Jen,+Juan

**Algiers, France ** **By: JayJay **

Algeria is located in North Africa, and has been ruled by many groups throughout history. In the 10th and 13th centuries Algeria was ruled by a series of Muslim dynasties, the Almoravid, Fatmids and Almohads. Algeria prospered most during the Almohad period and united North Africa and Muslim Spain. In 1492 Christian Spain took control of many Algerian Ports. Then in 1518 Ottoman Turks invaded and made Algeria part of the Ottoman Empire. Under Turkish rule, conducted piracy against European ships over the next three centuries. Then in 1830 the French invaded and conquered Algerian leader in 1847. One million French- European settlers came to Algeria and confiscated Muslim land, “creating a prosperous colonial society totally removed from the Muslim majority” (Algeria). Taking away the Muslim majority gave them to political rights and had no benefit from colonial riches. In 1945, nationalist movements at Setif, ended with 88 French citizens dead, this lead to the deaths of thousands of Muslims in French reprisals. Then in 1947, France finally granted Muslims the right to vote on separate electoral roll, but they were still not given the full political equality.



From 1954 to1962 the Algerian War of Independence broke out. This was one of the longest and bloodiest wars fought to overcome French rule in Africa. France was unsupported by its allies and was found isolated. For 130 years the Algeria was the center of the French Empire. Algeria became the headquarters for the French Foreign Legion. By 1960 there were 1 million European colons in Algeria. Muslims were kicked to the rural areas of Algeria while the colons lived in the urban area. Finally after eights years of fighting “crowds in Algiers celebrate their country's Independence Day on July 4, 1962. A referendum held three days earlier secured Algerian independence from France” (Watson).



**Works Cited**  "Algeria." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 21 Aug. 2010. .

 Watson, William E. "Algerian War of Independence." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 21 Aug. 2010..

Discrimination against Arabs in France
**By: JayJay ** Before France took over Algiers the mass majority of the population was Muslims. By 1960 more then one million colons, Europeans settled in Algiers. Once the Colons settled into Algiers discrimination towards Muslims began to occur. The Europeans and Muslims lived very separate for 80 years “most of the colons lived in urban areas, while the Muslims lived inrural areas” (Watson). Arab people did not assimilate with the colonial society and there for were discriminated against by the French. The French did not even have to put up a fight when taking over Algeria, so they believed they had the right to just change everything and pretty much just forget that the Arabs were there. 

The Europeans favored the Berbers, whites that lived in North Africa, over the Arabs. The Colons favored the Berbers over the Arabs because the “Berbers shared a common Mediterranean heritage with Europeans” (Watson). This gave the Berbers the same rights as the Colons while the Arabs got no rights. After a while the Arabs started to fight for there freedom. In 1929 when the Great Depression hit the lives of Muslims were changed. Many Muslims moved in to cities and the birthrate climbed due to modern health care. The French wanted to preserve what they had. They promoted colon interests instead of reform for Muslims. But pro-Muslim reform failed due to political pressure. “French political theorists debated between policies of assimilation and autonomy for the colony's Muslims, but the Muslim majority remained largely disaffected and resentful of the privileged status enjoyed by the colons” (Watson). The Muslims were discriminated against because they were different. They had a different culture and away of living so once the Europeans came in they classified them as unworthy of their way of life. Watson, William E. "Algerian War of Independence." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 22 Aug. 2010. 
 * Works Cited**

"Members of the Algerian National Liberation Front." Image. AP Photo. World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 22 Aug. 2010. <http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Absurdism ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">By: Frucci ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">﻿Absurdism is a philosophical thought that the efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning would fail because no such meaning exists. Absurdism relates to existentialism and nihilism. Albert Camus, French Algerian philosopher and writer, rejected some aspects of the Absurdism philosophical thought. Albert Camus published The Myth of Sisyphus in this piece of literature he “defines the human condition as absurd, as the confrontation between man's desire for significance, meaning and clarity on the one hand – and the silent, cold universe on the other” (Absurdism). So each individual has a choice and recognition of that is a defensible option. Absurdism is humans attempt to find meaning in their lives. One can either follow one of two paths, meaningless or a purpose set by a higher power. After WWII ended the social environment was stimulated by absurdist views and allowed for them to become popular in France.



<span style="color: #e71818; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: normal;">"Absurdism, like methodical doubt, has wiped the slate clean. It leaves us in a blind alley. But, like methodical doubt, it can, by returning upon itself, open up a new field of investigation, and in the process of reasoning then pursues the same course. I proclaim that I believe in nothing and that everything is absurd, but I cannot doubt the validity of my proclamation and I must at least believe in my protest." -Albert Camus, The Rebel **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">﻿ Works Cited ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"Absurdism." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Aug. 2010. Web. 23 Aug. 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Nihilism ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">By: Frucci ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Nihilism is based on the idea that there are no absolute values in the world since there is no supreme being. Nihilism was developed in the mid- 19th century as a philosophical and political movement in Russia. Albert Camus said nihilism was the most disturbing problem in the 20th century. The Rebel “paints a terrifying picture of “how metaphysical collapse often ends in total negation and the victory of nihilism, characterized by profound hatred, pathological destruction, and incalculable death” (Camus). Camus became attracted to contemporary nihilism. He believed in Absurdism and not Nihilism. Nihilism is the belief that life is meaningless. A nihilist would believe in nothing, they would have no loyalties, and no purpose in life except the impulse to destroy it. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="color: #e71313; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The modern mind is in complete disarray. Knowledge has stretched itself to the point where neither the world nor our intelligence can find any foot-hold. It is a fact that we are suffering from nihilism. -Albert Camus

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">﻿ Works Cited **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Camus, Albert, The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt, Random House, Inc., New York, 1991.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"Nihilism." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 22 Aug. 2010. <http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/>

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 190%;">Industrial Revolution in Europe ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">By: Frucci ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Between the 1780s and 1849 Europe went under a huge economic transformation that launched the Industrial Revolution. This revolution changed how human labor, consumption, family structure, and social structure would be seen. It involved a lot more then technology, it included economic growth, subsequent development of new markets, changes in transportation of goods, improved communications, and changes in social structure, however technology was a huge part of it. In the 18th and 19th century technological knowledge was booming, thanks to the different types of industries. Industrial growth was due to growing urbanization “By the mid-19th century, only half of the English population still dwelled in rural areas. Over the following 50 years, the same became true for many European countries” (Industrial). More and More peopled moved into cities where more and more factories were being built. The Industrial Revolution is perceived as one of the 19th centuries greatest achievements.

**Works Cited** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"History of Europe :: The Industrial Revolution -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 21 Aug. 2010. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/195896/history-of-Europe/58404/The-Industrial-Revolution>

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"Industrial Revolution." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> 2010. Web. 21 Aug. 2010. <http://www.worldhistory.abc-clio.com>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"The Industrial Revolution of the Eighteenth Century." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. Web. 21 Aug. 2010. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/INDUSTRY.HTM>.