Native code (France)
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The Native code was a diverse and fluctuating set of arbitrary laws and regulations which created in practice an inferior legal status for natives of French colonies from 1881 until 1944–1947.
A customary court in French West Africa, c. 1920. Note the native judges are wearing traditional French judges' hats. A uniformed Guard de Cercle stands in the background.
Apartheid signs trainstation
Assimilation was a major ideological component of French colonialism. The concept of assimilation in French colonial discourse was based on the idea of spreading French culture to France's colonies in
Native code (France)
…to enjoy the rights of a French citizen; in this case, they are governed by the political and civil laws of France." That was intended to promote assimilation, but as few people were willing to abandon their religious values, it had the opposite effect. By 1870, fewer than 200 requests had been registered by…
Blaise Diagne, an African politician in French West Africa and a major supporter of the "assimilation" concept.