French Union (original) (raw)

Established by the French constitution of October 27, 1946, the French Union (French: Union Fran�aise) was a political entity created to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" (Empire fran�ais). Lasting until 1958, it was replaced by the French Community.

The French Union included France and Corsica, French overseas d�partements, territories, settlements, United Nations trusteeships, French colonies (which became overseas d�partements of France) and associate states (protectorates) which became autonomous. In 1954, the states of French Indochina withdrew from the union, and in 1956 Morocco and Tunisia gained their independence.