French Imperialism in Africa
The French post at Bakel on the
Senegal River in 1887
France’s Experience in Africa
• First had long interest in region bordering the Mediterranean Sea because of its own
coast line between Italy and Spain.
• The French first occupied African soil in Algeria in 1830 while trying to reestablish
their authority in the Mediterranean.
• In the year 1684 Louis XIV ordered the attack of Algiers in an effort to retrieve
Christian slaves.
• Failed to defeat Al-Qadir.
• The first French plan of south of the Sahara took place along the
Senegalese coast in 1843
France's Power and Lasting Effects in Africa
The British at the time were in control of the Suez Canal. This canal, also known as the
highway to India, was a faster and more efficient way to get from the Mediterranean
Sea to the Red Sea. The British wanted to buy the canal but the British did not want this.
Eventually, buying it piece by piece, the French gained control of most of the canal making
them have more power.
France claimed that it was to better for the nations of Africa to be "helped", but if you asked a person of
African descent they will most likely not be too happy with what the Europeans did. Some say it did help, however,
there are two sides to the story and in most of the nations that were imperialized it left them with a
government and an education system. For example, France imperialized Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia,
leaving them with a great education system, a language, a culture, and a good government structure.
The British at the time were in control of the Suez Canal. This canal, also known as the
highway to India, was a faster and more efficient way to get from the Mediterranean
Sea to the Red Sea. The British wanted to buy the canal but the British did not want this.
Eventually, buying it piece by piece, the French gained control of most of the canal making
them have more power.
France claimed that it was to better for the nations of Africa to be "helped", but if you asked a person of
African descent they will most likely not be too happy with what the Europeans did. Some say it did help, however,
there are two sides to the story and in most of the nations that were imperialized it left them with a
government and an education system. For example, France imperialized Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia,
leaving them with a great education system, a language, a culture, and a good government structure.
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