COMPARISON OF THE BRITISH AND THE FRENCH COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

CONTENT

1. Comparison of the British and French Colonial Administrations
2. Merits of British and French Colonial Administrations in West Africa
3. Demerits of British and French Colonial Administrations in West Africa

Comparison of the British and French Colonial Administrations

1. Britain did not make any attempt to bring her colonies together in a federation,but France imposed a highly centralized federal system of government for all her territories in West Africa, with headquarters in Dakar.
2. Britain allowed the colonized peoples to retain their culture, while France, especially through assimilation, sought to impose French culture and civilization on the people.
3. The educated elite were not significant in the indirect rule system Britain was discriminatory towards them in her colonies, while France gave the greatest recognition to the educated Africans. They were accorded the title and rights of French citizens.
4. France provided social amenities and her development structures to her Colonies than Britain did. This was because France regarded these colonies as part of France while Britain saw her colonies merely as colonies that would soon be on their own.