French Dahomey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dahomey |
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| Constituent of French West Africa | |||||||||
| 1904–1958 | |||||||||
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| Capital | Porto-Novo | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Colonised
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1872 | ||||||||
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• French West Africa
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1904 | ||||||||
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• French Union
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4 September 1947 | ||||||||
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• French Community
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11 December 1958 | ||||||||
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• Independence
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1 August 1960 | ||||||||
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Dahomey was a land in West Africa that was once a French colony. This means France controlled it. It was a part of a larger area called French West Africa from 1904 until 1958.
Contents
What Was Dahomey?
Dahomey was a territory in West Africa. Before it became a French colony, it was the Kingdom of Dahomey. France began to take control of the area around 1872. By 1904, it was officially part of the French colonial system.
Becoming a French Colony
Being a colony meant that France made most of the rules for Dahomey. The capital city was Porto-Novo. During this time, France used the land and its resources. Many countries in Africa were colonies of European powers back then.
Steps Towards Freedom
Over time, things started to change. In 1947, Dahomey became part of the French Union. This new group gave Dahomey a bit more freedom to manage its own affairs. It was a step towards becoming independent.
Gaining Independence
A big change happened on 11 December 1958. The French Fifth Republic was formed in France. At this point, Dahomey became the self-governing Republic of Dahomey. "Self-governing" means it could make many of its own decisions, but it was still connected to France.
Just two years later, on 1 August 1960, Dahomey achieved full independence. This meant it was a completely separate country. It could now make all its own laws and decisions.
Changing Its Name
In 1975, the country decided to change its name. It became known as Benin. Today, the country we know as Benin is the same land that was once the French colony of Dahomey.
