French West Indies - What and where are they?
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The term French West Indies is used to refer the islands in the Caribbean, in the Lesser Antilles, that are French Territories or Departments which include: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, St. Barts and St. Martin. 
French West Indies
The French West Indies consists of the two French Overseas DepartmentsGuadeloupe and Martinique. These Caribbean Departments d’Outre Mer include the Guadeloupe dependencies of - St. Martin, St. Barthelemy (St. Barts), Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade. • Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• Les Saintes
• Marie-Galante
• St. Barthélemy (St. Barts)
• St. Martin
History: Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Guadeloupe on November 4, 1493. Originally called Karukéra (Island of Beautiful Waters) by the Carib Indians, he named the island after the famous sanctuary of Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Estremadura. Because the island had little gold and silver, Europeans did not take a great interest in the island until the 17th century. For a brief period the Spanish had tried to settle Guadeloupe, but they were stopped by the ferocious Carib Indians. In the early 1600's the French began to colonize the island and through slavery were able to make a success from the production and trade of spice, sugar and rum.
In 1848 slavery was abolished and Guadeloupe was represented for the first time in the French Parliament in 1871. It officially became part of the French Overseas Departments on March 19, 1946.
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