during the late 1870s and 1880s, the republican majority launched an education reform with the bert law, creating the normal schools; and the ferry laws, that secularize public education. however, grévy also signed the so-called "lois scélérates" ("villainous laws") that restricted the freedom of the press and france started a colonial expansion in africa, creating protectorates in madagascar and tunisia. despite this semi-authoritarian policies, the republicans refused to be charged with conservatism and continued to proclaim themselves of the left, republicanism in france being historically associated with the left-wing. this paradox was later identified as "sinistrisme" ("leftism").