People's Republic of Benin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
People's Republic of Benin
République populaire du Bénin
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| 1972–1990 | |||||||||
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| Capital | Porto Novo | ||||||||
| Common languages | French | ||||||||
| Government | Socialist Republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
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• 1975–1991
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Mathieu Kérékou | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
| October 26, 1972 | |||||||||
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• Established
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November 30, 1975 | ||||||||
| March 1, 1990 | |||||||||
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | BJ | ||||||||
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The People's Republic of Benin was a country in West Africa. It was located on the Gulf of Guinea. This country was a "socialist state," which means its government controlled many parts of life, like the economy and society. Today, this area is known as the country of Benin.
The People's Republic of Benin began on November 30, 1975. This happened after a coup d'état (a sudden takeover of the government by military force) in 1972. Before this, the country was called the Republic of Dahomey. The People's Republic of Benin lasted until March 1, 1990. At that time, a new constitution was put in place. The country also stopped following the political ideas of Marxism-Leninism in 1989.
Contents
What Was the People's Republic of Benin?
The People's Republic of Benin was a country with a special type of government. It was a "socialist republic." This meant the government aimed to share wealth and resources more equally among its people. It also meant the government had a lot of control over businesses and daily life.
How it Started: The 1972 Coup
The country changed its name and government after a big event in 1972. This was a coup d'état. A military leader named Mathieu Kérékou took control of the government. This changed the country from the Republic of Dahomey to the People's Republic of Benin.
Years of Change: 1975 to 1990
The People's Republic of Benin officially started in 1975. For about 15 years, the country followed socialist ideas. Its capital city was Porto Novo. The main language spoken was French.
The End of an Era
The People's Republic of Benin came to an end in 1990. This happened for a few reasons. One big reason was the end of the Cold War around the world. Many socialist countries were changing their ways.
New Constitution and Government
In 1989, Benin stopped following the ideas of Marxism-Leninism. This was a major shift in its political system. Then, on March 1, 1990, a new constitution was created. This new constitution changed the country back to a multi-party democracy. It was then simply called the Republic of Benin, which is the country we know today.
