history of Algeria
Quick Summary
Algeria is a North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea and extending deep into the Sahara Desert. Historically, it was part of the Roman Empire and later ruled by Arab-Amazigh dynasties before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. France conquered Algeria in 1830, making it a French département. This colonial rule led to resentment and a fierce war of independence from 1954 to 1962, resulting in Algeria's independence.12
The country has a rich Arab and Islamic heritage, with a significant Amazigh (Berber) population. Despite French influence, Algeria has sought to reclaim its cultural identity. The discovery of oil and natural gas has boosted its economy, making it one of Africa's largest. Major cities include the capital, Algiers, and the port city of Oran.1
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Western colonialismPartition of Africa…French Army busy in the Algerian interior for another 50 years before all Algeria was under full French rule. While Tunisia and Egypt had been areas of great interest to European powers during the long period of France’s Algerian takeover, the penetration of these countries had been informal, confined to…
Read More…French Army busy in the Algerian interior for another 50 years before all Algeria was under full French rule. While Tunisia and Egypt had been areas of great interest to European powers during the long period of France’s Algerian takeover, the penetration of these countries had been informal, confined to…
Read More- Western colonialismAlgeria and French decolonization, from 1956
Between 1956 and 1958 French army commanders in Algeria, politically radicalized, tried to promote a new Franco-Muslim society in preparation for Algeria’s total integration into France. Hundreds of thousands of rural Muslims were resettled under French military control, Algiers…
Read MoreBetween 1956 and 1958 French army commanders in Algeria, politically radicalized, tried to promote a new Franco-Muslim society in preparation for Algeria’s total integration into France. Hundreds of thousands of rural Muslims were resettled under French military control, Algiers…
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North AfricaAdvent of European colonialism…the former Turkish territory of Algiers—from the bey of Constantine in the east and from the Arab hero Abdelkader (ʿAbd al-Qādir) in the west—and another 20 years to replace the army with a civilian administration, following the fall of the French Second Empire in 1870. Algeria’s incorporation into metropolitan France…
Read More…the former Turkish territory of Algiers—from the bey of Constantine in the east and from the Arab hero Abdelkader (ʿAbd al-Qādir) in the west—and another 20 years to replace the army with a civilian administration, following the fall of the French Second Empire in 1870. Algeria’s incorporation into metropolitan France…
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African UnionCreation and achievements of the OAU…border disputes, including those of Algeria and Morocco in 1963–64 and Kenya and Somalia in 1965–67. It monitored events in South Africa and advocated international economic sanctions against that country as long as the official policy of
Read More…border disputes, including those of Algeria and Morocco in 1963–64 and Kenya and Somalia in 1965–67. It monitored events in South Africa and advocated international economic sanctions against that country as long as the official policy of
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Hassan II…the struggle between Morocco and Algeria over Spanish Sahara (later Western Sahara), Hassan strongly promoted Morocco’s claim to the territory, and in November 1975 he called for a “Green March” of 350,000 unarmed Moroccans into the territory to demonstrate popular support for its annexation. Western Sahara was in fact divided…
Read More…the struggle between Morocco and Algeria over Spanish Sahara (later Western Sahara), Hassan strongly promoted Morocco’s claim to the territory, and in November 1975 he called for a “Green March” of 350,000 unarmed Moroccans into the territory to demonstrate popular support for its annexation. Western Sahara was in fact divided…
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MoroccoForeign policy…Western Sahara disrupted relations with Algeria beginning in the early 1970s, because Algeria generally opposed Morocco’s policies there. Renewed tensions in 2021 over Western Sahara and Morocco’s normalization of ties with Israel led Algeria to sever relations with Morocco.
Read More…Western Sahara disrupted relations with Algeria beginning in the early 1970s, because Algeria generally opposed Morocco’s policies there. Renewed tensions in 2021 over Western Sahara and Morocco’s normalization of ties with Israel led Algeria to sever relations with Morocco.
