The indigenat gave French administrators sole penal power over Africans without appeal

Evidence

Traditionally, the local commandant had maintained order in his province through the indigenat, a special penal code that applied only to Africans for the punishment of specific minor offenses. It gave the French administrator the sole right to levy fines, order arrests, and issue jail sentences of up to fifteen days without appeal. However useful the powers of the indigenat were for maintaining French authority on a day-to-day basis, they remained limited in scope and were independent of the civil and criminal laws. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 302

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains the key institution of the indigenat, central to understanding French colonial rule in West Africa.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 302
• XREF: connects to: French courts jailed Africans despite customary compensation for murder.; Assimile status defined which Africans fell under French court jurisdiction

Broader Connections

• French courts jailed Africans despite customary compensation for murder. #exemplifies (0.70)
• Assimile status defined which Africans fell under French court jurisdiction #expands (0.65)