Comparison between French and British Colonial Administrative Policies
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| British | French | |
| (i) | British administration used an Indirect rule system, ruled through traditional rulers. | French colonial administration used a direct rule system. |
| (ii) | It pursued an indirect rule policy. | It used policy of assimilation1. the process of taking in and fully understanding information or ideas. 2. the absorption and digestion of food or nutrients by the body or any biological system. More initially and later changed to policy of association. |
| (iii) | It respected African culture, customary laws, religion, and way of life. | It did not respect African customs and traditions. |
| (iv) | It regarded all Africans as subjects. | It divided Africans into citizens and subjects. |
| (v) | Education was not restricted, it was thrown open to all. | Education was restricted. |
| (vi) | It administered each distinct colony distinctly. It used decentralization of Political administration. | It administered all her West African Colonies as a centralized Federation with administrative headquarters in Dakar. |
| (vii) | The colonies were not regarded as an integral part of Britain or Overseas Britain. | The colonies were regarded as an integral part of France or Overseas France. |
| (viii) | It made use of the native authority to administer the colonies and therefore excluded educated elites. | It did not make use of the native authority rather it used French officials. Paramount rulers were regarded as the lowest cadre of civil servants. |
| (ix) | Educated elites were excluded from the administration. | Educated elites were included in the system. |
| (x) | Forced Labour, indigenatThis policy stated that West Africans could be arrested and detained for two years without trial by the French administrators. It was an obnoxious policy that received world condemnation. Indigénat is... More policy and other obnoxious policies were not in use. | It used forced labour, indigenat policies, Military Conscription. |
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