France France and Benelux Countries Guided Notes Pages 297-301

A. History

1. France is the ______country in Western Europe.

2. France has gone back and forth many times between monarchy and ______.

3. After Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and ruled as an emperor, France returned briefly to a ______.

4. Political instability and frequent changes in government continued.

5. In 1958, French voters agreed to a new ______that gave their president greater power.

B. Culture

1. Most French citizens have a very strong cultural identity and take pride in their culture.

2. Many people have emigrated from France’s former colonies in North Africa and ______.

3. France is highly ______and heavily settled. Because space is scarce, ______are more common than houses.

4. Each year on July 14, the French celebrate ______.

C. Government and Economics

1. Today, France is a ______democracy with power concentrated at the national level.

2. In France, the executive branch includes a president and a ______.

3. France’s economy is one of the strongest in the world.

4. France is Europe’s largest export of farm ______.

5. The fertile soil of the Northern ______Plain covers much of France.

6. France is an EU member, major producer of ______, high speed trains and ______.

7. France has been the world’s top ______destination for several years.

France France and Benelux Countries Guided Notes Pages 297-301

A. History

6. France is the ______country in Western Europe.

7. France has gone back and forth many times between monarchy and ______.

8. After Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and ruled as an emperor, France returned briefly to a ______. 9. Political instability and frequent changes in government continued.

10. In 1958, French voters agreed to a new ______that gave their president greater power.

B. Culture

5. Most French citizens have a very strong cultural identity and take pride in their culture.

6. Many people have emigrated from France’s former colonies in North Africa and ______.

7. France is highly ______and heavily settled. Because space is scarce, ______are more common than houses.

8. Each year on July 14, the French celebrate ______.

C. Government and Economics

8. Today, France is a ______democracy with power concentrated at the national level.

9. In France, the executive branch includes a president and a ______.

10. France’s economy is one of the strongest in the world.

11. France is Europe’s largest export of farm ______.

12. The fertile soil of the Northern ______Plain covers much of France.

13. France is an EU member, major producer of ______, high speed trains and ______.

14. France has been the world’s top ______destination for several years.

The Benelux Countries

A. The Netherlands, ______and Luxembourg belong to an economic union known as the ______countries.

B. The Netherlands

1. Spain finally recognized the Netherlands as an independent from Dutch rule in ______.

2. Most Dutch are ______, and the official language of the Netherlands is ______.

3. Nearly half of the land is below sea level, so living space is scarce.

4. ______are drained lands which account for nearly 40% of the land in the Netherlands.

C. Belgium and Luxembourg

1. For many years, Belgium was part of the ______. It gained its independence in 1830.

2. At one time, cultural differences between the Dutch-speaking Flemings and the French-speaking Walloons caused serious tension.

3. The government eased the tension by giving both groups greater ______. 4. Autonomy is self-governance or independence.

5. Luxembourg is one of the ______countries in Europe.

6. In 1890, it broke away from the ______to become a duchy, which is a state ruled by a ______or duchess.

7. Many of Luxembourg’s people are ______, or able to speak several languages.

The Benelux Countries

A. The Netherlands, ______and Luxembourg belong to an economic union known as the ______countries.

B. The Netherlands

5. Spain finally recognized the Netherlands as an independent from Dutch rule in ______.

6. Most Dutch are ______, and the official language of the Netherlands is ______.

7. Nearly half of the land is below sea level, so living space is scarce.

8. ______are drained lands which account for nearly 40% of the land in the Netherlands.

C. Belgium and Luxembourg

8. For many years, Belgium was part of the ______. It gained its independence in 1830.

9. At one time, cultural differences between the Dutch-speaking Flemings and the French-speaking Walloons caused serious tension.

10. The government eased the tension by giving both groups greater ______.

11. Autonomy is self-governance or independence.

12. Luxembourg is one of the ______countries in Europe. 13. In 1890, it broke away from the ______to become a duchy, which is a state ruled by a ______or duchess.

14. Many of Luxembourg’s people are ______, or able to speak several languages.