10 Facts About French Union

French Union was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial empire system, colloquially known as the "French Empire" .

French Union was established by the French constitution of 27 October 1946 .

The Assembly of the French Union had membership from the Council of the Republic, from the National Assembly and from regional assemblies of the overseas territories and departments but ultimately had no power.

Limited democratic reforms and increased investment in the French colonies brought about by the formation of the French Union did receive some support from African leaders at the time.

French Union was supportive of the greater democratic freedoms that were granted to Africans within the Union, such as new elected territorial assemblies.

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Yet more support for the French Union came from French Togoland, now Togo, where in June 1955 the locally elected Territorial Assembly voted unanimously on a motion to remain within France's sphere of influence.

Furthermore, there was a view among French officials that the French Union constituted an important part of a wider European economic and political project, that is, the European Economic Community .

Youth Council of the French Union was a coordinating body of youth organizations in the French Union.

Opposition to the changes were split between those who wanted complete independence for the African former colonies, mainly those on the French left and then those who opposed any change to the existing system of the French union at all, mostly positioned on the right.

However, the new French Union Community did not last long, with most African states leaving the organisation by 1962, preferring complete independence.