March 25, 1956 :
Election of the members of the National Constituent Assembly. Elections were won by the lists of the « National Front », led by the Neo-Destour Party and the allied national organizations (Tunisian Labor Union, Tunisian Union for Industry and Commerce, Tunisian Farmers Union) and a number of independent figures.

December 10, 1956 :
The Party’s Political Bureau decided that the appointment of the Government would be the prerogative of National Constituent Assembly.

April 9, 1956 :
The National Constituent Assembly held its first meeting during which Leader Habib Bourguiba was elected President of the Assembly.

April 14, 1956 :
The National Constituent Assembly entrusted Leader Habib Bourguiba with forming the first government of Independent Tunisia, and appointed Jellouli Farès as his successor at the head of the Assembly.

April 17, 1956 :
Leader Habib Bourguiba delivered a speech before the National Constituent Assembly and presented the program of the Independence Government.

Main decisions taken by the Independence Government to materialize independence, to achieve full sovereignty and to establish the foundations for the modern state :

At the national level :

- April 18, 1956 : Tunisification of the police services.
- June 24, 1956 : Creation of the national army.
- June 26, 1956 : Abolishing the corps of « Prefects » and replacing it by the corps of Governors.
- July 31, 1956 : Tunisification of the Radio.
- August 3, 1956 : Abolishing Shari’a tribunals.
- August 13, 1956 : Promulgation of the Code of Personal Status.
- October 8, 1956 : Creation of the National Guard.
- November 3, 1958 : Inaugurating the Central Bank of Tunisia, announcing the issuing of the Dinar, and abolishing the Customs union with France.

At the international level

- March 21, 1956 : The United States of America congratulated Independent Tunisia.
- April 17, 1956 : Tunisia’s independence was recognized by Great Britain.
- May 5, 1956 : Tunisia’s independence was recognized by Switzerland.
- May 8, 1956 : Tunisia’s independence was recognized by Italy.
- During the same period : Tunisia’s independence was recognized by Arab and Asian countries.
- June 15, 1956 : France recognized Tunisia’s foreign sovereignty.
- November 12, 1956 : The UN General Assembly voted for the admission of Tunisia as member.
- September 8, 1958 : Tunisia joined the Arab League.
- November 13, 1958 : Tunisia adopted the policy of non-alignment.
- 1959-1960 : Tunisia was the first African country to join the Security Council.
- 1962 : Tunisia chaired the UN General Assembly.
- May 25, 1963 : Tunisia was one the founding countries of the Organization of African Unity.

Early signs of the change of the system of government

April 24, 1956 :
The National Constituent Assembly unanimously adopted a memorandum presented by Leader Habib Bourguiba, Head of Government, through which the Assembly recommended its Bureau to establish a permanent relation with the Government in order to take cognizance of the state’s affairs, to make consultations, and to call on the Government to provide clarifications. Thus, in addition to its establishment by the Bey, the Government drew its legitimacy also from the trust placed in it by the National Constituent Assembly, elected by the people and entrusted with preserving its sovereignty.

May 15, 1956 :
The Independence Government abolished the Crown Day.

May 31, 1956 :
The Head of Government issued an order that called into question the privileges of the Royal Family, and considered the members of this Family as citizens having the same rights and duties as all members of the people.

June 21, 1956 :
The Independence Government changed the emblem of the Kingdom and defined its new contents : Freedom, Order, Justice.

August 3, 1956 :
The Head of the Independence Government assumed the responsibility of regulatory orders, instead of the Bey.

July 15, 1957 :
The Guard of the Beylical Palace in Carthage was replaced by a unit of the Tunisian Army.

July 18, 1957 :
The Independence Government abolished the system of «Hbous» and decided the recovery of the properties illegally owned by the Royal Family.

July 22, 1957 :
The Political Bureau of the Neo-Destour party held, under the chairmanship of Leader Habib Bourguiba, a meeting devoted to the examination of the system of government.

July 23, 1957 :
The Bureau of the National Constituent Assembly met to prepare the Assembly’s meeting scheduled for July 25, 1957.

July 24, 1957 :
The Cabinet held, under the chairmanship of Leader Habib Bourguiba, a meeting to address organizational issues, in line with the decisions taken during the meeting of Political Bureau held on July 22, 1957.