French protectorate of Tunisia

The French protectorate of Tunisia, officially the Regency of Tunis, was the period of French colonial rule in Tunisia from 1881 until independence in 1956. The protectorate was established by the Treaty of Bardo on 12 May 1881 after a French military campaign, despite Italian objections. Under the treaty the bey remained in place, but a resident-general directed the administration, and the Tunisian government's scope was further reduced in 1883. Tunis, the old beylical capital, remained the seat of government. French rule built railways, roads, ports, schools and hospitals, largely for the benefit of European settlers, and introduced land laws that transferred property to colonists. Tunisian nationalism emerged with the Destour party in 1920 and was revived by the Neo Destour in 1934. After the German occupation of 1942–1943 and post-war unrest, internal autonomy was granted in 1955 and the protectorate was abolished on 20 March 1956. French troops remained in the country until 1963.