▁the ▁French ▁Parliament ▁and ▁thus ▁was ▁central ized . ▁The ▁colon ies ▁had ▁local ▁assemb lies ▁but ▁these ▁had ▁only ▁limited ▁local ▁power . ▁Instead , ▁various ▁n atives ▁of ▁the ▁over se as ▁territ ories ▁in ▁metropol itan ▁France ▁grew ▁into ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁el ites , ▁known ▁as ▁. ▁ ▁On ▁January ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁hoping ▁to ▁having ▁peace ▁in ▁Al gi ers , ▁the ▁system ▁changed , ▁abandon ing ▁assim ilation ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁aut onomy , ▁allowing ▁territ ories ▁to ▁develop ▁their ▁own ▁local ▁government ▁and ▁to ▁eventually ▁gain ▁their ▁independence . ▁This ▁would ▁not ▁succeed ▁however ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 8 ▁the ▁French ▁Union ▁was ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁French ▁Community ▁by ▁' s ▁Fif th ▁Republic ▁where in ▁France ▁was ▁now ▁a ▁feder ation ▁of ▁states ▁with ▁their ▁own ▁self - g overn ment . ▁ ▁With draw als ▁from ▁the ▁French ▁Union ▁ ▁Camb odia ▁with d rew ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁September ▁ 1 9 5 5 . ▁ ▁South ▁Vietnam ▁with d rew ▁on ▁ 9 ▁December ▁ 1 9 5 5 . ▁ ▁La os ▁with d rew ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁May ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁by ▁am ending ▁its ▁constitution . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁Dec ol on ization ▁First ▁Ind och ina ▁War ▁CE FE O ▁French ▁Community ▁French ▁colonial ▁emp ire ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Further ▁reading ▁ ▁Cooper , ▁Frederick . ▁" F rench ▁Africa , ▁ 1 9 4 7