Editing Charleroi (section)

===1830 to present===
[[File:Charleroi - pont de la gare - mai 1940 - 01.jpg|thumb|The station bridge partially collapsed in May 1940 under the effect of French army explosives]]

The [[Belgian Revolution]] of 1830 gave the area its freedom from the Netherlands and ushered in a new era of prosperity, still based mostly on glass, metallurgy and coal, hence the area's name, ''Pays Noir'' ("Black Country"). After the [[Industrial Revolution]], Charleroi benefited from the increased use of coke in the metallurgical industry. People from across [[Europe]] were attracted by the economic opportunities, and the population grew rapidly.

Following the [[Industrial Revolution]] in [[Wallonia]], Charleroi from the 1850s–1860s became one of the most important places where labor strikes broke out. In 1886, 12 strikers were killed by the Belgian army in [[Roux, Belgium|Roux]]. In the 1880s, miners in [[Province of Hainaut|Hainaut]] were recruited by the Dominion Coal Company in [[Glace Bay, Nova Scotia]].<ref>But a consular report indicated they were dissatisfied with wages and working conditions, and they moved to other mining centers. These Walloon miners were experienced in organizing unions and working-men's associations. They immigrated also to collieries on [[Vancouver Island]] in Canada. See Louis Balthazar, Leen Haenens, ''Images of Canadianness: Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics'', International Council for Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa Press, 1998, {{ISBN|0-7766-0489-9}}.</ref> These miners were anxious to flee the repression following bloody strikes and riots in [[Liège]] and Charleroi<ref>Louis Balthazar and Leen Haenens, ''Images of Canadianness: Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics'', International Council for Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa Press, 1998, p. 73, {{ISBN|0-7766-0489-9}}.</ref> during the [[Walloon Jacquerie of 1886]]. Walloon miners from Charleroi also emigrated to [[Alberta]], Canada.<ref>
Miners from Wallonia began arriving at the collieries in Alberta to work for West Canadian Collieries, founded in 1903 by a group of French and Belgian entrepreneurs, and for Canadian Coal Consolidated, a [[Paris]]-based firm. Léon Cabeaux, a well-known union leader, who had organized a particularly [[Walloon Jacquerie of 1886|violent strike]] in Hainaut in 1886, settled in [[Lethbridge]] and soon attracted disgruntled compatriots from the collieries in [[Pennsylvania]] in the US. The miners soon became deeply involved in labor radicalism, because in Alberta the [[mine disaster]]s were among the worst anywhere, and there were no provisions for the welfare of families of the miners maimed or killed in the workplace. Frank Soulet, Joseph Lothier and Gustave Henry emerged as dedicated socialist union leaders. in Louis Balthazar and Leen Haenens, ''Images of Canadianness: Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics'', International Council for Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa Press, 1998, p. 75, {{ISBN|0-7766-0489-9}}.</ref> The working men of Charleroi always played an important role in [[Belgian general strikes]] and particularly during the Belgian general strike of 1936, the [[Royal Question|general strike against Leopold III of Belgium]], and the [[Belgian general strike of 1960–1961|1960–1961 winter general strike]].

By 1871, the fortified walls around the city were completely torn down.

[[Battle of Charleroi|Heavy fighting]] took place during [[World War I]] due to the city's strategic location on the Sambre. The city was badly damaged with further destruction only being prevented by the [[Couillet Treaty]] agreed with the German forces which required the payment of 10 million Belgian Francs, foodstuffs, vehicles and armaments.<ref>{{cite news|author=Harriet O'Brien |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/charleroi-phoenix-from-the-flames-8658772.html |title=Charleroi: Phoenix from the flames &#124; Europe &#124; Travel |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=2016-08-07}}</ref> The magazine ''[[Spirou (magazine)|Spirou]]'', which featured the popular cartoon characters [[Lucky Luke]] and [[the Smurfs]], was launched by the publishing company [[Éditions Dupuis]] in 1938.<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|title=Charleroi: A richly rewarding gem &#124; Europe &#124; Travel|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/charleroi-a-richly-rewarding-gem-2348130.html|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> After [[World War II]], Charleroi witnessed a general decline of its heavy industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/belgium/articles/the-10-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-charleroi-belgium/|title=The 10 Best Things To Do In Charleroi, Belgium|first=Ester|last=Meerman|website=Culture Trip|date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Following the merger with several surrounding municipalities in 1977, the city {{as of | 2013 | lc = on}} ranks as the largest city in [[Wallonia]] and the 4th largest in Belgium.