Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean History Practice Exam 2026 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The French West Indies have been classified as overseas departments since 1946, which means they are integral parts of France, enjoying the same administrative status as regions on the mainland. This designation granted them representation in the French National Assembly and allowed them to partake in the same social benefits and rights as French citizens.

In contrast, other political arrangements such as crown colonies, free associations, or Commonwealth realms do not apply to the French West Indies in this context, as those arrangements imply a different level of autonomy or governance. Crown colonies were generally associated with British territories, free association suggests a relationship of independence with periodic cooperation, and Commonwealth realms are countries with a monarch as their head of state, predominantly linked to the British monarchy. The status of the French West Indies as overseas departments emphasizes their inclusion within the French Republic, making option A the correct answer.