Anti-slavery decrees only freed slaves who had homes to return to.

Evidence

Elsewhere in the federation, the 1903 and 1905 decisions regarding slavery had a mixed impact, depending on the historical conditions of slavery and the attitude of local administrators. Where administrators felt strongly about slavery, and, perhaps more important, the slaves had homes to which to return, a genuine liberation took place. In areas where slaves had been part of the household for generations, the decrees of 1903 and 1905 did not change their status significantly. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 344

Categorization

• XREF: Relates to the reader’s stated theme of French republicanism being imposed on West Africa and its uneven local effects.