The effect of French colonisation in Africa was on a par with that of the British. France had the most numbers of colonies in Africa after Great Britain. French colonies included Algeria, Tunisia, and the Ivory Coast.
One very important effect of French colonisation in Africa was that it spread the French language and many elements of French culture across the African continent. French colonies in Africa used French as an official language in a similar way to the British colonies using English as an official language. Even today the former French colonies still use French as an official language. Having the French language and elements of French culture in common has meant that the former French colonies have had close relationships with each other since independence.
France And Its Cultural Influence on its African Colonies
Unlike the British and other European powers the French did not attempt to convert the populations of their African colonies en masse to Christianity. Instead the largely Islamic populations of Algeria and Tunisia were allowed to practice their religion freely. However the French did attempt to secularise the administrations of their Africa colonies so that they would be similar to the secular state of France itself. Since independence countries such as Algeria have found it difficult to balance Islamic beliefs with secular governments.
Leaving Against Their Will, France, Tunisia, Algeria, and the End Of Empire
The French were less willing to grant their African colonies independence than the British were to leave their colonies. The French had regarded some of their colonies as being part of France itself rather just as being overseas territories that could be allowed independence whenever their populations were deemed to be ready for it. The French would prove to be particularly reluctant to grant independence to Algeria and Tunisia.
In the case of Algeria in particular the effect of French colonisation in Africa was a very adverse one. A large number of French colonists had settled in Algeria between the 1840s and the 1940s and they were vehemently opposed to giving independence to Algeria.
The opposition to independence from the French colonists in Algeria caused a fiercely fought civil war and political crisis in France itself. The deep divisions in France over giving Algeria independence or not brought about the collapse of the Fourth Republic and the recall of General Charles De Gaulle to restore order. General De Gaulle introduced the Fifth Republic and despite widespread opposition granted Algeria its independence.
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