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French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa former French federation in W central Africa. It consisted of four constituent territories: Gabon , Middle Congo (see Congo, Republic of the ), Chad , and Ubangi-Shari (now the Central African Republic ). The capital was Brazzaville. The federation was formed in large part through the efforts of Savorgnan de Brazza , who forged the link between French possessions in the Congo basin and those in W Africa. French Equatorial Africa (originally called French Congo) was officially established in 1910. Until 1920, Chad and Ubangi-Shari were a single territory. The federation was ruled by a governor-general, resident in Brazzaville, who had a deputy in each of the four territories. About 100,000 sq mi (259,000 sq km) were ceded to Germany as a result of the Agadir crisis (1911) but were returned to France by the Treaty of Versailles. During World War II the federation supported the Free French. In the Fourth French Republic, French Equatorial Africa was given representation in the French parliament and in the assembly of the French Union. When the constituent territories voted (1958) to become autonomous republics within the French Community, the federation was dissolved. In 1959 the new republics formed a loose association called the Union of Central African Republics, and in 1960 they became fully independent republics within the French Community. |
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"French Equatorial Africa." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "French Equatorial Africa." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-FrenchEq.html "French Equatorial Africa." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-FrenchEq.html |
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French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa An administrative amalgamation of French colonies in central-west Africa formed in 1910, from which the modern states of the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gabon, and most of Cameroon (added to the territory in 1920) emerged. It included some of the most underdeveloped parts of the French Empire, but experienced rapid economic progress during World War II, in which it became the initial stronghold of de Gaulle's Free French opposition to the Vichy regime. Led by Eboué, its infrastructure was improved, its administration overhauled and political participation increased. Legal reforms were introduced, freedom of association established, and forced labour abolished by 1946. In that year, it was transformed into a colonial federation, but the new structure failed to produce the degree of uniformity necessary to prevent its breakup into its constituent parts in 1958 when they joined the French Community.
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Cite this article
JAN PALMOWSKI. "French Equatorial Africa." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "French Equatorial Africa." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-FrenchEquatorialAfrica.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "French Equatorial Africa." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-FrenchEquatorialAfrica.html |
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French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa, federation of French colonies comprising Middle Congo, Chad, Ubangi-Shari, and Gabon. Chad's Guyanese governor, Félix Eboué, declared for de Gaulle and the Free French in August 1940, and the same month Free French sympathizers seized control in the Middle Congo whose capital, Brazzaville, was also the administrative centre for Ubangi-Shari and Gabon. The last, after rallying temporarily to the Free French cause, altered its allegiance when Vichy French Forces arrived. It eventually fell to Gaullist and British troops in October 1940 (see Gabon campaign) and Eboué was established in Brazzaville as governor-general of what was called the Equatorial Federation. See also Brazzaville conference.
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Cite this article
I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "French Equatorial Africa." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "French Equatorial Africa." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-FrenchEquatorialAfrica.html I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "French Equatorial Africa." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-FrenchEquatorialAfrica.html |
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French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa A federation of French colonies created in 1910 to consolidate French territories in west-central Africa. Originally called French Congo, its constituent territories were Gabon, Middle Congo, Chad, and Ubangi-Shari (now the Central African Republic). The federation was dissolved in 1958.
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Cite this article
"French Equatorial Africa." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "French Equatorial Africa." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-FrenchEquatorialAfrica.html "French Equatorial Africa." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-FrenchEquatorialAfrica.html |
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