WI: Africa under the 2nd French Empire

How might African colonial boarders and the rule of such colonies be different if the 2nd French Empire had remained intact?
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
It might slow down the scramble for Africa, (one of the reasons for why the Scramble got so bad was due to France losing to Prussia in 1871, and it was a great prestige killer because of it)

French colonization in Africa may be reduced, but probably by not a whole lot. The Scramble will probably still occur and we might see an Empire that competes with the British for control over the resources of Africa.
 
It might slow down the scramble for Africa, (one of the reasons for why the Scramble got so bad was due to France losing to Prussia in 1871, and it was a great prestige killer because of it)

French colonization in Africa may be reduced, but probably by not a whole lot. The Scramble will probably still occur and we might see an Empire that competes with the British for control over the resources of Africa.
Didn't they compete for the resources in OTL?

Also how might the rule of the colonies differ from OTL? As I understand it the 3rd Republic tried to federalize the colonies under direct control of the French government. Might the 2nd Empire take a different approach such as the British model of giving each colony its own government?

Also lets take into consideration the changes that could occur if the 2nd Empire becomes a constitutional monarchy and French individuals involved in the colonies take on similar positions in OTL.

Also how might Frances colonial plans in Africa change. As I understand it the French wanted to control north Africa with an uninterrupted boarder from the Pacific to Indian oceans. But that plan fell into conflict with Britain's plan for an uninterrupted boarder from the Cape to the Mediterranean.
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Didn't they compete for the resources in OTL?

Yes they did, and they've been competing for resources in Africa largely after 1870.

Also how might the rule of the colonies differ from OTL? As I understand it the 3rd Republic tried to federalize the colonies under direct control of the French government. Might the 2nd Empire take a different approach such as the British model of giving each colony its own government?

I would say maybe, maybe not. Napoleon did envision for the creation of an Arab Kingdom in what is now the Interior of Algeria, though nothing came out of it. It might have also been a bit of a pipe dream as well that might or might not be exploited by his son and successor when Napoleon III dies (presumably around the mid 1870's) Whether or not he would federalize the colonies under French governmental control or have a Governor-General in the lieu of Great Britain is up in the air.

Also lets take into consideration the changes that could occur if the 2nd Empire becomes a constitutional monarchy and French individuals involved in the colonies take on similar positions in OTL.

The Second Empire was technically a Constitutional Monarchy throughout it's OTL life-span, (though it wasn't in practice until late into Napoleon III's reign)

Also how might Frances colonial plans in Africa change. As I understand it the French wanted to control north Africa with an uninterrupted boarder from the Pacific to Indian oceans. But that plan fell into conflict with Britain's plan for an uninterrupted boarder from the Cape to the Mediterranean.

I don't think France's plans would change really, and we could see a clash between the initiatives of France against the Cape to Cairo plan that was made by Cecil Rhodes. At least that is my opinion, I'm not really to sure about it.
 
Also how might Frances colonial plans in Africa change. As I understand it the French wanted to control north Africa with an uninterrupted boarder from the Pacific to Indian oceans. But that plan fell into conflict with Britain's plan for an uninterrupted boarder from the Cape to the Mediterranean.

The scramble does not need to happen along the same lines as IOTL. I think I recall that the II Empire was actually quite influential in Egypt and that Britain only replaced its with their own influence in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War.
 
I would say maybe, maybe not. Napoleon did envision for the creation of an Arab Kingdom in what is now the Interior of Algeria, though nothing came out of it.
Well assuming that the rest of Algeria nearer the coast is integrated as a part of Metropolitan France that could cause some interesting changes come independence time, presuming of course the hordes of butterflies haven't changed things unrecognisably. IIRC the area around Oran was the best agriculturally, a main location of industry and a large plurality of westerners - there was a briefly considered plan by those opposed to independence to pull all their people and Pieds-Noirs back to the Oran-Tlemcen-Sidi-Bel-Abbes region to form a majority locally and try and break away as their own country, if there's a handy Arab country under their control right next door where you can shove any troublesome natives could see an even more French Algeria much earlier.
 
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