The French Protectorate (1881 to 1957)
In 1830, the French took over Algeria. They intimidated the bey into
accepting the demise of piracy. The resulting loss of revenue plunged
the region into economic chaos. When in 1880, a Tunisian tribe tried to
cross the Algerian border, the French decided to attack. They marched on
directly to Tunis
and violently repressed the uprisings that broke out all over the
country. The Bardo Treaty (1881), and the La Marsa Convention (1883)
acknowledged Tunisia as a French protectorate. Although the bey was
still Tunisia's nominal ruler, he was nevertheless forced to accept and
apply the French reforms, while more and more French civil servants
started occupying administrative functions. Around the old medina the
French built the modern city of Tunis,
with its genuine French appearance and atmosphere. Despite the fact that
Tunisia was officially under "protection", the country became
more and more a French colony. The Tunisians were no more than second
class citizens and lost all of their power and riches.
Between the two world wars, and especially after the second, Tunisian
quality of life deteriorated drastically and misery was all around (only
a small elite of supporters of the colonial power and a minority of
naturalised citizens could look forward to a certain standing). Young
Tunisians found it hard to accept all this inequality and felt ridiculed
in their self-esteem and dignity. They frequently ignited nationalist
uprisings. Violent resistance to French rule boiled up in 1954. After
lengthy negotiations, France promised the protectorate full internal
autonomy (June 1955). On March 20, 1956, Tunisia was recognised as a
sovereign state. A constitutional assembly was immediately created and
at last the dream of many generations came true : the Constitution.
Tunisia became a republic on the 25th of July 1957 and the people
elected Habib Bourguiba as the first president of the Tunisian Republic.