Rattachism

The term "rattachism" derives , indicating a reunification of what has been separated. This looks back to the former unity of the "French period" (1794–1815). Present-day Belgium was conquered in 1795 by the French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was annexed to the Republic, which later became the Napoleonic Empire. After the Battle of Waterloo (1815), Wallonia became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under King William of Orange. Following the 1830 Belgian Revolution, Wallonia became a part of the Kingdom of Belgium. Following the Belgian Revolution, a minority of Walloons called for unification with France. Four newspapers that supported unification were Le Journal de Verviers, Le Journal de la province de Liège, ''L'Industrie and L'Éclaireur''. At this time Rattachists in Verviers were a majority. Rattachists argued that in order to preserve their economic prosperity they must unite with France, and that Wallonia as a region was culturally French. ==Current support==

In France A November 2007 poll published by French newspaper La Voix du Nord found about 54% of French respondents support unification with Wallonia. A 2008 poll found support at 60% among respondents. A 2010 Institut français d'opinion publique (IFOP) poll found that if the Belgian political crisis led to the splitting up of Belgium, 66% of the French respondents would support the unification of Wallonia with France. IFOP has reported that support for unification with France has been rising since 2007. Modern-day French politicians such as Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Éric Zemmour, Jean-Pierre Chevènement, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan and Jacques Myard have all voiced support for Rattachism. Economist Jacques Attali also supports it. Past politicians have also supported it, the most important of which being former President Charles de Gaulle. In Wallonia Another IFOP poll taken in 2010 during the Belgian political crisis found that 32% of Walloons surveyed would support unification if Belgium splits up. Walloon politicians who have at some point voiced support for the idea are Daniel Ducarme, Jean Gol, Claude Eerdekens and . == See also ==