2. INTRODUCTION
This chapter on Indo-China will introduce you to one of the
important states of the peninsula, namely, Vietnam.
Nationalism in Indo-China developed in a colonial context.
The knitting together of a modern Vietnamese nation that brought
the different communities together was in part the result of
colonization but, as importantly, it was shaped by the struggle
against colonial domination.
4. EMERGING FROM SHADOW
OF CHINA
Earlier, lots of different groups of people used to live in indo-china
under the shadow of China.
Even after northern and central Vietnam achieved independence, its
rulers continued to maintain Chinese culture and system of govt.
Vietnam was linked to the maritime silk trade route that brought in
people, goods, ideas.
Other networks of trade connected Vietnam to the non Vietnamese
people in the hinterlands—like Khmer Cambodians.
5. COLONIAL DOMINATION
French troops landed in Vietnam in 1858,
by mid 1880s they had a firm grip on the
northern region.
After the Franco-Chinese war, the French
gained control over Tonkin and Anaam. In
1887, French Indo-China was formed.
6. WHY THE FRENCH THOUGHT
COLONIES WERE NECESSARY?
The French believed that it was the mission of
advanced European countries to civilize the
“backward” people.
Colonies were necessary to provide raw materials
and other essential goods.
The most visible form of French control was
military and economic domination but the French
also tried reshaping the culture of Vietnam.
7. RICE CULTIVATION
The French began rice cultivation in Vietnam by:
Building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta. This was done to
increase rice cultivation. It was done mainly with forced labor.
Infrastructure projects. This was done to transport goods for trade, move
military garrisons, and control the entire region.
Trans Indo-China Rail Network. This would connect the northern and
southern parts of Vietnam and China. This was also the final link with
Yunan in China.
It was completed in 1910. There was a second line that connected Vietnam
to Siam(Thailand) via the Cambodian capital (Phnom Penh.)
8.
9. DEVELOPMENT OF COLONIES
Colonial economy in Vietnam was mainly based on
RUBBER plantations and RICE cultivation.
It was owned by the French and a few Vietnamese elite.
Rail and port facilities were set up to service this sector.
Indentured labour was used in rubber plantations.
The French did little to industrialize Vietnam.
Landlordism spread and the standard of living declined.
10. PAUL BERNARD
He was an influential policy maker and writer.
Paul believed that colonies needed to be developed and the standard of living of
the people needed to be raised. If this was done, the people would buy more
goods and this would be beneficial to the French.
He said that the barriers to economic growth in Vietnam were:-
High population levels.
Low agricultural productivity
Extensive indebtedness amongst peasants.
11. THE DILEMMA
There was a dilemma.
Were the Vietnamese to be educated or not?
If they educated the Vietnamese, the colons feared that their
jobs would be taken by the educated Vietnamese. Also, they
would begin to question colonial domination.
So they decided not to educate them fully.
12. DILEMMA CONSIDERING LANGUAGE
There were two broad opinions on whether French should be used as the medium
of education or not.
Some policy makers believed that if they used French as the medium of
education, it would make the Vietnamese respect the French and their culture.
This would help create a solid Asiatic France tied to European France. They
would see the superiority of the French and work for them.
The others believed that they should use Vietnamese as the medium of education
in lower classes and French in the higher classes.
The few who learnt French and acquired French culture would be given French
citizenship.
13. SCHOOLS IN VIETNAM
The Tonkin Free School was started in 1907 to provide a western
style education.
The subjects included French, hygiene and science. But to be
modern, it wasn’t enough to just learn science and western ideas.
The Vietnamese had to look modern too. They were to cut their hair
short, which was a major break with their own identity, as
traditionally they kept long hair.
School textbooks glorified the French and said that the Vietnamese
couldn’t rule themselves. They said that the Vietnamese were skilled
copyists but had no creativity of their own.
14.
15. RESISTANCE IN SCHOOLS
During the period of French colonialisation. Teachers didn’t
always follow the curriculum.
Sometimes there was open opposition, sometimes it was
silent resistance.
As the number of Vietnamese teachers increased in lower
classes, it was difficult to control what was being taught.
While teaching, the Vietnamese teachers quietly modified
the text and criticized what was stated.
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16. SAIGON NATIVE GIRLS SCHOOL
In the Saigon Native Girls School, Once a Vietnamese girl sitting in
one of the front seats was told to occupy the last bench to allow a
local French student to come forward.
