L’Histoire de la Belgique Par: Samuel LeBus
Overview 3 Official Languages: French, Dutch, German Nickname: Battleground of Europe Motto: “L’union fait la force” (Unity makes strength) Anthem: “La Brabançonne”
Economy Official currency: Euro 38th in world for GDP (PPP) 20th in world for GDP (PPP) per capita
Political Structure Divided into 3 regions: Flanders (Dutch), Wallonia (French), Brussels-Capital (Bilingual) Federal Constitutional Monarchy Parliamentary system of governance Made up of 6 different levels of government Current Prime Minister (51st): Charles Michel
Kings of Belgium in Order Leopold I Leopold II Albert I Leopold III Baudouin I Albert II Philippe I (Current) Elisabeth (Next in line)
Major Cities by Population Brussels (Capital) Antwerp Liège Ghent Charleroi
Pre-1830’s Belgium had been controlled at different times by Spain, Austria-Hungary, France, and the Netherlands Napoleon Surrenders at Waterloo, south of Brussels, in 1815 Independence from the Netherlands on October 4, 1830
Belgian Revolution, 1830’s Started after a performance of Auber’s La Muette de Portici sparked patriotic singing and riots Independence declared October 4, 1830 Leopold I inaugurated as the first King of Belgians on July 21 1831, a national holiday Belgium required to be neutral per the Treaty of London 1839
Belgian Colonial Possessions Belgian Congo 1880’s-1960 Sparked by interest from King Leopold II Ruanda-Urundi 1917-1961 Gained from German war reparations after WW1
World War 1, 1914-1918 Germany invades neutral Belgium in 1914 Brings the United Kingdom into the war Belgium occupied from 1914-1918 Liberated in 1918, King Albert I returns as war hero 1920 Olympic games held in Antwerp
World War 2, 1940-1945 Invaded by Nazi Germany in 1940 Occupied from 1940-1944 Free Belgian Forces escape to Britain; Brigade Piron Site of the Ardennes Offensive Belgium liberated by allied forces in late 1944
Post-WW2, 1945-Present Member of: Benelux Customs Union, 1948 NATO, 1949 European Economic Community, 1957 Benelux Economic Union, 1960 Schengen Area, 1985 European Union, 1993 Eurozone, 1999
Flanders vs. Wallonia Northern region Southern region Dutch speaking French speaking Richer Poorer More Industrial More Agricultural
Language Wars French main language of government from 1830-1945 Flemish movement more prolific after 1945, Dutch language gains equality with French in government Linguistic border between Flanders and Wallonia defined in 1963 Transition to a federal system through a series of 6 state reforms (1970-2011) due to sectional conflicts based on language
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