French Colonization of Senegal and Slavery, 1830–1900
This paper examines the French colonization of Senegal and West Africa from 1830 to 1900, focusing on the institution of slavery and the extent to which French actions—deliberate or inadvertent—weakened the hold of masters over slaves in the region. Drawing on primary sources from the National Archives of Senegal, colonial correspondence, and the 1848 Emancipation Decree, the paper traces the complex effects of French law, economic development, and governance on local slavery practices. It argues that while the abolition decree marked a legal turning point, deeply entrenched cultural, social, and economic structures meant that slavery and related practices persisted well into the colonial period.
- Introduction: Research question on French impact on slavery
- Background: Slavery and Society in Pre-Colonial and Early Colonial Senegal: Islamic society, pillaging, and French economic expansion
- The 1848 Abolition Decree as a Turning Point: Legal abolition and its formal but limited reach
- Persistence of Slavery After Abolition: Continued kidnapping, enslavement, and French ambivalence
- How French Actions Weakened the Hold of Masters Over Slaves: Legal frameworks and commerce as indirect forces of change
- Conclusion: Complex legacy of abolition and colonial rule
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What makes this paper effective
- Strong use of primary sources — colonial correspondence, depositions, and archival decrees — to support historical claims rather than relying solely on secondary literature.
- Balanced analysis that acknowledges both the formal French anti-slavery position and the practical limitations of that position, avoiding oversimplification.
- Includes a vivid firsthand testimony (Coumba Diop's deposition) that grounds abstract historical arguments in specific human experience.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper effectively uses the juxtaposition of official policy and on-the-ground reality to build its argument. By placing the text of the 1848 Emancipation Decree alongside archival reports showing continued kidnapping and enslavement, the author demonstrates the gap between colonial law and colonial practice — a classic technique in critical colonial history writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a focused research question, then provides historical and cultural background before analyzing the 1848 decree as a turning point. Two subsequent sections weigh the persistence of slavery against the gradual influence of French governance and commerce. The conclusion synthesizes these tensions without overclaiming in either direction, acknowledging complexity while affirming a clear thesis. The structure follows a problem–context–evidence–analysis pattern appropriate for undergraduate historical research.
Introduction
The French colonization of Senegal and other parts of West Africa from 1830 to 1900 had a significant impact on the region's history and development. One of the most controversial aspects of this period was the practice of slavery, which was widespread in Senegal and other parts of West Africa at the time. While the French authorities initially tolerated and even participated in the slave trade, there was growing pressure from anti-slavery activists and the wider international community to abolish the institution of slavery. In 1848, the French government finally abolished slavery in all its colonies, including Senegal. However, the abolition did not immediately end the practice of slavery, and its effects on the region were muted by the continued practices of pillaging, kidnapping, and slavery by local peoples.
In this context, this paper explores the ways in which French actions might have weakened the hold of masters over slaves in neighboring African societies, whether deliberately or inadvertently, during the period of French colonization from 1830 to 1900.
Background: Slavery and Society in Pre-Colonial and Early Colonial Senegal
Islam had come to West Africa prior to French colonization, and the aristocracy had become largely Muslim.1 Exacting tributes or pillaging local communities were the main means of survival for many families and tribal communities, whether of the Waalo or the Wolof aristocracy.2 Pillaging was such a persistent problem that it prompted Jauriguiberry, Commandant of the Cercle of Dagana, to write a letter to the Governor of Senegal regarding the arrest of two local men — Aliou Kan, chief of Pendaw, and his brother Amedine Kan.3
France began its colonization of Senegal in the early nineteenth century with the establishment of trading posts along the Senegal River. In 1854, the French annexed the kingdom of Waalo and made it part of Senegal, which became a formal French colony in 1895. Culturally and socially, France had transformed from a monarchy to a more egalitarian system of governance, with ideals stemming from the Enlightenment — liberty, fraternity, and equality were championed as its core values.
During the period of French colonization in Senegal, the French established several economic activities that facilitated the growth of commerce and trade. One of the most significant industries was agriculture. In addition to agriculture, the French also developed mining and forestry, which contributed to the growth of the colonial economy. Senegal possessed several natural resources, including gum arabic, gold, and iron, which the French exploited for export to Europe and other regions. To facilitate trade and commerce, the French sought to build infrastructure connecting Senegal to other parts of West Africa and beyond. For example, the Dakar–Saint-Louis railroad, completed in 1885, connected the Senegalese capital of Dakar to the important trading center of Saint-Louis, facilitating the transport of goods and people across the country.4
The French also established several ports along the Senegal River, including Dakar, which became an important center for trade and commerce. The port of Dakar served as a hub for the export of peanuts, gum arabic, and other products, and it also facilitated the import of goods from Europe and other regions. The French introduced their language, Western culture, and governance system to Senegal, which had a significant impact on the region's social and political structures. For example, the French introduced the concept of citizenship, which created a new framework for political participation and representation. This had a major effect on the bond between aristocratic families and chiefs, who were thereafter appointed by the French.5 These were all indirect ways in which the French weakened the hold of masters over slaves: the changes in culture and custom influenced the region over time.
Still, the practice of slavery was prevalent in Senegal and other parts of West Africa at the time of French colonization. Slaves were used as laborers and domestic servants, and their status was determined by ancestry and social position. Although the French abolished slavery in 1848, the practice continued in some areas until the early twentieth century.
Bibliography
ANS (National Archive of Senegal, Dakar), Dossier 13G-103: 84, Correspondence of the Commandant of Dagana to the Governor of Senegal, 1866–1868, item 84, Martin, Commandant of Dagana, to the Governor of Senegal, Dagana, October 11, 1868.
ANS 13G-102: 31 (National Archives of Senegal, Dakar, Dossier 13G-102, Correspondence of the Chief of Post of Dagana, 1864–1865, item 31), June 17, 1864, Jauriguiberry, Commandant of the Cercle of Dagana, to the Governor of Senegal.
ANS 13G-102: 20 (National Archives of Senegal, Dakar, Dossier 13G-102, Correspondence of the Chief of Post of Dagana, 1864–1865, item 20), March 30, 1864.
ANS 13G-103: 59 (National Archive of Senegal, Dakar, Dossier 13G-103, Correspondence of the Commandant of Dagana to the Governor of Senegal, item 59), Martin, Commandant of Dagana, to Governor, January 14, 1868.
Emancipation Decree of April 17, 1848. Center for Overseas Archives, Aix-en-Provence, France: Ministerial Archives, Geographical Series: Senegal. Indigenous Politics of the Senegal River, 1854–1879.
Getz, Trevor. Slavery and Reform in West Africa. Ohio University Press, 2004.
Letter: Governor Valière to Minister, "Envoi de la délibération du Conseil d'Administration portant solution de diverses questions relatives à la situation de la Colonie," Saint-Louis, August 14, 1870 (CAOM FM SG SEN/I/56).
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