Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a remnant of the once large colony of New France. This is the last piece of land in North America that still remains in French hands. Islands had a rather checkered history. Their support of the American Revolution caused the British invasion and deportation of residents. In the days of Prohibition in the United States, the islands lived through a period of great prosperity, being the center of alcohol smuggling. During the Second World War they were loyal to the French Vichy regime, what nearly led to the Canadian attack. In the last four centuries the economy was based on cod fishery. Overfishing led to the collapse of that industry. Today, islands are French overseas collectivity and exist only because of the financial support of France.
