French Colonization of Algeria

In 1830 France first invaded Algeria in order to defeat a blockade set up by King Charles the Tenth. When the French invaded the native population put up a fight against the French. The capital of Algeria, Algiers, was captured by the French. After the France invaded Algeria there was indecision among the French to continue conquering Algeria. While the French were deciding on what to do, Amir Abd al-Qadir, created an Islamic state which controlled about two-thirds of the inhabited part of Algeria.

When the French continued their conquering of Algeria, they encountered considerable resistance from the native people of Algeria. Amir Abd al-Qadir led forces against the French, but they were defeated. Although they were defeated, after struggling to gain diplomatic recognition by some European countries, the French recognized Amir Abd al-Quadir as the leader of the Arabs. Al-Quadir lead more battles against the French, but with little success, although they stopped the French from winning an important victory. The French signed The Treaty of Tafna, in 1837, and it gave Al-Quadir new territories, including the province of Oran and part of the province of Algiers. Al-Quadir accused France of breaking the treaty in 1839 and he started the war up again. He was driven into Morocco by French General Bugeaud in 1843. With the help of the sultan of Morocco, Al- Quadir declared a holy war against France. The armies were defeated by the French in 1844 and after the defeat the sultan stopped helping Al-Quadir. Al-Quadir continued fighting against the French until he had to surrender to the French and was captured by them in 1847. The northern parts of Algeria were divided up into three sections in 1848. Al-Quadir was taken to France and imprisoned there for five years.

France’s control of the northern part of Algeria was not secured until the end of an uprising in 1871. Rule of Algeria by the settlers was made official later that year with the creation of the Third Republic. The settlers took Muslim land and created a colonial society removed from the Muslims, who were the majority of people living in Algeria. The French continued their influence southward in Algeria, and in 1902 the French drew up the boundaries for Algeria.