Which of the following policies replaced Assimilation?

Analyze the question: This is about French colonial policy in West Africa. The question asks which policy took the place of Assimilation.

Concept:

• Assimilation was the original French policy. It aimed to turn colonial subjects into "Frenchmen" by teaching them French language, culture, and law. It was based on the idea that French civilization was superior.
• It was largely unsuccessful. It was costly and impractical, and few Africans became French citizens. Only the people of the Four Communes in Senegal (Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée, and Rufisque) really benefited.
• Because of these problems, the French moved to Association. This policy allowed Africans to keep aspects of their own culture and institutions, while remaining under French overall control. Africans were no longer expected to become French. French and African systems existed side by side, with the French as the superior partner.

Checking the options:

• A. Indigenat: This was a legal code that allowed colonial officials to punish Africans without trial. It was a tool of control, not a replacement policy.
• B. Loi cadre: This was the 1956 Overseas Reform Act (Defferre Law). It gave more self-government to territories and came much later, so it did not directly replace assimilation.
• C. Association: This is the policy that replaced Assimilation.
• D. Indirect rule: This was the British system, associated with Lord Lugard, so it does not apply to French policy.

Answer: C. Association

Exam tip: Remember the sequence: Assimilation → Association (both start with "A", with Association coming second). Also, indirect rule = British, while assimilation/association = French. When a question asks about French policies, you can eliminate indirect rule at once.