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Devil's Island

Definition

Devil's Island is a small rocky island off the coast of French Guiana where Alfred Dreyfus was imprisoned after his wrongful conviction.

Analogy

Think about being sent to detention in the most isolated part of your school where no one can reach you easily. That’s how isolated Devil’s Island was for prisoners like Dreyfus.

Related terms

Penal Colony: A settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general population by placing them in a remote location.

French Guiana: An overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on South America's north Atlantic coast. Devil's Island is located off its coast.

Exile: The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.