1959: French Community: Autonomous African Republics And Madagascar

Archives consist of articles that originally appeared in Collier's Year Book (for events of 1997 and earlier) or as monthly updates in Encarta Yearbook (for events of 1998 and later). Because they were published shortly after events occurred, they reflect the information available at that time. Cross references refer to Archive articles of the same year.

During the referendum of Sept. 28, 1958, the populations of twelve out of thirteen of the French overseas territories in Africa and the Indian Ocean accepted the constitution of the Fifth Republic. These territories were Chad, Dahomey, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritania, Middle Congo,... ...