France
| République Française | |
|---|---|
 | |
 |
 |
| Flag | Coat of Arms |
| Capital | Paris |
| Government | Republic |
| Language | French (official) |
| President | Nicolas Sarkozy |
| Prime minister | François Fillon |
| Area | 260,558 sq mi |
| Population | 64,102,140 (2007) |
| GDP | $1.871 trillion (2007) |
| GDP per capita | $30,100 (2007) |
| Currency | franc |
France (Official title: French Republic/République Française) is a country in Western Europe.
Overview
At its height, the French Empire rivaled the British Empire, with colonies in every corner of the world. It continues to be a strong presence in academia and has been the birthplace of countless renowned scholars, such as Voltaire and Descartes. It remains a powerhouse in the European Union, often at odds with the United Kingdom, and the rest of the EU (for instance, recently, French voters defeated a proposed EU Constitution after a number of other European nations had approved it) on issues of EU policy. The capital city is Paris, often called the "City of Lights".
In the 20th century, France's status as a world empire declined as did that of most other imperialism powers. Perhaps the "final line" was crossed when France left Vietnam in 1954.
Military aid was given to the American colonies in their attempt to gain independence. The sacrifice of her navy and commitment to the American cause became vital to the survival of the United States.
Also in this time, France was a center for the enlightenment. Philosophers like Descartes, Montesquieu and others theorized many ideas that are now synonymous with Western Civilization and the Democratic system.
The success of the American Revolution and the development of the above ideas inspired France to have a revolution of her own in 1793.
France is also renowned for its cuisine and its wines. Good food is highly valued in France.
In 1886, France donated the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a gift to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that had occurred eight years prior.
It was a founding member of the European Coal and Steel treaty which led to the EEC and EU.
In March 2003, France was one of over a hundred nations that did not participate in the alliance that liberated Iraq, with its aim of removing the Baathist regime of the dictator Saddam Hussein, though France had committed substantial forces to the First Gulf War. It reasons for opposing the war were that they did not believe that Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, and France quickly became a figurehead for the anti-war movement globally. Nevertheless, the much disliked former President Chirac has been accused of corruption and other improprieties, making him not an ideal candidate as figurehead of the anti-war movement. French forces did, however, participate in the war in Afghanistan, and suffered casualties in the fighting [1]
The current president of France is Nicolas Sarkozy, who defeated Ségolène Royal of the Socialist Party in the 2007 election. Sarkozy is a member of the comparatively conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).
Gaul
Back during the time of the Roman Republic, France was a territory called Gaul, populated by Celtic tribes. Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, thanks to the lack of unity among the tribes. Gaul remained an important part of the Roman Empire for several centuries.
Frankland under Clovis
France is named after the Franks, a Saxon tribe who established Soissons, the capital. A Frank called Clovis united the Franks and established Frankland. Franks were pagans but Clovis converted to Christianity (legend has it he prayed to Christ during a difficult battle, offering to become a Christian in exchange for victory ; shortly after that, the enemy fled).
Government
France is a democratic Republic, governed by a President and Parliament. Its current President is Gaullist reformist Nicolas Sarkozy, who has promised to modernize France's economy. France has for years had one of the highest unemployment rates in western Europe, currently at 8.6%, and has a tax burden of almost 50% of GDP.[2]. Two million Frenchmen have left France for other countries. Many of these have stated their concern with France's high taxes and "anti-growth" economic policies and many have settled in Great Britain.[3]