Summary
The French invaded Algeria in June 1830 and established a French colony in North Africa that would last 132 years. For more than a century, Algeria was marked by sharp divisions between its European colonizers and the mainly Muslim people who had occupied the land prior to the arrival of French troops. Discrimination, prejudice, and injustice separated these two groups until a war for independence began on November 1, 1954. After nearly eight years of violence, Algeria became an independent nation in 1962, but it remains a country haunted by violence and struggling to achieve stability and prosperity for its people.
Illustrated with full-color and black-and-white photographs, and accompanied by a chronology, bibliography, and further resources, The Algerian War, Updated Edition provides a clear and comprehensive account of this conflict. Historical spotlights and excerpts from primary source documents are also included.
About the Author(s)
Heather Lehr Wagner is an editor and writer of numerous books exploring social and political issues. She earned a B.A. in political science from Duke University and an M.A. in government from the College of William and Mary.