She refused, and was expelled by the colon principal. The students
that protested were also expelled, which lead to further spread
protests.
To stop the protests the government forced the school to
take the students back.
The principal reluctantly agreed but warned the students, ‘I will crush
all Vietnamese under my feet. Ah! You wish my deportation. Know
well that I will leave only after I am assured Vietnamese no longer
inhabit Cochinchina.’ 16
17. HOW THE VIETNAMESE USED
EDUCATION TO FIGHT
COLONIALISM?
In other places, students fought against the colonial
government’s efforts to prevent the Vietnamese from
gaining the higher paid jobs.
This brought them into conflict with both the French and
the traditional elite, as both saw their positions threatened.
The students were inspired by patriotic feelings and the
belief that the educated youth needed to fight for the
benefit of society.
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18. POLITICAL PARTIES
Students organised a movement against the Saigon Native
Girls schools which expelled a student.
By 1920s they started forming political parties like Party
of Young Annan and published many journals like a
journal called Annanese Student.
Thus schools became an important place for political and
cultural battles.
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19. PLAGUE STRIKES HANOI
The French, while creating modern Vietnam, set about
to rebuild Hanoi into a new and modern city. In 1903,
the modern part of Hanoi was struck with bubonic
plague.
The French part of Hanoi was built with wide avenues
and large well laid out sewers.
The native quarter, on the other hand, didn’t have any
modern facilities.
The refuse from the old city drained straight into the
river, or during floods, overflowed onto the streets.
20.
21. THE RATS!!!
The large sewers proved a good breeding ground
for the rats, and provided a proper transport system
for the rats to travel to any part of the city.
The rats entered the well maintained houses of
French through sewage pipes and spread plague.
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22. THE RAT HUNT
In 1902, a rat hunt was started to eliminate the rats. The
French hired the Vietnamese and paid them for every rat
caught. Rats were caught in thousands.
On 30May, 20,000 rats were caught. But there was no end.
For the Vietnamese, the rat hunt provided an early lesson in
the success of collective bargaining.
Some of them cut the tail to show as proof and released the
rats.Some of them reared rats to earn money.
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23.
24. RELIGION AND ANTI COLONIALISM
The French effort to destroy the religious believes and
traditions of Vietnam created anti-French feelings.
Scholars’ revolt was organised by the French.
Hoa Hao movement encouraged anti-French feelings
among the people.
Political parties got the support of the religious groups in
the struggle for freedom.
25. SCHOLARS REVOLT
Led by- Officials at the imperial court.
Against- Spread of Christianity (Catholicism) and French power.
Provinces- Ngu An and Ha Tien.
A thousand Catholics were killed. Catholic missionaries had been
converting people since the early 17th century and by the mid 18th
century, had converted around 300,000.
Scholars revolt was crushed by the French but it inspired a lot of
patriots to rise up against the French.
26. HOA HAO MOVEMENT
It was a religious movement started by Huynh Phu So in 1939.
He performed miracles and helped the poor. He opposed child
marriages, useless expenditure, gambling and the use of liquor.
The French called him mad [MAD BONZE] and sent him to a mental
hospital.
The doctor that had to declare him mad, became his follower. In
1941, even the doctors declared him sane.
But they still exiled him to Laos and sent many of his followers to
concentration camps.
28. Phan Boi Chau
Confucian Scholar Activist
Formed the Revolutionary Society in1903 with Prince Cuong De as
head.Became famous for that.
Met Liang Qichao in Yokohama in 1905, and wrote the book “The
history of the loss of Vietnam” under his influence and guidance. The
book focuses on the loss of sovereignty and the severing of ties with
china.
29. Phan Chu Trinh
Intensely hostile to the monarchy.
Opposed to the idea of resisting the French with the help of the court.
Wanted to set up a democratic republic.
Demanded that the French set up educational and legal institutions, and
develop agriculture and industries.
Believed in the French ideal of liberty but Charged at the French for not
abiding by it.
31. RELATIONS WITH JAPAN AND
CHINA
Vietnam had a close relationship with Japan and china. They
provided models for those looking to change, and refuge to those
running from the French, and a location where a wider network of
Asian missionaries could be developed.
In 1907-1908 about 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan for
modern education. For many of them the primary objective was to
drive out the French, overthrow the puppet emperor and re-establish
the Nguyen dynasty.
They were appealing to Japan as fellow Asians.
