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French Fourth Republic

French Republic
République française
1946–1958
Flag Emblem
(unofficial)
Motto
"Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (French)
"Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood"
Anthem
"La Marseillaise"

On modern day borders.
Dark green: Fourth French Republic.
Light green: French possessions.
Capital Paris
Languages French
Government Parliamentary republic
President
 •  1947–1954 Vincent Auriol
 •  1954–1959 René Coty
Prime Minister
 •  1947 Paul Ramadier
 •  1958–1959 Charles de Gaulle
Legislature National Assembly
Historical era
 •  Constitutional referendum 13 October 1946
 •  Promulgation of the Fourth Republic 27 October 1946
 •  Battle of Ðiện Biên Phủ 13 March – 7 May 1954
 •  Toussaint Rouge 1 November 1954
 •  Treaty of Brussels 17 March 1948
 •  Algiers putsch and May crisis 13–29 May 1958
 •  Constitutional referendum 28 September 1958
 •  Promulgation of the Fifth Republic 4 October 1958
Area
 •  1957 889,898 km² (343,592 sq mi)
Currency French franc (FRF)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Provisional Government of the French Republic
French Fifth Republic
Algeria

The French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems. France adopted the constitution of the Fourth Republic on 13 October 1946.

The Fourth Republic saw an era of great economic growth in France and the rebuilding of the nation's social institutions and industry after World War II, and played an important part in the development of the process of European integration which changed the continent permanently. The greatest accomplishments of the Fourth Republic were in social reform and economic development. In 1946, the government established a comprehensive social security system that assured unemployment insurance, disability and old-age pensions, and health care to all citizens.

Some attempts were also made to strengthen the executive branch of government to prevent the unstable situation that had existed before the war, but the instability remained and the Fourth Republic saw frequent changes in government – there were 21 administrations in its 12-year history. Moreover, the government proved unable to make effective decisions regarding decolonization of the numerous remaining French colonies. After a series of crises, most importantly the Algerian crisis of 1958, the Fourth Republic collapsed. Wartime leader Charles de Gaulle returned from retirement to preside over a transitional administration which was empowered to design a new French constitution. The Fourth Republic was dissolved by a public referendum on 5 October 1958 which established the modern-day Fifth Republic with a strengthened presidency.


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Wikipedia

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