1956 — The Law That Redrew French Africa

On June 23, 1956, France's National Assembly passed the loi-cadre Defferre, the framework law that rewrote the political map of French Africa. Each colony gained its own territorial government and universal suffrage, dismantling the old federations of French West and Equatorial Africa in favor of separate territorial politics.

It was a major step toward self-government, though Paris kept defense, foreign affairs, and the currency. Within four years, nearly every territory the law touched was independent. The law's importance lies in that speed. What Paris framed as reform became a doorway, and territory after territory walked through it toward full independence.