Madagascar - Colonization, Merina, Independence

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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar"> Madagascar</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0"> <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref23456"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23456">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23457"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23457">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23459"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23459">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23460"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23460">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23461"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Climate">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23462"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Climate#ref23462">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23464"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Climate#ref23464">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279541"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups#ref279541">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups#ref279542">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23463"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups#ref23463">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23466"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Demographic-trends">Demographic trends</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Demographic-trends#ref279543">Social and economic divisions</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23467"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Demographic-trends#ref23467">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23469"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23468"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref23468">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23470"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref23470">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23471"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref23471">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279544"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services">Trade and services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref279545">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23473"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref23473">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23474"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref23474">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref279546">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23476"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23476">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23477"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23477">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23479"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23479">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23480"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23480">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23478"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23478">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23482"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23482">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23483"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23483">Cultural milieu</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279548"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23484"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref23484">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23485"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref23485">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref260868"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Sports-and-recreation">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23486"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Sports-and-recreation#ref23486">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref215855"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23444"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/History#ref23444">Early history</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23445"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/History#ref23445">Madagascar from 1500 to <em>c.</em> 1650</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23446"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810">Political evolution from 1650 to 1810</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23447"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810#ref23447">Early European contacts</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23448"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810#ref23448">The kingdom of Madagascar</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23449"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810#ref23449">Formation of the kingdom (1810–61)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23450"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95">Outside influences (1861–95)</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23451"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95#ref23451">The French period</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23452"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95#ref23452">The colonial period (1896–1945)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23453"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95#ref23453">The French Union (1946–58)</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279549"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-First-Republic">The First Republic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279550"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-First-Republic#ref279550">Transition</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279551"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Second-Republic">The Second Republic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279552"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic">The Third Republic</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref279553"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic#ref279553">Zafy’s presidency and impeachment</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref279554"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic#ref279554">Ratsiraka’s return to power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref279555"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic#ref279555">Political crisis and renewal</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref284071"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Power-struggle">Power struggle</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref314180"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Power-struggle#ref314180">The Fourth Republic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref341163"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Return-to-constitutional-order">Return to constitutional order</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" 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Tsiranana was elected president of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/topic/republic-government" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">republic</a>, and he was instrumental in obtaining its independence on June 26, 1960. Tsiranana and the PSD remained in power until 1972. Under his regime, successive development plans were inspired, according to Tsiranana, by a “grassroots socialism” and were aimed at improving the lot of the peasantry. In <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/topic/foreign-policy" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">foreign policy</a> the bond with <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/France" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">France</a> remained strong, and close relations were established with the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">United States</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Germany" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">West Germany</a>, Taiwan, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">South Africa</a>, and other anticommunist powers.</p><span class="marker p2"></span><span class="marker AM2 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">Although Tsiranana was reelected in January 1972, political and labour unrest culminated in an uprising known as the May 1972 revolution. This, coupled with his own poor health, led him to appoint Maj. Gen. <span id="ref386709"></span>Gabriel Ramanantsoa as <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/topic/prime-minister" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">prime minister</a> with full powers of government, and the First Republic came to an end.</p><span class="marker p3"></span><span class="marker AM3 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <section id="ref279550" data-level="2"><h2 class="h2">Transition</h2> <p class="topic-paragraph">A <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="plebiscite" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plebiscite" data-type="MW">plebiscite</a> on October 8, 1972, confirmed Ramanantsoa as head of government; there was no longer a president after Tsiranana resigned on October 11. The new <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/topic/head-of-government" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">head of government</a> initiated radically different foreign and domestic policies. Under new agreements with France, French military and naval forces were removed from the island, and all French citizens were treated as aliens. Ties were established with the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Soviet Union</a> and other communist nations, and the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">country</a> was withdrawn from the Franc Zone. In 1973 a rural reorganization program—in which elected committees would sell produce to state-owned companies—was initiated, and the government began to take control of joint French-Malagasy organizations.</p><span class="marker p4"></span><span class="marker AM4 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">In the wake of political and social unrest, on February 5, 1975, Ramanantsoa handed power over to a former minister of the interior, Col. <span id="ref386710"></span>Richard Ratsimandrava. He assumed the titles of president and prime minister but was assassinated six days later. A military directorate was then established; it <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="dissolved" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/dissolved" data-type="EB">dissolved</a> on June 15, after naming Lieut. Comdr. <span id="ref386711"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Didier-Ratsiraka" class="md-crosslink">Didier Ratsiraka</a> president and head of the Revolutionary Council. A referendum on December 21, 1975, approved Ratsiraka as president under a new constitution that set up the Democratic Republic of Madagascar.</p><span class="marker p5"></span><span class="marker AM5 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Hubert-Jules-Deschamps/730">Hubert Jules Deschamps</a></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/web/20231207000825/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Raymond-K-Kent/3832">Raymond K. 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Madagascar - Colonization, Merina, Independence | Britannica