The
French Union () 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.
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, as did
Algeria in 1962;
French Morocco and
Tunisia gained their independence in 1956.
See also
Category:1958 disestablishmentsCategory:Overseas departments, collectivities and territories of FranceCategory:Former international organizationsCategory:French West AfricaCategory:French Equatorial AfricaCategory:French IndochinaCategory:States and territories established in 1946Category:Articles lacking sources (Erik9bot)af:Franse Uniear:الاتحاد الفرنسيbg:Френска общностde:Union Françaisees:Unión Francesaeo:Franca Uniofr:Union françaiseko:프랑스 연합it:Unione francesepl:Unia Francuskapt:União Francesasv:Franska unionenth:สหภาพฝรั่งเศสvi:Liên hiệp Pháp 
