1 / 15

L’Histoire de la Belgique

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 38 th in world for GDP (PPP)

veitch
Download Presentation

L’Histoire de la Belgique

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. L’Histoire de la Belgique Par: Samuel LeBus

  2. Overview • 3 Official Languages: French, Dutch, German • Nickname: Battleground of Europe • Motto: “L’union fait la force” (Unity makes strength) • Anthem: “La Brabançonne”

  3. Economy • Official currency: Euro • 38th in world for GDP (PPP) • 20th in world for GDP (PPP) per capita

  4. 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

  5. Kings of Belgium in Order • Leopold I • Leopold II • Albert I • Leopold III • Baudouin I • Albert II • Philippe I (Current) • Elisabeth (Next in line)

  6. Major Cities by Population • Brussels (Capital) • Antwerp • Liège • Ghent • Charleroi

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Flanders vs. Wallonia • Northern region • Dutch speaking • Richer • More Industrial • Southern region • French speaking • Poorer • More Agricultural

  14. 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

  15. FIN

More Related