Figure 1.--This photograph shows a little village school in the French Congo during the early 1900s. The schools in French colonies were at first largely set up and run by missionaries. This began to change in the 20th century as the French Government began to play a greater role. The school in the photo here was established and run by the colonial authorities. The photo was probably taken in 1906.

France began to build a vast colonial empire in the 17th century. It established colonies in North America, the Caribbean, and India. It could have been France that settled North America and that would have had enormous geo-political implications for the 20th century. In the end, not very many Frenchmen wanted to leave the comforts of France and settle in the North America wilderness. In sharp contrast, quite a number of British people decided to cross the Atlantic for a mix of ecoonomic and religious reasons. The larger English population, the Royal Navy, and Britain's superior political and financial system proved decisive. France lost North America in the French and Indian War (1754-63), the North American segment of the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Most Europeans at the time thought it was a minor colonial conflict, it turned out to be perhaps the most significant war of the 18th century. France also lost India to the British. Napoleon after obtaining Louisana from the Spansh, for a time toyed with the idea of restablishing a North American empire. In the end, largely because of the destruction of the French army in Haiti, he abandoned the idea and sold Louisiana to the United States (1803). After the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century, France set about building a new empire. The first step was seizing Algeria (1830). Tunisia and Morocco followed later. France was also a major player in the late-19th century Scramble for Africa. France had two colonial regions in Africa. Afrique occidentale française (French West Africa--AOF) consisted of eight colonies: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (today Mali), French Guinea, Ivory Coast, Niger, High-Volta (Burkina Faso) and Dahomey ( Benin). Afrique Équatoriale française (French Equitorial Afric--AEF) included four colonies: Gabon, Middle Congo (Republic of Congo), Oubangui-Chari (Central African Republic) and Chad. The AEF had less infrastructures than AOF because of the equatorial forest, but especially because there are less raw materials. France also acquired Indo-China and Pacific island colonies. One of these was New Caledonia (1853). After World War I, France acquired two League of Nations mandates in the Middle East--Lebanon and Syria. After World War II, France attempted to piece together its empire, but fought two disasterous colonial wars (Viet Nam and Algeria).

First French Colonial Empire (16th-18th Centuries)

France began to build a vast colonial empire in the 17th century. It established colonies in North America, the Caribbean, and India. It could have been France that settled North America and that would have had enormous geo-political implications for the 20th century. In the end, not very many Frenchmen wanted to leave the comforts of France and settle in the North America wilderness. In sharp contrast, quite a number of British people decided to cross the Atlantic for a mix of ecoonomic and religious reasons. The larger English population, the Royal Navy, and Britain's superior political and financial system proved decisive. France lost North America in the French and Indian War (1754-63), the North American segment of the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Most Europeans at the time thought it was a minor colonial conflict, it turned out to be perhaps the most significant war of the 18th century. France also lost India to the British. Napoleon after obtaining Louisana from the Spansh, for a time toyed with the idea of restablishing a North American empire. In the end, largely because of the destruction of the French army in Haiti, he abandoned the idea and sold Louisiana to the United States (1803). The issue of te French colonial empire was fefinitively settled at Trafalgur with Nelson's destruction of te combined Spanish and French fleets.

Second French Colonial Empire (19th-20th Centuries)

After the Napoleonic Wars and the Bourbon Restoration in the 19th century, France set about building a new empire. This time there would be no serious challenge to the British Empire. The dominance of the Royal Navy was so total that the French decided to operate within the wold trading system establoished by the British. The new French colonisl empire woild be the second largest in the world. It would be, however, a pale imitation of the British Empire. The blue that colored world maps in competition with British pink, included a huge expanse of barren desert or poor African colonies. And there was no attempt to create a Fracosphere to compete with the British Anglosphere (America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa). The first step was seizing Algeria (1830). The French move into North Africa put a final end to Barbasry Piracy. Tunisia and Morocco followed later. France was also a major player in the late-19th century Scramble for Africa. France had two colonial regions in Africa. Afrique occidentale française (French West Africa--AOF) consisted of eight colonies: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (today Mali), French Guinea, Ivory Coast, Niger, High-Volta (Burkina Faso) and Dahomey ( Benin). Afrique Équatoriale française (French Equitorial Afric--AEF) included four colonies: Gabon, Middle Congo (Republic of Congo), Oubangui-Chari (Central African Republic) and Chad. The AEF had less infrastructures than AOF because of the equatorial forest, but especially because there are less raw materials. France also acquired Indo-China and Pacific island colonies. One of these was New Caledonia (1853). The French colonies plasyed a role in World War I, but not as importasnt as the British Domimnions and utlimately America. After World War I, France acquired two League of Nations mandates in the Middle East--Lebanon and Syria. The NAZIsllowed Vichy to retain control of the French colonies, but they soon came undert attack from the Free French and British. The first Anglo-American offensive of the War was launched at French North Africa--Operation Torch (November 1942). After World War II, France attempted to piece together its empire, but fought two disasterous colonial wars (Viet Nam and Algeria). The second in ASlgeria almost tore France apart.

Created: 6:59 AM 2/2/2009
Last updated: 6:07 AM 7/23/2009