32. RELATIONS WITH JAPAN AND CHINA
Japan had modernized itself and had resisted colonialization by the
west.
It’s victory against Russia in 1907 also showed its military
capabilities. Vietnamese students established the restoration
society but after 1908, the Japanese ministry of Interior shut them
down. Many people, including Phan Boi Chau, were deported.
Developments in china also inspired Vietnamese nationalists. In
1911, the long lasting monarchy in China was overthrown by a
popular movement under Sun Yat-sen, and a Republic was set up
. 32
34. HO CHI MINH
Ho Chi Minh was the greatest leader of the Vietnamese freedom
struggle.
He united the nationalist groups and formed the Indo- Chinese
communist party.
He became the President of North Vietnam and introduced many
socialist policies.
He formed a people’s army called Vietminh to fight against foreign
powers.
He led the communists and the struggle for freedom for 40 years.
He organised his people for their heroic struggle against American
troops.
36. GENEVA CONFERENCE OF 1954
It was organized by the U.N.
In the peace negotiations in Geneva that followed the French defeat,
the Vietnamese were persuaded to accept the division of the country.
North and south were split: Ho Chi Minh and the communists took
power in the north while Bao Dai’s regime was put in power in the
south.
It was decided to divide Vietnam into two parts.
The North under Communist rule and South under Bao Dai[Puppet
of the French].
37. NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT
Bao Dai’s government in South Vietnam was overthrown by Ngo
Dinh Diem.
He set up an oppressive and dictatorial government.
Anyone who opposed him was called a communist and jailed.
He allowed Christianity and banned Buddhism. So, the people
turned against him.
They formed the NLF and started a war against his government
with the support of North Vietnam.
39. THE NEW REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
The French troops tried to re-establish their control
over Vietnam. So, the new republic had to fight a
war.
Vietnam was divided into two parts in the Geneva
Conference.
The U.S.A entered into the Vietnamese war.
So, the new republic had to fight against the most
powerful country of the world.
40. USA ENTERS IN WAR
The U.S decided to interfere in Vietnamese war
because:
America was strongly against communist
movement.
They had a fear that the victory of communists of
Vietnam would lead to the spread of communism
in Asia.
The U.S.A policy makers underestimated the
strength of the Vietnamese nationalists.
They expected a quick victory.
44. EFFECTS OF VIETNAMESE
WAR ON USA
American people opposed their county’s involvement in
the war.
Only non-graduates had to join the army. So, many poor
men had to go to Vietnam.
Many Americans were killed and many were wounded.
So, their relatives turned against the government.
Many books were written and films were made to show
the sufferings of the American troops.
46. US MEDIAAND FILMS
U.S media and films were divided over the issue
of U.S involvement in Vietnamese war.
Some movies like "Green Berets" directed by
John Wayne supported the war.
Some other movies like ‘Apocalypse Now’,
directed by John Ford Coppola opposed the war
and showed its bad effects.
47. HO CHI MINH’S
TRAIL
Ho Chi Minh’s Trail was a network of roads and footpaths.
Most of the trail was in Laos and Cambodia. It was used by the
Vietnamese in their war against the U.S forces.
It was used to transport goods and people from North Vietnam to
South Vietnam.
It was used for the quick movement of forces from one war front to
the other.
It was used to supply food, arms and ammunition to the soldiers.
It had support bases and hospitals along the way.
50. ROLE OF WOMEN
Plays, novels and paintings were made about the heroic women of the past such as
Trung sisters and Trieu Au in order to create patriotism among the people.
Women joined the army and fought bravely against the American troops.
They succeeded in shooting down war planes.
They were dedicated workers. They carried rifle on their back and worked in the
field.
They were involved in nursing the injured, constructing underground rooms and
tunnels.
They worked as helpers in Ho Chi Minh’s Trail. They carried goods.
52. TRUNG SISTERS
They were two Vietnamese women who fought
against the Chinese domination.
Phan Boi Chau wrote a play based on their lives.
When they lost the war, they killed themselves.
The Vietnamese people considered the Trung sisters
as great patriots.
56. END OF THE WAR
Common people of the U.S.A opposed their country’s involvement in
the war.
Movies and media showed the miseries of the American soldiers.
American forces suffered heavy damages. Many were killed in the
war.
World opinion turned against the U.S.
Many writers and thinkers supported Vietnam.
A peace agreement was signed in January 1974 and the war ended
when Saigon was freed.
