french french french arabic french colonial territory federation french west_africa independent state colony formally called french variety different names course existence colony initially established largely military project led french troops came civilian administration number administrative early 1900s brought increasing french administration issues like agriculture religion slavery following world war significant political force pushing independence initially retained close connections france joined short lived federation ties countries quickly weakened french colony formally began distance france colonial establishment french originally formed set military outposts extension french colony area offered france little economic strategic gain military effectively advocated greater conquest region partly fascination great rose prominence area partly promotional opportunities military conquest offered french military personnel french conquest began dispatched area establish fort survey land railroad followed establishment number french forts political alliances specific leaders region early 1880s administrative structure area largely control french governor significant colonization simply military forts outposts including important established civilian administration french governor formally ruled area military officers region largely bypassed leaders answered directly commanding officers paris gradually took territory inter ethnic rivalries political tension leaders area appoint french supportive leaders french civilian administrators struggled military leaders forces went number leadership changes territory appointed military governor led military campaigns resistant leaders region varying success campaigns executed direct military control civilian oversight costs increased french administration decided replace control area civilian governor administration jurisdiction region governed number different names area august renamed capital october french divided southern joining coastal colonies rest split administrative areas called upper region organized unified colony changed finally changed french borders administration colony similarly changed number times originally initial period colony military administration civilian administration french formally came civilian administration lasted point reorganization colony split southern provinces french colonies like area reorganized governed linked french colonies following territory colony borders shifted slightly little territorial change point colony french modern dissolved northern territory added french french borders eventually borders original capital city 1890s capital moved remains agriculture colony supported rain fed agriculture limited irrigation years cash crops nuts gathered close railroad following successful tests growing egyptian cotton west_africa world war began campaign construction large irrigation system river starting significant irrigation projects later began bring water french believed project rival major cotton growing centers egypt united_states unlike agricultural projects french west_africa french irrigation project initially relied families voluntarily lines established colonial authority unable attract volunteers colonial authorities began try forced cotton project office founded main organization planned agricultural projects farmers resisted forced petitioned permanent land rights land usually held property office despite efforts significant cash crop economy develop religious policy like rest french west_africa colony number policies islam muslim communities arabic language islamic law preferred colony french establishment colonial government largely codified easy maintained formal neutrality policy regards religion french colonial administration began regulate islamic education early 1900s addition fear pan political rise north_africa led french adopt policies aimed prevent spread islam existed prevent muslim leaders governing non muslim communities indigenous religions christianity existed formal policies french efforts balance spread islam region 1940s religious movement called began based visions single person local administrators allowed movement spread practice seeing potential limiting influence spread islam farther south late 1950s muslim protests riots colony contributed growing independence movement slavery policy like rest french west_africa authorities enforced explicit rules attempt end slavery region government instructed french administrators use slave administrative category anymore followed formal french decree ended slavery french west_africa million slaves french west_africa responded moving away masters settling french supported efforts creating settlements digging wells communities farm away masters process affected southern western parts present day significantly northern eastern parts colony large numbers slaves remained masters according rough estimates area present day slaves moved away slavery relationship thirds remained masters 1920s households slaves tended house animals slavery persisted aspects relationship changed french administration escaped slaves find official protection french authorities cities limited time slaves terms changed political situation willing agree remain received control family life land pass children addition french administration actively worked end slave raiding clear slave trade greatly reducing means acquiring slaves decades abolition slavery practice continued french independence following passage colonies french west african began hold elections increase self determination territories elections held french commonly known won elections french winning neighboring following french constitutional referendum received overwhelming majority support declared republic internal autonomy november area called second colony madagascar join provided internal autonomy linking currency foreign policy defense france early january plans federation linking federation autonomous states april ratified federation formed party won seats legislative elections joined forces dominant party headed federation achieved independence june divisions governance federation resulted dissolution august area french formally proclaimed increasing left september
French Sudan