History of French Guiana

1763

The Dutch briefly occupied it for a period in 1676. ==Consolidation of French rule== After the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which deprived France of almost all her possessions in the Americas other than Guiana and a few islands, Louis XV sent thousands of settlers to Guiana who were lured there with stories of plentiful gold and easy fortunes to be made.

1776

When the survivors of this ill-fated expedition returned home, the terrible stories they told of the colony left a lasting impression in France. In 1776, Pierre-Victor Malouet was appointed to the Colony, who brought in Jean Samuel Guisan to establish agriculture in the colony.

1792

The relatively good period ended in 1792 during the French Revolution, when the first prison for priests and political enemies opened in Sinnamary which set a precedent. During the Revolution, the National Convention voted to abolish slavery in February 1794, months after the rebelling slaves had already announced an abolition of slavery in Saint-Domingue.

1794

The relatively good period ended in 1792 during the French Revolution, when the first prison for priests and political enemies opened in Sinnamary which set a precedent. During the Revolution, the National Convention voted to abolish slavery in February 1794, months after the rebelling slaves had already announced an abolition of slavery in Saint-Domingue.

However, the 1794 decree was only implemented in Saint-Domingue, Guadeloupe and French Guiana, and was a dead letter in Senegal, Mauritius, Réunion and Martinique, the last of which had been conquered by the British, who maintained the institution of slavery on that Caribbean island. In 1794, after the death of Robespierre, 193 of his followers were sent to French Guiana.

1797

In 1797 the republican general Pichegru and many deputies and journalists were also sent to the colony.

1800

Cayenne, the capital, was surrounded by plantations, some of which had several thousand slaves. == 1800s and the Penal Era == In 1809 an Anglo-Portuguese naval squadron took French Guiana (ousting governor Victor Hugues) and gave it to the Portuguese in Brazil.

1809

Cayenne, the capital, was surrounded by plantations, some of which had several thousand slaves. == 1800s and the Penal Era == In 1809 an Anglo-Portuguese naval squadron took French Guiana (ousting governor Victor Hugues) and gave it to the Portuguese in Brazil.

1814

However, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1814 the region was handed back to the French, though a Portuguese presence remained until 1817. In 1848 France abolished slavery and the ex-slaves fled into the rainforest, setting up communities similar to the ones they had come from in Africa.

1817

However, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1814 the region was handed back to the French, though a Portuguese presence remained until 1817. In 1848 France abolished slavery and the ex-slaves fled into the rainforest, setting up communities similar to the ones they had come from in Africa.

1848

However, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1814 the region was handed back to the French, though a Portuguese presence remained until 1817. In 1848 France abolished slavery and the ex-slaves fled into the rainforest, setting up communities similar to the ones they had come from in Africa.

1850

Deprived of slave labour the plantations were soon taken over by the jungle, and the planters ruined. In 1850 several shiploads of Indians, Malays and Chinese were brought out to work the plantations but, instead, they set up shops in Cayenne and other settlements. In 1852 the first shiploads of chained convicts arrived from France.

1852

Deprived of slave labour the plantations were soon taken over by the jungle, and the planters ruined. In 1850 several shiploads of Indians, Malays and Chinese were brought out to work the plantations but, instead, they set up shops in Cayenne and other settlements. In 1852 the first shiploads of chained convicts arrived from France.

1853

Charrière managed to escape and later wrote a best-selling book about his experiences called Papillon. In 1853, gold was discovered in the interior, precipitating border disputes with Brazil and Suriname (these were later settled in 1891, 1899 and 1915, although a small region of the border with Suriname remains in dispute).

1885

In 1885, to get rid of habitual criminals and to increase the number of colonists, the French Parliament passed a law that anyone, male or female, who had more than three sentences for theft of more than three months each, would be sent to French Guiana as a relégué.

1891

Charrière managed to escape and later wrote a best-selling book about his experiences called Papillon. In 1853, gold was discovered in the interior, precipitating border disputes with Brazil and Suriname (these were later settled in 1891, 1899 and 1915, although a small region of the border with Suriname remains in dispute).

1895

Famous figures sent to the islands included Alfred Dreyfus (in 1895) and Henri Charrière (in the 1930s).

1899

Charrière managed to escape and later wrote a best-selling book about his experiences called Papillon. In 1853, gold was discovered in the interior, precipitating border disputes with Brazil and Suriname (these were later settled in 1891, 1899 and 1915, although a small region of the border with Suriname remains in dispute).

1915

Charrière managed to escape and later wrote a best-selling book about his experiences called Papillon. In 1853, gold was discovered in the interior, precipitating border disputes with Brazil and Suriname (these were later settled in 1891, 1899 and 1915, although a small region of the border with Suriname remains in dispute).

1930

Famous figures sent to the islands included Alfred Dreyfus (in 1895) and Henri Charrière (in the 1930s).

The Republic of Independent Guyana, in French La République de la Guyane indépendante and commonly referred to by the name of the capital "Counani", was created in the area which was disputed by France (as part of French Guiana) and Brazil in the late nineteenth century. == 20th century == The territory of Inini, consisting of most of the interior of French Guiana, was created in 1930.

1941

Reprint by Blue Ribbon Books, New York, 1941. Belbenoit, René.

1943

This government was removed on 22 March 1943. French Guiana became an overseas département of France on 19 March 1946. The infamous penal colonies, including Devil's Island, were gradually phased out and then formally closed in 1951.

1946

It was abolished in 1946. During World War II the local government declared its allegiance to the Vichy government, despite widespread support for Charles de Gaulle.

This government was removed on 22 March 1943. French Guiana became an overseas département of France on 19 March 1946. The infamous penal colonies, including Devil's Island, were gradually phased out and then formally closed in 1951.

1951

This government was removed on 22 March 1943. French Guiana became an overseas département of France on 19 March 1946. The infamous penal colonies, including Devil's Island, were gradually phased out and then formally closed in 1951.

1964

Food was pushed in and bodies removed once a day. In 1964 Kourou was chosen to be launch site for rockets, largely due to its favourable location near the equator.

1968

The Guiana Space Centre was built and became operational in 1968.

1970

This has provided some local employment and the mainly foreign technicians, and hundreds of troops stationed in the region to prevent sabotage, bring a little income to the local economy. The 1970s saw the settlement of Hmong refugees from Laos in the county, primarily to the towns of Javouhey and Cacao.

1971

Reprint: Bantam Books, 1971. Charrière, Henri.

1976

The Green Plan (Le Plan Vert) of 1976 aimed to improve production, though it had only limited success.

1996

Protests in 1996, 1997 and 2000 all ended in violence.

1997

Protests in 1996, 1997 and 2000 all ended in violence.

1998

Tissot, Jean-Michel: La Guyane telle quelle, Paris (Le Créations du Pélican) 1998.

2000

Protests in 1996, 1997 and 2000 all ended in violence.

2001

(hbk); Perennial, 2001.

2010

While many Guianese wish to see more autonomy, support for complete independence is low. ==21st century== In a 2010 referendum, French Guianans voted against autonomy. On 20 March 2017, French Guianans began going on strike and demonstrating for more resources and infrastructure.

2017

While many Guianese wish to see more autonomy, support for complete independence is low. ==21st century== In a 2010 referendum, French Guianans voted against autonomy. On 20 March 2017, French Guianans began going on strike and demonstrating for more resources and infrastructure.

28 March 2017 saw the largest demonstration ever held in French Guiana. ==Notes== ==References== Belbenoit, René.




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