ABSTRACT
French rule in Lebanon was to continue until - like Ottoman rule before it - it came under threat from the broader geopolitical developments of a world war. The Second World War was to cause a significant 'break' in the system of rule in Lebanon, throwing the country into yet another transition period. The constitution pretty rapidly proved itself an enduring factor, which strengthened the inter-sect system in Lebanon. The new areas included in the 'State of Greater Lebanon' were the coastal cities, the Akkar plain, the Beqaa Valley and Jebel Amil. The first two of these had strong Sunni Muslim majorities within their population, while the latter two had strong Shi-ite Muslim majorities. The first president elected under Lebanon's 1926 constitution was Charles Dabbas, a Greek Orthodox. The French had proposed his candidacy primarily to allay the fears of the various Muslim groups that the Maronites, long-time allies of the French, might dominate the new system.
