The Timeline

• In 1659, the main city and trading center St. Louis was made in Senegal.

• Soon after this, in  1670, the French took over the huge Dutch slave port in Goree

• 1756, the seven year war began between Britian and France

• At the end  of the war, in 1763, Britain had taken over parts of Senegal that they would later return in 1816

• In 1848, the slave trade was abolished by the French, damaging the economy of Senegal

• In 1895, the French officially added Senegal to French West Africa

• Senegal's first African representative entered French parliament in 1914

• Senegal made a national assembly in 1956 

• After 301 years since the creation of St. Louis, Senegal gained its independence and became part of the Mali Federation in June of 1960

• August of 1960, Senegal gained its full independence and made Leopold Senghor its president

• 1963, the first Senegal Constitution was created

• 1981, Senghor stepped down and Abdou Diouf became president

• Abdoulaye Wade became president after 20 years of Abdou Diouf as leader in 2000

• Leopold Senghor dies at 95 in December of 2001

1. What are the main turning points in this timeline? Why are they the most important?

2. Click this link to go to Senegal Current Politics.

3.  Click this link to go to Effects of Colonization.

4. Click this link to go to Senegal's Independence.