French West Africa with the exception of the Senegalese Communes, the administrative structure of French rule at the lower levels remained constant, based upon the Cercle system. This was the smallest unit of French political administration in French colonial Africa that was headed by a European officer. They might range in size, but French Sudan (modern Mali) consisted of less than a dozen Cercles for most of its existence. Thus, a Cercle Commander might be the absolute authority over hundreds of thousands of Africans. A Cercle consisted of several cantons, each of which in turn consisted of several villages, and was almost universal
Missouri French Vincennes as well as several other locations. Speakers of Missouri French may call themselves ""créoles"" as they are descendants of the early French settlers of Illinois Country. Today the dialect is highly endangered, with only a few elderly native speakers. It is thought that any remaining speakers live in or around Old Mines, Missouri. French colonization of the region began in earnest during the late 17th century by "coureurs des bois" from what is now is modern-day Canada. With French colonial expansion into the North American interior, various missions. forts, and trading posts were established under the administration of New