_s5 = Flag of Cambodia.svg
s6 = Morocco
flag_s6 = Flag of Morocco.svg
s7 = Tunisia
flag_s7 = Pre-1999 Flag of Tunisia.svg
s8 = French Guinea
flag_s8 = Flag of France.svg

---

symbol = Coat of arms of France


image_map_caption = Territories of the French Union|
capital = Paris
national_motto = Liberté, égalité, fraternité
(lang_fr|Liberty, equality, brotherhood)
national_anthem = La Marseillaise
common_languages = French
currency = French franc
CFA franc
CFP franc
French Indochinese piastre

The French Union ( _fr. 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.

ee also

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