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In November 1945 De Gaulle became provisional premier-president, but resigned two months later due to increasing hostility from the people of France. In 1947 he organized a new political movement and in the 1951 elections, his party won the largest number of seats in the French Assembly. The RPF worked to strengthen the central government but in 1953 the movement had so declined that de Gaulle went into retirement. Five years later France was confronted with a threat of civil war over the question of independence for Algeria and once again De Gaulle was called to serve as premier. The National Assembly granted him power to rule by decree for six months but he was subsequently elected president of the newly created Fifth Republic. His new term in office began on January 8, 1959 and he led France into the European Economic Community. He also championed a unilateral nuclear-weapons program for France, which exploded an atomic weapon in 1960. He strengthened ties with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and with Communist China. |
He tried to extend French influence in Asia and Latin America, but displayed resentment against the United States despite the fact he continued to support the US in the fundamentals of its Cold War rivalry with the USSR. In 1965 de Gaulle was elected to a second seven-year term as president, but only three years later in May 1968 de Gaulle faced the greatest crisis since his return to power. Rebellious students and striking workers brought the economic life of France to a virtual standstill. Despite his victory in the next election De Gaulle resigned after his following defeat in a national referendum in April 1969 and retired to his private estate in Colombey-les-deux-Églises. He spent his latter years writing up his memoirs until his death in 1970.
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