The French Community was the political entity which replaced the French Union, which in turn was the descendant of the French Empire following the Second World War. Member territories, former French colonies, possessed substantial autonomy, with France controlling only the currency, defense, and national security strategy. When the Community was established French leader De Gaulle specified that any country within it would eventually have the option of moving to complete independence. When membership was offered, every French-ruled territory in sub-Saharan Africa chose to join, with the exception of Guinea, with all attaining independence soon thereafter. Established by the French constitution of October 27, 1946, the French Union (French: Union Française) was a political entity created to replace the old French colonial system, the French Empire (Empire français). ... The term French Empire can refer to: The First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte (1804 - 1814 or 1815) The Second French Empire of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870) The French Colonial Empire, especially that of the 19th and 20th centuries. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... This article refers to a colony in politics and history. ... Portrait of General Charles de Gaulle. ... Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa south of the Sahara Desert, is the term used to describe those countries of Africa that are not part of North Africa. ...

External links

• http://cartoflash.free.fr/motcle/pages/Communautfr.htm (In French) (http://cartoflash.free.fr/motcle/pages/Communautfr.htm)