Tunisian War of Independence
Encyclopedia
The processes of the Tunisian Independence occurred from 1952 to 1956 between France
and a independentist movement under Habib Bourguiba
. Bourguiba became the first President
of the new nation after negotiations with France that led to the independence.
, a Tunisian political party, had formed a powerful base that was supported by the Bey
. Their following lasted until 1934, when Neo Destour
was formed, and brought about by a new generation of young nationalists striving for independence. With a new energized independence movement, the stage was set for a new leader, Habib Bourguiba
.
With the threat of independence, the French immediately banned Neo Destour and sent Bourguiba to a variety of French prisons in France where he spent the next 20 years of his life. World War II brought about a halt in Tunisia’s bid for independence, but helped win Bourguiba a transfer from a French prison to an Axis
one in Rome. The Nazis attempted to pressure Bourguiba into helping the Axis powers with his influence over the Tunisian independence fighters in pushing back the Allied
invasion of North Africa. He refused and was released from prison in 1943 when the Nazi campaign was finally defeated at El Alamein
in Egypt. Upon his return to Tunisia, Bourguiba proposed a concept of gradual independence to free Tunisia from the French which was supported by fellow Tunisians. As a means of forcing the French to leave, the Neo Destour returned to planting bombs and committing terrorist attacks on colonial facilities. As a result, from 1952 to 1954, Bourguiba was imprisoned for the attacks, further fueling the fire between Tunisian Independence and French Rule. In June 1954, new French Prime Minister Pierre Mendès France came to power and immediately instituted a withdrawal policy from Tunisia to lessen the violent backlashes occurring in the colonies.
France still retained control of the Tunisia’s foreign affairs, and gradually the nations returned to the same arrangement of 1881. By November 1955, France granted Morocco
independence; which helped pave the way for Tunisia’s independence. March 20, 1956, Tunisia achieved independence from France proposed by Habib Bourguiba. France, Tunisia, and Western Powers remained in good relations; which helps to bring the country economic aid to this day.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and a independentist movement under Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987...
. Bourguiba became the first President
President of Tunisia
The President of Tunisia, formally known as the President of the Tunisian Republic is the head of state of Tunisia. Tunisia is a presidential republic in which the president is the head of the executive branch of government with the assistance of the Prime Minister of Tunisia, formally the head of...
of the new nation after negotiations with France that led to the independence.
The way to Tunisian independence
The first independence movement was formed by The Young Tunisian Party in 1907. By 1920, the DestourDestour
The Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Destour, was a Tunisian political party, founded in 1920, which had as its the goal to liberate Tunisia from French colonial control....
, a Tunisian political party, had formed a powerful base that was supported by the Bey
Muhammad V an-Nasir
Muhammad V an-Nasir, GCMG was the ruler of Tunisia between 11 May 1906 and 10 July 1922.-Notes:Source: at www.4dw.net...
. Their following lasted until 1934, when Neo Destour
Neo Destour
The New Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Neo Destour, was a Tunisian political party that was founded by a group of nationalist politicians during the French protectorate.-History:...
was formed, and brought about by a new generation of young nationalists striving for independence. With a new energized independence movement, the stage was set for a new leader, Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987...
.
With the threat of independence, the French immediately banned Neo Destour and sent Bourguiba to a variety of French prisons in France where he spent the next 20 years of his life. World War II brought about a halt in Tunisia’s bid for independence, but helped win Bourguiba a transfer from a French prison to an Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
one in Rome. The Nazis attempted to pressure Bourguiba into helping the Axis powers with his influence over the Tunisian independence fighters in pushing back the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
invasion of North Africa. He refused and was released from prison in 1943 when the Nazi campaign was finally defeated at El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
in Egypt. Upon his return to Tunisia, Bourguiba proposed a concept of gradual independence to free Tunisia from the French which was supported by fellow Tunisians. As a means of forcing the French to leave, the Neo Destour returned to planting bombs and committing terrorist attacks on colonial facilities. As a result, from 1952 to 1954, Bourguiba was imprisoned for the attacks, further fueling the fire between Tunisian Independence and French Rule. In June 1954, new French Prime Minister Pierre Mendès France came to power and immediately instituted a withdrawal policy from Tunisia to lessen the violent backlashes occurring in the colonies.
France still retained control of the Tunisia’s foreign affairs, and gradually the nations returned to the same arrangement of 1881. By November 1955, France granted Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
independence; which helped pave the way for Tunisia’s independence. March 20, 1956, Tunisia achieved independence from France proposed by Habib Bourguiba. France, Tunisia, and Western Powers remained in good relations; which helps to bring the country economic aid to this day.