- The 19th th century is the period of colonial expansion of the great European powers. The colonial empires were formed, and France, at the beginning of the XX th century, is the second largest empire in the world behind Great Britain.
- The British had already organized an exhibition at Wembley in 1924. These events are privileged moments for uniting the nation around its grandeur and its influence. They make it possible, beyond political divisions, to form a national unity.
May 1931 - November 1931
Characters
Gaston Doumergue
Paul Reynaud
André Breton
Leon Blum
Procedure
Inaugurated on May 6, 1931, the Colonial Exhibition of Vincennes is characterized by its grandeur:its scale exceeds that of Great Britain. Major works are organized:line 8 of the metro is extended, pavilions for each colony are planned, as well as a zoological park to transport exotic animals. The immensity of the project is also embodied by the construction of the museum, and the replica of the temple of Angkor Wat (Cambodia), with its 5,000 square meters of surface.
Inaugurated by President Gaston Doumergue, the purpose of the Exhibition is to promote the "civilizing mission" of French colonization:if local cultures are very present, visitors can also see photographs of roads, bridges, school, "brought by the Republic". The Exhibition then made it possible to justify the French colonial policy.
If a form of unanimity crosses the political class around the organization of the Colonial Exhibition, thus attesting to the extent to which colonization is anchored in the spirit of the III th Republic, some do not hesitate to contest the setting up of such an event, like André Breton and the surrealists, or Léon Blum.
Consequences
- The Colonial Exhibition remained for a long time a memorial marker for the French:greatness of the Empire, contribution of civilization to the so-called "inferior" populations... The success of this event (about 8 million visitors) testifies to the attraction for the French colonies.
- For a time, political leaders thought of prolonging the event, but the dismantling of the Exhibition finally took place at the beginning of 1932. A large number of exhibits then went to museums in Paris and France .