The Algerian Independence Movement

Ben Bella

King Louis Philippe

Abd al Qadir

Charles De Gaulle

Gamal Abdul Nasser

The French Invade

1830: France invades after 3 yr blockade and despite Turkish resistance (43,000 men)

France looted, destroyed cemeteries, ruined mosques despite “civilizing mission”

France’s gov’t simultaneously changed – Charles X deposed, Louis Phillipe named

Liberal gov’t opposed invasion of Algiers, but occupation remained for national prestige

1834 France annexes occupied areas as a colony (contains approx 3 mil. )

Regime du sabre: gov. general is high-ranking army man – has military & civil jursidictionn

Land, Land, Land!

French authorities take beylik lands (Ottoman state-held land)

As settlers increase, France takes tribal, religious – held lands, and villages

Bertrand Clauzel (soldier/politician) forms private company to gain land and subsidize Euro settlement

As Gov general he encourages soldiers & officials to invest in land….increases vested interest of colons

Increase in commercial agricultural interest & economic enterprise using cheap land and labor

Early Opposition Algiers : Ahmad Ibn

Muhammad, bey of Constantine

Overhauled Ottoman admin – replaced Turks w/ locals, Arabic official language, reforms according to laws of Islam – beat French under Clauzel 1836

Fr came back later to capture Constantine

ABD al QADIR:leads jihad against French & local allies

A marabout & politician; he gains support of people – controls 2/3 of Algeria in 1839

France & al Qadir make peace treaties & break them - brutality against civilians

Morocco & Egypt are safe havens

In exile in Damascus , al Qadir intervenes to save lives of 12,000 Christians including French consul & staff (from Ottomans) – becomes French hero

1871 Kabylie Uprising

Due to new rules regarding sales of grain, Muslims sold grain at high prices and were not allowed to keep reserves as had been the traditional practice

France doesn’t provide enough aid to starving population - resentment

Kabylie rises up against the French – who crushes them & imposes stricter rules, due process revoked, could jail people up to 5 yrs w/o trial

The Colony 1845 Royal Ordinance to divide admin: 3

types– 1: Communes Plein Exercise-full exercise

of French gov’t – mayors, councils– 2: Communes Mixtes – Muslims are

majority, but substantial Euro pop. - some elected officials, reps of great chieftans, & French administrator

– 3: Communes indigenes: remote areas, not pacified, - regime du sabre

1848 N. Algeria under French Control French saw bureaux arabes as hinderance to

colonial rule COLONS WANT MORE AUTONOMY/ CONTROL

1863: Napoleon III travels to Algeria, impressed by arab culture makes concessions –

1865: Muslims could serve in armed forces & civil service, could migrate to France, got protection of French & Muslim laws, but if for citizenship, Algerians must reject muslim laws in favor of French laws (marriage, inheritance)

Fewer than 3000 chose to become citizens

1871 France loses Franco-Prussian War – refugees from Alsace-Lorraione go to Algeria

Colonial Hegemony

Les Colons dominate administration in Algeria 1890’s: Despite spots on local councils, Muslims

have very limited spots on local councils and no spots on legislative councils

Colons become permanent fixtures in NA, then exert disproportionate influence

Economically, colons control most of the manufacturing, mining, agric. & trade

Dual economy: – Colons control modern sectors, 2/3 of

agriculture, and all of ag exports– Muslims form basis of traditional sector –

cereals & subsitance farming (but done on marginal lands)

– Taxes are higher on Muslims than Euros: 90 % of population earns 20% of income & pays 70% of taxes

Education suffers – little money spent on locals, 5x for French, religious schools not funded, in 1890’s fewer than 5% of Algerian kids attend any kind of school

Even France recognizes the destruction of ruling class leaves them without valid go-betweens