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...
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