Algeria was once part of the Roman and Ottoman Empires. The indigenous people, known as Berbers (also referred to as Algerians or Algerian Muslims), were colonized by France 1830. By 1848, northern Algeria was fully under French control and became a "department" of France with civilian government. Many locals lost their land, and their traditional Muslim leaders were replaced by French officials. By 1870, under the rule of Napoleon III, locals were allowed to apply for French citizenship, and this was granted most frequently to Jews but not to Muslims. This angered many Muslims and eventually led to the rise of a political elite that would challenge French control of Algeria. One such group became known as the National Liberation Front (FLN).

Protests against French rule intensified in the 1930's, and by 1943, a Muslim leader, Ferhat Abbas, had drafted a manifesto, demanding that Muslims be granted the right to political participation. The French responded to this manifesto by offering to grant political rights only to "meritorious" Muslims. Violence erupted between Muslims and colonists, resulting in brutal actions by the French army to end the protests.

Thousands of Muslims died in this conflict, giving liberation movements even more momentum to bring colonial rule to an end. On 1 November 1954, the FLN guerillas launched attacks on military and police establishments. After eight years of war, a ceasefire was reached and a new independent government of the Republic of Algeria was set up under Ahmed Ben Bella.

1 November has since been celebrated as the National Day of Algeria.

Related:

1. 'The War of Independence',[online], available at: mtholyoke.edu [ accessed 28 october 2009]

References:

1. Algeria - History [online] Available at: nationsencyclopedia.com  [Accessed 26 October 2009]
2. History of Algeria [online] Available at: en.wikipedia.org [Accessed 26 October 2009]
3. History of Algeria [online] Available at: historyworld.net [Accessed 26 October 2009]
4. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.