Editing Ferhat Abbas (section)

== Background ==
The son of a [[Alcalde|caid]], Said Ben Ahmed Abbas and Achoura (Maza) Abbas, Ferhat Abbas was born in the village of [[Taher]], Algeria.<ref name="Magill2013" /><ref name="CB" /> In addition to being a caid in the village of [[Chahna]], his father had also been awarded the rosette and silver braid of a commander of the [[Legion of Honor]].<ref name="CB" />

The young Abbas was educated first at Phillipeville (now called [[Skikda]]), [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]], where he received his baccalaureate. Before finishing his education, he was required to serve in the French army medical corps where he reached the rank of sergeant. Abbas then attended the pharmacy school at the [[University of Algiers]].<ref name="EB">{{harvnb|Hoiberg|2010|p=9}}</ref><ref name="CB" /> After graduating, Abbas worked as a pharmacist in [[Sétif]], where he became involved in politics. There he was elected to the municipal council and then to the general council of Constantine.<ref name="EB" />

During this period Abbas was pro-French in his outlook, as illustrated by such writings as an article dated 1936 titled "I am France".<ref name="CB" /> However Abbas became disillusioned with France, during 1938, when his aspirations for equality showed no sign of being achieved. He accordingly organized the [[Algerian Popular Union]] (Union Populaire Algerienne). This organization promoted equal rights for both French and Algerians whilst maintaining Algerian culture and language as primary values.<ref name="EB" />

With the outbreak of [[World War II]], Abbas volunteered to rejoin the medical corps of the French Army. After his service, his political views continued to evolve and he turned away from France after [[Henri Giraud|General Giraud]] refused his requests to allow Muslims to enlist in their fight against the occupying forces as equals.<ref name="CB" /> His desire for change continued and he turned to [[nationalism]], issuing the ''[[Manifesto of the Algerian People]]'' on February 10, 1943.<ref name="EB" />  The manifesto made apparent the philosophical changes that Abbas had undergone. He now condemned colonial rule by the French and demanded Algerian [[self-determination]]. Abbas argued the need for an Algerian constitution, which would grant equality to all Algerians. In May he, along with some colleagues, added a clause foreseeing a sovereign Algeria.<ref name="EB" /> The manifesto was published on June 26, but was rejected by the governor general. He, along with [[Messali Hadj]] form the [[Amis du Manifeste et de la Liberté]]{{refn|group=nb|This translates as "Friends of the Manifesto and Liberty".<ref name="EB" />}}, and called for an autonomous republic. This initiative resulted in Abbas being imprisoned for a year, and the quick dissolution of the AML.<ref name="EB" /> In 1946, Abbas formed the nationalist political party [[Union Démocratique du Manifeste Algérien]] (UDMA){{refn|group=nb|Translated to Democratic Union of the Algerian Manifesto.<ref name="EB2" />}} when he was elected member of the [[June 1946 French legislative election|Constituent Assembly of France]]. This new organization called for a more moderate approach, such as the formation of an Algerian state with the full cooperation of France. 1946 also saw him named as editor of the publication ''[[Egalité]]''.<ref name="CB2">{{harvnb|Moritz|1961|p=2}}</ref> He remained active in politics as a member of the Algerian Assembly through 1955. During these years he was arrested twice. His continuing efforts as a moderate nationalist did not succeed and he fled to [[Cairo]], in 1956.<ref name="EB2">{{harvnb|Hoiberg|2010|p=10}}</ref> While in Cairo, he worked alongside [[Ahmed Ben Bella]], a fellow revolutionary.<ref>{{harvnb|Rockwood|2007|p=2}}</ref>