Jarnac Convention facts for kids
The Jarnac Convention was an important agreement. It was made between France and the United Kingdom in 1847. This happened at the end of the Franco-Tahitian War. The main goal was to stop problems between France and Britain. It promised that the Leeward Islands in Polynesia would stay independent. Both countries agreed to end the convention in 1887.
Why the Agreement Was Needed
In 1839, a British missionary named George Pritchard went to Polynesia. He wanted to teach people about his religion. He became a British official in Tahiti. He convinced Queen Pomare IV to send away Catholic missionaries. This made France upset.
France then took control of the islands. They set up a "protectorate" in 1843. This meant France would protect and partly control the islands. This led to the Franco-Tahitian War. Pritchard was sent away, which caused more problems between France and Britain.
What the Agreement Said
To fix these problems, King Louis-Philippe of France agreed to the Jarnac Convention. Both countries agreed that the Leeward Islands were independent. They promised not to try and control them.
The agreement was signed in London on June 19, 1847. It was signed by Lord Palmerston. He was Britain's Foreign Secretary. It was also signed by the comte de Jarnac. He was France's representative in London.
How the Agreement Ended
The Jarnac Convention was supposed to last for 40 years. But in 1880, France took control of two islands. These were Raiatea and Tahaa. The islands asked France for help. They wanted to avoid being taken over by the German Empire.
In October 1887, Britain and France officially ended the convention. This led to a rebellion on the islands. The fighting lasted for ten years. France eventually took full control of the islands by force. Raiatea and Tahaa, along with the other Leeward Islands, became part of French Polynesia on March 19, 1898.
See also
- Kingdom of Bora Bora
- German Samoa
