In 1830, Algeria became one of the many African countries to be captured by the French. The French conquest for North Africa continued until the whole region had been colonised. Including Algeria’s neighbouring country, Tunisia in 1881. Both countries have much in common in terms of history and culture, and both countries consisted of a Muslim majority population. The impact which the French colonisation had on Algeria, as well as the French and Italian settlements in Tunisia, is widely disputed. Some praising the Europeans for the modernisation which occurred in north Africa during the time of European colonization. Whereas others look to corruption, chaos and exploitation caused by the French and Italians to dispute the argument that European settlement was ever a positive force within the two Muslim majority societies. This essay will discuss firstly, the social impacts of French imperialism on both Algeria and Tunisia, from language and cultural influences to health and population concerns. Secondly, the political effects of European settlement will be analysed, with the rise of nationalist groups and the differing political treatment of the countries as examples. Finally, it is also important to highlight the economic and developmental results caused by the European imperialists.
The French invasion of both Tunisia and Algeria undoubtedly had a major impact, socially on the two Muslim majority societies in many aspects, particularly health conditions and general modernization. However, it is important also discuss language and religious influences of the French in these countries. During the period of 1830-1945 in Algeria, the European population soared to 1.6 million, which meant over 15% of the countries’ population at the time. Whereas Tunisia had a comparatively lower European population of only around 6-8% during the whole period of colonisation. This therefore, may suggest that the social impact may have been felt more intensely by the Algerians than Tunisians. Although Algeria was said to have a “special status” with the French and was “an integral part of the French nation”.The French protectorate of Algeria soon developed its’ institutional racism, with “the reality of the conquest being founded on a racist picture of the world”and with the French imperialists quickly establishing a hierarchy of races, with the French at the top, and Algerian Arabs at the very bottom. Even in the Islamically dominant country, Algerian Jews were regarded as higher up in the social scale than the Muslims. With Jewish Algerians being permitted to request French citizenship, whereas Algerian Muslims would first have to denounce their religion to be granted the same privilege.Showing clearly the prejudiced view the French held of Algerian Muslim society. This prejudice was echoed in Tunisia with the example of Education, which was under total control by the French director of public education, even in religious schools. Many French officials thought that the modern education system brought in by the imperialists would help by “providing a means of bridging the gap between Arab-Islamic and European cultures”. However, this argument is highly inaccurate, and despite the introduction of Franco-Arab schools, education in both countries remained largely segregated. It is also important to note that a large proportion of the native Tunisians had little to no formal education at all, and in most cases were not given nearly the same quality of education as the French settlers were able to access. Another social impact of the French invasion is that of health. The first of Algeria’s public hospitals were established in the cities of Annaba, Algiers and Oran under French colonial rule between 1883 and 1889. As a result of this, mortality rate dropped significantly. This may have appeared as it was a positive impact of the French settlement, however it led to an increase in population which in turn unearthed a whole host of issues. Algeria was not adequately equipped for such a massive increase to the population. At the time, Farming methods had not yet been significantly modernised and farmers were unable to cope with the increasing demand of the population.The food shortages which occurred led to wide spread poverty, predominantly among native Algerians and a feeling amongst them that their country and people were being exploited. Overall, it is clear that the negative social impacts of the European settlements in Tunisia and Algeria outweighed any supposed positive impacts.
The political impact of the French occupation in both countries is undeniable. However, Tunisia and Algeria were treated completely differently by the French imperialists in terms of politics, especially in the initial arrival of the French in both countries. The French conquest and arrival in Algeria was notoriously violent. Algeria was adamant in their resistance of the French invasion but were still easily defeated by the French. “With nothing to stop the French, Algiers was gripped by panic”.This in turn led to an exodus of thousands of native Algerians towards the mountains in order escape the violence of the cities. However, it can be argued that the French arrival in Tunisia was comparatively less harsh. Whereas the French arrival in Algeria caused major political turmoil, as well as various detrimental effects for the general population, it can be said that “Native Tunisia always managed to roll with the colonial punches”. Tunisia managed to cope relatively well with the French occupation politically, without much violence. However, struggles came in both countries in maintaining some form of a religious state. The original Islamic legal systems were transformed into a more secularised French style system. In addition to this, on French arrival many mosques in both countries were transformed into churches and cathedrals, and in one particular case a mosque in Annaba was converted into a military hospital for French soldiers. This would be highly offensive to the Muslim majority populations, especially as the French had promised the Ottoman Dey that they would respect the Islamic beliefs of the North African people. What It is also important to note of the political differences between the countries, is the fact that Tunisia unlike Algeria was regarded as a French protectorate. The French occupied Algeria for a much longer time than Tunisia, and Algeria was thought of as a part of France rather than a protectorate. This may suggest that the French has a more stifling political presence upon the population of Algeria, than that of Tunisia. However, what both countries had in common were nationalistic political movements which grew from the resentment of the French dominance in their countries. The “Young Tunisians” and “Young Algerians” were nationalist groups established in 1907, in their respective countries. Both emerging out of a desire to regain a sense of power which was more native and representative of the countries’ populations. With the example of the young Algerians who “defended the notion of an Algerian Algeria”.9 and additionally, the young Tunisians who “expressed from 1908 the hope that Tunisia would be granted a constitution”.10 Movements such as these exemplified a collective desire amongst the Maghrebis to work towards their right of self-determination, and diminish the control that the French held over their land. Overall, it is clear that the French had a stronger political hold over the Algerian population, than that of the Tunisians. However, the French occupation ultimately led to the very similar political results in both countries, in the resulting rise in nationalistic ideals of its citizens.
Various European sources from the time of the French occupation of Tunisia and Algeria would suggest that the French were truly benefiting North Africa by providing it with a means of modernization and economic development. Balch discusses both supposed developments in Algeria and Tunisia and argues that “France has done much to advance the country in the line of economic
and commercial progress”,11 and goes on to praise the French for a long list of improvements in the likes of infrastructure and modernized technology. Despite the fact that North Africa did undergo a substantial amount of modernization during the period of French occupation, it is unclear if this was truly in the best wishes of the native populations. Exploitation of both Tunisia and Algeria’s natural resources and goods was a major way in which the French made its profit from its occupations. Natives found it difficult regardless of supposed French improvements to the economy to better themselves economically as in such a society there was a “ceiling above which a native could not expect to rise”.12 Despite improvements to the economy, it was only really the French and a privileged few who experienced the benefits of it. Native Algerians and Tunisians became very much so, an exploited and oppressed under class in their own countries, as a result of pervasive European dominance.