User:Andrew nyr/sandbox/ENGFIN

Introduction
France is a vast and cultured country, one of the largest and most powerful in Europe. All over the developed world we can see French influences on our daily life and even hear French influences in our daily language. As with the United States, immigration is very common in France with many different cultures "putting their own spin" on what French culture is really like. France is also one of the worlds most visited countries for the beautiful contrast between the mountains, beaches, and cityscape. France also is one of the most powerful countries in the world. Overall, France is a powerful country, whos cultural influences spread far and wide, and have a rich and meaningful history of large scale revolutions and oppression. I chose this country because over my years of high school I have studied French and I wanted my final project of English to reflect some of my knowledge of France as a country.

Demographics
Demographics wise, France has a large population of people from all around the world. France is the 22nd most populous country in the world with a population around $65 million, the majority of which live in large urban centers. Due to strict laws surrounding census collection about differentiating people born in France from not, it is hard to tell exact numbers but estimates show that 85% of the population of France is of white or European origin, with 10% from North Africa, 3.5% Black, and 1.5% Asian. Temperatures in France varied on the region, but generally most of France is temperate and has similar weather to that of New Jersey. Winters are also warmer than New Jersey with a general low of 32 f compared to New Jersey with lows of 0. France rests between Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra.

Physical Features
The physical features of France are some of the most beautiful in the world and include many extremes such as high mountains, vast countryside, large rivers, and beautiful beaches. Many major rivers in France help carry goods and transport ships including the well known River Seine that runs through Paris. As France is similar to climates of New Jersey we also see similar plant and animal life including a range of small grasses and wildflowers to the fir, spruce, and mountain pine trees, and the oak, beech and chestnut trees of the lower-elevation deciduous forests. Some well known physical features of France include a portion of the Alps known as the French Alps, the Orleans Forest, and worldwide renowned beaches in the Southern France regions.

History
France has a long and eventful history that includes wars, coups, and revolutions over its long existence. French history lasts longer than many other western societies and can even be seen as early as over 1.7 million years ago. Later, in 1789 France was made up of a system based on class. Low class citizens were very poor and tired of the way that they were being treated by the upper classes. When France itself was going bankrupt because of constant wars and Royal spending, the government decided to wage heavy taxes on the poorest class. The people revolted and killed many upper class leaders. In 1914, France took the side of the allied powers in WWI and eventually succeeded against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria). Years later in World War II France was taken over by the German Nazi forces and the former French Government became a government-in-exile and operated with the allied powers. When the war ended France returned to their former government. In recent years the power of France has increased as they have allied with other world powers such as the U.K. and the U.S. More recently, in 2019 there was non lethal shooting at a mosque in the French town Bayonne. This event helped respark a national movement against racism in France.

Politics
The government of France is actually not dissimilar to that of the United States. The type of Government that they have is a Unitary semi‑presidential constitutional republic which is based on the idea that a president exists alongside a prime minister and a cabinet, with the PM being responsible to the main legislature of the state. The current French President is Emmanuel Macron and the current Prime Minister of France is Édouard Philippe. France has one of the strongest and largest militaries in the world and is one of the few nations to possess nuclear weapons. The French Armed Forces also participate within the UN. France also has very strong surveillance programs comparable to those of the US and UK.

Industry
France is a member of the Group of Seven, which is some of the some of the world's leading industrialized countries. France is ranked as the world's tenth largest and the European Union's second largest economy by purchasing power. France joined 11 other EU members to launch the euro currency in 1999, with euro coins and banknotes completely replacing the franc in 2002. France's main exports include aircrafts (Airbus), plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical medicines, metals, and beverages. France's Main imports consist of vehicles, crude oil, aircraft parts, plastics, and chemicals. France is an active member in the World Trade Organization and their primary trading partners include Germany, UK, and China.

Daily Life
Surprisingly, many stereotypes Americans have of daily life in France are actually accurate to an extent. For instance, mostly all French people can be seen buying fresh bread everyday as it is widely practiced. France has a very strong education system and features many prestigious schools. Education is required in France from the ages of 6 to 16, but a large majority of children start school well before the minimum age, often as young as two years old, and over 50% of 18-21 year olds in France are still in full-time education, or else following a vocational training course. French people are thinner and less casual and more elegant and give more thought to what is appropriate and walk with more grace and have greater flair. The contrast is total and absolute. It applies to people of all ages and not just in cities. French people are usually more “sophisticated” in their day-to-day life compared to people in the USA. Sport in France plays an important role in French society, which is reflected in its popularity among the French people and the nation's strong sporting history. Various types of sports are played and followed in France, the biggest one being Cycling, also one of the most popular, is soccer.

Culture
There are many dishes that are considered part of French national cuisine today. A meal often consists of three courses, hors d'œuvre or entrée (introductory course, sometimes soup), plat principal (main course), fromage (cheese course) or dessert, sometimes with a salad offered before the cheese or dessert. France is famous for the fine arts. The city was and is still home for many artists and great painters, artisans and sculptors. Unsurprisingly, the word "culture" actually comes from France. Just like those of other western first world countries, the music of France reflects a diverse array of styles and consists of a variety of genres. The most famous French dance is considered to be the cancan and it is internationally known as a stereotypically French dance.

Conclusion
Throughout this project I have learned many things about France as a country that I didn't even know during my four years of French class. My thoughts of France have changed over the course of this project in the way that I respect the culture of the country a lot more as a whole now. I do like France and one day I definitely want to visit and see what the country is like. One of the most interesting topics I learned about France was the long history and ability to revolt against bad governments. Overall, France is a powerful country, whos cultural influences spread far and wide, and have a rich and meaningful history of large scale revolutions and oppression. I chose this country because over my years of high school I have studied French and I wanted my final project of English to reflect some of my knowledge of France as a country.