Now Let's Take a Closer Look So We Can Really See What's Going On:
Here is the world around around 1700 with French territories shown in red:
Then, here is the world in 1900:
Places that are no longer under French control but are still showing signs of heavy influence are in pink. (you'll have to excuse Canada, I need to find some way to mark only the lower eastern region).
Here it is again around 1950:
(oh my goodness, what's going on in Africa??)
To learn more about COLONIALISM, choose some of these fine links:
Brief info on the French empire
They actually had a meeting to divy up Africa
French colonisation in Algeria
French colonisation in Morocco
More about Colonisation in Africa
Finally, here is what the heavily French-influenced world looked like in 1960:
What happened??
Under increasing pressure from the UN and from the US and European countries, President de Gaulle granted independence to many nations in Africa.
