1. HOW DID THE FRENCH CONSOLIDATE THEIR POSITION IN ALGERIA BETWEEN 1870 TO 1914?

Approach:
• Brief background of French conquest of Algeria
• How they consolidated themselves after conquering Algeria
• Conclude.
Background
After suppressing the Muhamed Mukram revolt in 1871, the French introduced policies to consolidate their position.
Points to consider
1.They at first used indirect rule i.e. 1850-1870, members of thefijaniyyah brotherhood who had supported the French against Abdel Qadir and his Quadnyyah movement were given posts though it was a mock one as real authority was held by French administration
2After the fall of Napoleon III, they adopted assimilation policy under the first governor general Gueydonia; however this policy did not stand the test of time.
3 They later adopted the policy of paternalism (association)
4They encouraged more settlers in Algeria to match their population with that of the native Algerians and by 1839, there were 25,000 settlers but by 1880, there were 350,000 settlers
5 Forced taxation. Special taxes known as imports Arabs were so, high considering the living standards of Algeria of the time thus kept Algerians in abject poverty and brutal methods of collecting taxes
6 Land alienation, by 1914, Algerians had lost nine million hectares of fertile and to European settlers.Inkabylia region. Many pastoralists were deprived of the grazing lands.
7 Banned importation of guns from Tunisia and Morocco.
8.Use of violence scotched earth policy was adopted; they often took fierce measures to break the nationalistic spirit E.g. general Bugend was quoted to have said; 'We have burnt a great deal and destroyed a Great deal.
9 Introduction of indignant law or' code de indignant'. It stated that any Algerian opposing the French rule could be arrested without trial. This intimidated the Algerians.
10 Established define councils, in areas where settlers settled defence committees were formed which comprised of people who were trained in military matters and could gather intelligence information.
11. Conquest of neighboring countries. In the north east of Algeria, they conquered Tunisia and in the west they conquered morocco. This could end boarder insurgencies for both countries. The two countries could no longer give asylum to Algerian rebels.
12. Introduction of travel documents which were given to Algerians who were traveling from one district to another. This travel ban was meant to limit the co-ordination of any rebellions.
13. Imposed a heavy war indemnity on Algeria of over 36million France after defending Muhammad Mukhrani in the Kabylie rebellion of 1871. Algeria were weakened and scared by this repressive policy.
14. Denial of citizenship, they granted themselves citizenship or nationality to all European children born in Algeria and denied this right to the Algerians This led to a racist arrogant attitude towards the natives which greatly demoralized the Algerians.
15. They also used decrees to consolidate their position in 1870 four decrees were passed annexing Algeria directly to France, these decrees gave all the lands of rebel Itous tribes to the settlers and abolished the Muslim hierarchy known as the beareux arabe. Generally, the decrees stripped Muslim leaders of their political power which Napoleon 11 had given them.
16. The activities of the first arch bishop of Nigeria known as Cardinal Lavigerie he always looked at the Muslim culture as barbaric, he assimilated many young Muslims whom he had put in charitable homes, such then helped in the consolidation of the French rule in Algeria.
17. Imprisonment of Algerian rebels e.g. they confined Abdel Qadir in France for five years and this threatened the would be rebels.
18. Introduced Christianity. Cardinal Lavigerie who was made the first. Archbishop of Algeria in 1867 overtly campaigned for the establishment of the catholic state. This affected Islam which was the unifying factor for Algerians.
19. Construction of infrastructure e.g. port Algiers, they were opened up to link the coast with productive interior for effective exploitation.
20. Replacement of Moslem judicial system with that of the French justice. Moslem Qadhis replaced by French magistrates, courts were reduced in number, Moslems therefore became subjects of the settlers. Judicial procedures were characterized by manipulation, corruption and fraud all which didn’t favour the Arabs.
21 .Replaced traditional Moslem leaders with new salaried officers who wereloyal to the French.
22. Introduction of western education which created a class of elites who at the end supported French rule In Algerian. Subjects like history, literature and political science were not taught
23 The French banned the importation of weapons from Morocco and Tunisiameant to prevent Algeria rebels from obtaining guns which they would destabilize the French.
24 Created a settler army which often/always suppressed Algerian resistances
25 The role of the Peidnoir can’t be underrated in consolidation of the French rule over Algeria, Piednoir were a new generation of the Frenchmen in Algeria born of Algerians as well as French settlers. They opposed any attempts aimed at promoting the welfare of the Algerian Muslims. Their activities greatly weakened the Algerian Muslims to the advantage of the French administrators.