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French Fourth Republic

 This article is part of the 
History of France series.
 Gaul
 Franks
 France in the Middle Ages
 Valois Dynasty
 Bourbon Dynasty
 French Revolution
 First French Empire
 French Restoration
 Second Republic
 Second French Empire
 Third Republic
 France during World War II
 Fourth Republic
 Fifth Republic

The Fourth Republic existed in France between 1946 and 1958. It was the period where they were under France's fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic which had ruled before the Second World War. France adopted the constitution of the Fourth Republic on October 13, 1946.

Some attempts were made to strengthen the executive to prevent the unstable situtation that had existed before the war, but the instability remained and the Fourth Republic saw frequent changes in government.

These problems came to a head in 1958 because of the Algerian War which pitted Algerian colonists, the army, and the far right, against the left and those who wanted peace. To deal with this problem the nation turned to WWII hero Charles de Gaulle who assumed power under the precondition that a new constitution would be introduced creating a powerful presidency. These changes were introduced and the Fifth Republic was born.