sheehan

conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique francaise local short form: France Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4% overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, pa French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) overseas departments: French, Creole patois chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May 2007) France has a mixed presidential system, in which a strong president serves as head of state but delegates much authority to a prime minister and cabinet whom he appoints. The monarchy lasted until the French Revolution of 1789, with the establishment of the First French Republic. Napoleon briefly restored the monarchy under the First French Empire (1804-1815). The rest of the nineteenth century alternated between monarchy and republicanism. Napoleon's nephew Louis Napoleon declared a brief Second Republic (1848-1852), but proclaimed himself Emperor of the Second French Empire in 1852. 64,768,389 country comparison to the world: [|21] metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish. France's greatest natural resources are agricultural fertility and extensive forests. Over half of the country is covered with rich farmland, and around 26 percent is forested. There is very little oil, and **France** relies mostly on nuclear energy for its power.
 * //Report Criteria://**
 * **Major Government:**
 * **Major Religions:**
 * **Languages Spoken:**
 * **Current leader or president:**
 * **Brief history of the country including any important people and major wars:**French and Indian War, war between [|Great Britain] and [|France] in [|North America] from 1754 to 1763.**France** was formed in the year 485.
 * .**Currency:**The euro is the basic unit of currency. In the year 2007, 1 US$ equaled 0.78 euros and 1 euro equaled 1.31US$.
 * **Major cultural traditions and (holidays/foods etc..):**national holiday is the Fête Nationale (National Day), celebrated on July 14 in honor of the storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) during the French Revolution, and the Fête de la Fédération (July 14, 1790), a day of national reconciliation. France is noted for its cuisine and a nationwide passion for fine food. Paris is known as a world center of fine dining, with numerous five-star restaurants, but also excels in casual dining, with sidewalk cafes and bistros dotting the streets. There are also numerous regional styles and specialties.
 * **Population:**
 * **Geography:[[image:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/newmaps/fr-map.gif caption="Map of France" link="@https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/maptemplate_fr.html"]][[image:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/fr-lgflag.gif width="185" height="123" caption="Flag of France" link="@https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/flagtemplate_fr.html"]][[image:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/eu/fr_locator.gif caption="Location of France" link="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/fr_largelocator_template.html"]]**
 * France** is the largest nation in Western Europe. In addition to the mainland, **France** possesses numerous overseas departments and territories that are considered part of **France** proper.Much of northern and western **France** is covered by plains or low hills. The south and east are mountainous, except for the southern plain near the Mediterranean.
 * **Major Resources:**

__**Work Cited Page:**__ __**[]**__ __**[]**__ __**[]**__ __**[]**__ __**Book-**__France Enchantment of the World
 * **Major tourist attractions and or historical sights:**Tourism policy is handled by the Ministry of Tourism. In 2003, foreign tourists and visitors spent €32.3 billion ($42.8 billion USD) in France. Visitors come to enjoy the high cultural life in cities such as Paris, as well as the nation's great natural beauty. Among the most famous tourist attractions in Paris are the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Louvre Museum.
 * **Median Family Income:**3,093 euros/month,80%
 * **Must inlude a __Work Cited Page__ with a minimum of 4 resources (1 book 3 websites)****//Report Criteria//**