The French policy of Assimilation attempted to make the Africans think and behave like French citizens. Assimilation was a colonial policy adopted by the French in Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries, which aimed to transform the colonies into extensions of France itself. This policy required the Africans to adopt French language, culture, and values, and to assimilate into French society. It involved a process of forced acculturation, which was achieved through the establishment of French schools, the imposition of French laws and institutions, and the exclusion of African cultures and traditions. The policy of Assimilation was criticized for its disregard of African cultures and traditions, and its promotion of a one-size-fits-all approach to governance. It was eventually abandoned in the mid-20th century, in favor of a more decentralized approach to colonial rule.