Madagascar
There are over twenty African countries that have French as their official language (There is a video at the bottom that shows most of them, and there is a link to see all of them here), or their langue officielle. The history of how Madagascar became a French colony and then eventually becomes an independent country, however, interests me the most. Colonization was never an easy thing to do (There was always bloodshed on both sides) and especially not on this not so little island.
Madagascar is a large island off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean (In land area it is more than twice the size of Great Britain). It was first sighted in 1500 from a Portuguese ship that was on the new route to India. However, it took a whole century until other countries started paying any attention to it. In the 17th century Portuguese missionaries tried to go and convert the Malagasy, the people of Madagascar, to Christianity.
Around the same time Britain and France attempted to establish settlements. French was much more successful. The French troops maintained a fortress at Fort-Dauphin for thirty years. The French left in 1674 after a large massacre. However, the kings of France still claim rights over the island. After that the only Europeans that ended up there happened to be Pirates.
The French maintained a close contact with the island during the 19th century. In the 1830's Ranavalona I expelled most of the Europeans from the island. One of the men who stayed was Jean Laborde. Radama II, the son of Ranavalona I, decides to give concession to European entrepreneurs, he then chose a French company.
In 1883 a French warship bombards the port town of Tamatave, after the people refuse to make the land a French protectorate. The French then move to the northern tip of the island to capture Diégo-Suarez. Two years later Diégo-Suarez was ceded to France as a useful naval base. There was a brief war 1895, when the British Prime Minister wanted to send an army. Madagascar becomes a French colony.
Madagascar's economy did very well under the French rule. Railways were introduced, roads were improved, and new crops were cultivated (including coffee and tobacco) to supplement the existing exports of rice and cassava. It didn't take long before 75% of the country's external trade was with France.
After World War II Madagascar was an over seas territory under the French Union, which then became the French community. The country's independence followed in 1960. It was called the Malagasy republic. Elections soon confirmed Tsiranana as their president.
Around the same time Britain and France attempted to establish settlements. French was much more successful. The French troops maintained a fortress at Fort-Dauphin for thirty years. The French left in 1674 after a large massacre. However, the kings of France still claim rights over the island. After that the only Europeans that ended up there happened to be Pirates.
The French maintained a close contact with the island during the 19th century. In the 1830's Ranavalona I expelled most of the Europeans from the island. One of the men who stayed was Jean Laborde. Radama II, the son of Ranavalona I, decides to give concession to European entrepreneurs, he then chose a French company.
In 1883 a French warship bombards the port town of Tamatave, after the people refuse to make the land a French protectorate. The French then move to the northern tip of the island to capture Diégo-Suarez. Two years later Diégo-Suarez was ceded to France as a useful naval base. There was a brief war 1895, when the British Prime Minister wanted to send an army. Madagascar becomes a French colony.
Madagascar's economy did very well under the French rule. Railways were introduced, roads were improved, and new crops were cultivated (including coffee and tobacco) to supplement the existing exports of rice and cassava. It didn't take long before 75% of the country's external trade was with France.
After World War II Madagascar was an over seas territory under the French Union, which then became the French community. The country's independence followed in 1960. It was called the Malagasy republic. Elections soon confirmed Tsiranana as their president.
| Here is a video about the other French speaking countries in Africa. |
References:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/madagascar
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/madagascar-guide/
http://www.infoplease.com/country/madagascar.html
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad26
http://www.wildmadagascar.org/overview/loc/14-history_1894-1960.html
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_by_languages.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/madagascar
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/madagascar-guide/
http://www.infoplease.com/country/madagascar.html
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad26
http://www.wildmadagascar.org/overview/loc/14-history_1894-1960.html
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_by_languages.htm