St. Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of
France, situated in the
northwestern Atlantic Ocean near Canada. It is the only remnant of
the former colonial empire of New France that
remains under French control. The islands are situated at the entrance of Fortune Bay,
which extends into the southern coast of Newfoundland,
near the Grand Banks.
The History of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is one of early settlement by
Europeans taking advantage of the rich fishing grounds near Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and is characterized by periods of conflict
between the French and British.
By the mid-17th century there
were permanent French residents on the islands. From the end of the 17th
century, British attacks led to the French settlers abandoning the islands, and
the British took possession from 1713 to 1763. The French then reclaimed them
and settlers returned to live peacefully for 15 years. French support of the American
Revolution led to a British attack and the deportation of the French settlers.
Possession of Saint Pierre and Miquelon passed back and forth between France and Great Britain for the next 38
years, as the islands suffered attacks by both countries, voluntary or forced
removal of the island's residents, and upheaval associated with the French
Revolution.
France finally reclaimed the islands after Napoleon's
second abdication in 1815, and there followed 70 years of prosperity for the
French fishing industry and residents. However, political and economic changes
led to a slow decline of the fishing industry after the late 19th century.
The islands were an overseas
territory of the Nazi-controlled regime of Vichy
France after the fall of France in World
War II, and were liberated a year and a half later by Free French forces in
1941. After the war, the fishing industry continued to languish, and now fish
stocks have fallen so low that fishing is severely restricted. Saint Pierre and
Miquelon are now trying to diversify their economy into tourism and other areas.