France, May 20 -- 1853 - France annexes New Caledonia on behalf of Napoleon III. 1864 - Mining industry develops following discovery of nickel deposits. 1864-97 - France uses New Caledonia as a penal colony, sending 22,000 convicts and political prisoners (including revolutionary Communards) to the islands. 1878 - The islands' indigenous Kanak rise up against French troops over loss of land. Two hundreds Europeans and at least 600 insurgents killed. Some 1,500 Kanaks forced into exile. 1878-1921 - Kanak population drops from around 60,000 to 27,000 as Europeans bring over diseases like measles. 1946 - The archipelago becomes a French overseas territory, paving the way for citizenship and voting rights for Kanak people. 1976-8...