By Elimu Assistant Team 
🇫🇷 French Colonial Policies Tutorial
Understanding Assimilation & Association in West Africa
📚 What is Assimilation?
Definition: A system of administration where French colonies were given culture and civilization similar to France, influenced by the French Revolution of 1789 emphasizing equality of all men.
1854-1865
Lewis Faidherbe perfected assimilation in Senegal as governor
1789
French Revolution influences with equality principles
🎯 Core Requirements for Africans
Language
Learn French language
Legal System
Practice French legal system
Politics
Apply French civil & political systems
Religion & Culture
Convert to Christianity & adopt French mannerisms
🏢 French Administrative Structure
🏛️ Senegal: Special Case Study
Four Communes: St. Louis, Goree, Rufisque, and Dakar – where full assimilation was applied
👑 Chief Hierarchy in Rural Senegal
| Rank | Title | Responsibility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Chefs de Province | Paramount chiefs, successors of pre-colonial rulers | Traditional Authority |
| 2nd | Chefs de Canton | Tax registers, conscription, forced labor mobilization | French Appointed |
| 3rd | Chefs de Village | Tax collection, law & order, disaster relief | Traditional Heads |
🎁 Privileges of Assimilated Africans
💰 Economic Privileges
Exempted from forced labor
Allowed to work in France
Exempted from paying taxes
Trading rights like French people
🗳️ Political Privileges
Representatives to French Chamber of Deputies
Right to vote (enfranchised)
French judicial system rights
Allowed to retain Muslim law
✅ Why Assimilation Succeeded in Four Communes
Mulatto Population
High percentage readily accepted French culture
Familiar Relations
Long interaction through trade with Europeans
Christianity
Many had already converted to Christianity
❌ Factors That Undermined Assimilation
A
Opposition by local people who didn’t want French interference with their culture
B
Traditional rulers resisted to maintain their authority over people
C
French traders opposed – saw assimilated Africans as commercial threats
D
Risk of undermining colonialism – couldn’t exploit assimilated Africans
E
Missionary education system created segregation
F
Rising nationalism conflicted with assimilation goals
G
Too expensive for French government (colonies not self-supporting)
H
Vast territories made supervision difficult
I
Muslims fiercely resisted conversion to Christianity
J
Racial discrimination – many French never accepted Africans as equals
K
French citizens feared being outnumbered in Chamber of Deputies
🔄 From Assimilation to Association (1945)
Association Policy: Respecting colonial cultures and allowing independent development rather than forcing French civilization adoption.
🔄 Key Changes in Association
| Aspect | Assimilation | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Culture | Adopt French culture completely | Retain local cultures (polygamy, Islam) |
| Legal System | French legal system | Indigenat system (arbitrary arrest possible) |
| Development | Become French citizens | Develop independently as subjects |
| Military Service | Equal service terms | Longer service periods for subjects |
💡 Reasons for the Policy Change
Equality Concerns
Assimilation would lead to equality between French and colonized
Cost Issues
Too expensive for non-self-supporting colonies
Labor Needs
Conflicted with need for cheap African labor
Elite Focus
Only elites could be assimilated effectively
📊 Consequences of Assimilation in Senegal
🧠 Quick Review Questions
Think About It
Why did assimilation work better in the four communes than in rural areas?
Analyze
How did economic interests conflict with assimilation goals?
Compare
What were the main differences between assimilation and association?
🎯 Key Takeaways
- ✅ Assimilation aimed to make Africans “French” in culture and citizenship
- ✅ It succeeded partially in Senegal’s four communes due to favorable conditions
- ✅ Economic, political, and cultural factors led to its ultimate failure
- ✅ Association replaced it in 1945, respecting local cultures while maintaining control
- ✅ Both policies served French colonial interests above African development
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