Its main goal was to advocate for reforms in the French protectorate in order to give more political autonomy and equal treatment to Tunisians.
The party, known as the Jeunes Tunisiens (Young Tunisians), was formed in 1907 who thought that the people of Tunisia should have self-determination, rather than being a protectorate of France.
[2] The movement was inspired by the Young Turks of the Ottoman Empire and the Egyptian National Party led by Mustafa Kamil Pasha.
[1] Due to the protests and clashes, France decided to sharpen its colonial policy by censoring the press and limited the Young Tunisians in 1912.
In the first issue of Le Tunisien, the Young Tunisians wrote:"Une réforme complète de l'Enseignement s'impose.
It is up to France, in an effort worthy of its traditions and its democratic ideal, to decree free and compulsory primary education throughout the Regency.
("It is only through school that we will succeed in forming among the younger generations a new and modern soul, capable of freeing itself from racial prejudices and guarding against all religious intransigence.
A few years later they had been pardoned but with the First World War going on they decided to wait before starting to demand reforms and change in the Tunisian society.
[9] After the end of the war, the Young Tunisian start to meet again with new members and decide that they want to push their demands again.
Abdelaziz Thâalbi wrote with the help of several intellectuals from the Young Tunisians La Tunisie Martyre, a book that fulfills this wish.