French Fourth Republic

French Fourth Republic (France) Quatrième République Française (France) 1946–1958 Flag Coat of arms Motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité (Liberty, equality, brotherhood) Anthem: La Marseillaise Map of the French Fourth Republic Capital Paris Common languages French Religion None (Law on the separation of Church and State (1905)) Government 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 Cold War • Established October 14 1946 • Disestablished October 4 1958 Currency French Franc ISO 3166 code FR Preceded by Succeeded by Provisional Government of the French Republic French Fifth Republic Algeria The 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 October 13, 1946. Some attempts were 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. Although the Fourth Republic oversaw an era of great economic growth in France and the rebuilding of the nation's social institutions and industry after the war, and though it is largely responsible for the development of the institutions of European unity which changed the continent permanently, it is best remembered for its constant political instability and inability to take bold decisions regarding decolonization. The founding of the Fourth Republic (1944-47) Main articles: Three Parties and Third Force (France) European Unity The creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was first proposed by French foreign minister Robert Schuman and French economic theorist Jean Monnet on 9 May 1950 as a way to prevent further war between France and Germany. Though the United Kingdom was invited to join, the Labour government - then preparing for a re-election fight - failed to join the initiative (either through political calculation or the arrogance of its civil service) It was formally established in 1951 by the Treaty of Paris, signed not only by France and Germany, but also by Italy and the three Benelux states: Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Between these states the ECSC would create a common market for coal and steel. The ECSC was governed by a 'High Authority', checked by bodies representing governments, MPs and an independent judiciary. The ECSC was superseded, on March 25, 1957, by the Treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community (which would, in 1993, become the European Union through the Treaty of Maastricht). Decolonization and end of the Fourth Republic Template:Governments of France Rebellion in Algeria began soon after Indochinese independence. The government was initially successful in containing the rebellion, but the torture methods used by French military and security forces caused an enormous scandal when made public. The use of conscription also made the war extremely socially divisive. While French forces were victorious from a strictly military point of view, a large section of the public questioned the morality of maintaining colonies by force. The instability and ineffectiveness of the Fourth Republic came to a head in the Algier crisis of 1958, when the current government suggested that it would negotiate with the Algerian nationalists. Right-wing elements in the French Army, led by General Jacques Massu seized power in Algiers and threatened to conduct a parachute assault on Paris unless Charles de Gaulle was placed in charge of the Republic . De Gaulle did so under the precondition that a new constitution would be introduced creating a powerful presidency in which a sole executive, the first of which was to be De Gaulle, ruled for seven-year periods. These changes were introduced and the Fifth Republic was born. Prime Ministers Prime Ministers during the French Fourth Republic Prime Minister Starting Party Paul Ramadier 22 January, 1947 SFIO Robert Schuman 24 November, 1947 MRP André Marie 26 July, 1948 Radical Robert Schuman 5 September, 1948 MRP Henri Queuille 11 September, 1948 Radical Georges Bidault 28 October, 1949 MRP Henri Queuille 2 July, 1950 Radical René Pleven 12 July, 1950 UDSR Henri Queuille 10 March, 1951 Radical René Pleven 11 August, 1951 UDSR Edgar Faure 20 January, 1952 Radical Antoine Pinay 8 March, 1952 CNIP René Mayer 8 January, 1953 Radical Joseph Laniel 27 June, 1953 CNIP Pierre Mendès-France 18 June, 1954 Radical Edgar Faure 23 February, 1955 Radical Guy Mollet 31 January, 1956 SFIO Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury 12 June, 1957 Radical Félix Gaillard 6 November, 1957 Radical Pierre Pflimlin 13 May, 1958 MRP Charles de Gaulle 1 June, 1958 UNR 8 January, 1959 Footnotes 1. Dell, Edmund. The Schuman Plan and the British Abdication of Leadership in Europe. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1995