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history of EuropeThe reflux of empire…obtained independence in 1956, but Algeria, legally part of the French republic, aroused far fiercer passions and led to another eight-year war, from 1954 to 1962. Whereas Dien Bien Phu had brought down a French government, the Algerian War caused the downfall of the French Fourth Republic and the accession…
Read More…obtained independence in 1956, but Algeria, legally part of the French republic, aroused far fiercer passions and led to another eight-year war, from 1954 to 1962. Whereas Dien Bien Phu had brought down a French government, the Algerian War caused the downfall of the French Fourth Republic and the accession…
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FranceThe role of referenda…1961, to approve self-determination in Algeria (when 75 percent voted in favour), and again in April 1962, approving the Évian Agreement, which gave Algeria its independence from France (when 91 percent voted in favour). The use of this latter procedure to amend the constitution without going through the preliminary phase…
Read More…1961, to approve self-determination in Algeria (when 75 percent voted in favour), and again in April 1962, approving the Évian Agreement, which gave Algeria its independence from France (when 91 percent voted in favour). The use of this latter procedure to amend the constitution without going through the preliminary phase…
Read More- North AfricaNationalist movements
In Algeria the French refusal of demands by the reform-minded Young Algerians for French citizenship cleared the way for the radical separatist movement of Ahmed Messali Hadj and the Arab Islamic nationalist movement of Sheik ʿAbd al-Hamid Ben Badis. After the war the French were on…
Read MoreIn Algeria the French refusal of demands by the reform-minded Young Algerians for French citizenship cleared the way for the radical separatist movement of Ahmed Messali Hadj and the Arab Islamic nationalist movement of Sheik ʿAbd al-Hamid Ben Badis. After the war the French were on…
Read More - Association of Algerian Muslim Ulama
…advocated the restoration of an Algerian nation rooted in Islamic and Arabic traditions.
Read More…advocated the restoration of an Algerian nation rooted in Islamic and Arabic traditions.
Read More - Raoul Salan
…officer who sought to prevent Algeria from gaining independence from France. In 1961–62 he led an organization of right-wing extremists, the Organisation de l’Armée Secrète (OAS; Secret Army Organization), in a campaign of terror against the government of Charles de Gaulle in both France and Algeria before being captured, tried,…
Read More…officer who sought to prevent Algeria from gaining independence from France. In 1961–62 he led an organization of right-wing extremists, the Organisation de l’Armée Secrète (OAS; Secret Army Organization), in a campaign of terror against the government of Charles de Gaulle in both France and Algeria before being captured, tried,…
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- Thomas-Robert Bugeaud, duke d’Isly
Sent to Algeria for a short period in 1836, Bugeaud defeated Abdelkader, emir of Mascara and hero of the Arab resistance, at Sikkah (July 6), and with whom he negotiated the Treaty of Tafna (1837), which delimited the territories of the two parties. Critical of the traditional…
Read MoreSent to Algeria for a short period in 1836, Bugeaud defeated Abdelkader, emir of Mascara and hero of the Arab resistance, at Sikkah (July 6), and with whom he negotiated the Treaty of Tafna (1837), which delimited the territories of the two parties. Critical of the traditional…
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Bertrand, Count Clauzel…of France and governor of Algeria (1835–37).
Read More…of France and governor of Algeria (1835–37).
Read More- Jean-Baptiste Drouet, count d’Erlon
…be the first governor-general of Algeria and a marshal of France under Louis-Philippe.
Read More…be the first governor-general of Algeria and a marshal of France under Louis-Philippe.
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Aimable-Jean-Jacques Pélissier, duc de MalakoffAfter brief service in Algeria in 1830, he returned there in 1839 to take part in the campaign against the patriot emir of Mascara, Abdelkader. It was during this period that he gained notoriety for killing an entire local population by gassing them in caves, a tactic of irregular…
Read MoreAfter brief service in Algeria in 1830, he returned there in 1839 to take part in the campaign against the patriot emir of Mascara, Abdelkader. It was during this period that he gained notoriety for killing an entire local population by gassing them in caves, a tactic of irregular…
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- FranceCharles X, 1824–30
…opportune moment: news came that Algiers had fallen to a French expeditionary force sent to punish the bey for assorted transgressions. But even this brilliant victory could not divert the fury of the king’s critics. The opposition won 274 seats, the ministry 143. When Charles chose not to substitute a…
Read More…opportune moment: news came that Algiers had fallen to a French expeditionary force sent to punish the bey for assorted transgressions. But even this brilliant victory could not divert the fury of the king’s critics. The opposition won 274 seats, the ministry 143. When Charles chose not to substitute a…
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Charles de GaulleWorld War II…he moved his headquarters to Algiers, where he became president of the French Committee of National Liberation, at first jointly with General Henri Giraud. De Gaulle’s successful campaign to edge out Giraud gave the world proof of his skill in political maneuvering.
Read More…he moved his headquarters to Algiers, where he became president of the French Committee of National Liberation, at first jointly with General Henri Giraud. De Gaulle’s successful campaign to edge out Giraud gave the world proof of his skill in political maneuvering.
Read More- Jacques Soustelle
…Mendès-France appointed him governor-general of Algeria in January 1955. Initially viewed with suspicion by the Algerian French community, Soustelle soon came to be regarded as its principal spokesman, favouring the economic and political integration of Algeria with France. He was recalled in February 1956 by the Guy Mollet government.
Read More…Mendès-France appointed him governor-general of Algeria in January 1955. Initially viewed with suspicion by the Algerian French community, Soustelle soon came to be regarded as its principal spokesman, favouring the economic and political integration of Algeria with France. He was recalled in February 1956 by the Guy Mollet government.
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