Background Information

 Northern Algeria has climates typical to that of Mediterranean climates  It receives an abundance of rainfall which often causes flooding  In the desert areas, brutal winds are common  However the most distinctive feature is the excruciating heat. It can reach up to 120 degrees in the summer, dry heat.

 Algerians are generally Arab-Berbers  Algeria today is 99% Arab-Berber and 1% European  After 132 years of French influence, the country turned into a bilingual country of French and Arab

 French colonized Algeria in 1830  Algeria recieved the heaviest impact of European colonialism of Arabs  French completely took hold of the Algerian education system to “civilize the Arabs”  However, Algeria had 50% literacy, much higher than in France

 After France surrendered to Germany in 1939, Vichy France was formed and further mistreated the Muslims  The Algerian manifesto demanding equality for Muslims was proposed in 1943  Political unrest lead to the war of independence of 1954, where the French surrendered…again