Michael Price

*Anything gold is hyperlinked throughout PowerPoint

French
of Imperialism in Indochina
Map of Indochina
French
of Imperialism in Indochina

• New markets overseas (tin, coal, cotton, rice, pepper, etc.)
Economic
• Expansion of French economy and trade
• Promote capitalism around the world
Exploratory • Expansion of French territory and overseas empire
Religious
• Spread of Catholicism

Direct
Control
Assimilation
Paternalism
France controlled the daily activities of government in the Indochina colonies through white French officials.
French language became official language of Indochina, and a capitalist economy was established.
Indochinese subjects were expected to dress, behave, speak, etc. as the French would
French often treated subjects like children, believing they were unable to govern themselves.
Jules Ferry on French
Colonial Expansion
One of many French
Indochina flags

Jules Ferry was the Prime Minister of France from 1880-1881 and from 1883-1885 and was a strong supporter of French colonial expansion.

Map of Vietnam in relation to
Indochina

• During WWII Japan had control of
Indochina
• France took it back when the war ended
• Vietnam declared independence in 1945, but French resisted
• Ho Chi Minh led rebellion against France in 1946
• Fighting between French and
Viet Minh
occurred from
1946-1954
• May 1954, French surrendered at
Dien Bien Phu
• Geneva Peace Conference gave Vietnam its independence but divided it at the 17 th parallel
• Ho Chi Minh was given control of North Vietnam and pro-French Vietnamese were given control of South
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh giving a speech with the
Vietnamese flag waving behind him.

• Grew up under French oppression, fueled his anger and reputation as a troublemaker
• Leader of the Vietnam independence communist movement
• Founder of the Viet Minh
• Did not care how much violence it took to achieve his goals
• Perfected the art of guerilla warfare
• "You can kill 10 of my men for every one I kill of yours, yet even at those odds, you will lose and I will win."
• His leadership helped defeat France, and later the United States

• Coalition that wanted a communist independent
Vietnam
• Founded by Ho Chi Minh
• Fought French using guerilla war tactics
• Received assistance from communist China and Soviet
Union
• Known for relentless and brutal warfare
A group of eight Viet Minh

• Final battle of the French vs. Viet Minh
• March 13 – May 8, 1954
• Viet Minh attacked the French stronghold at Dien
Bien Phu
• Great opportunity for Viet Minh
• Out in the open, surrounded by mountains
• Ho Chi Minh surrounded the base with 40,000 troops and heavy artillery
• Outnumbered the French 13,000 troops
• French gave up after 57 days of battering
• Symbolized the end of French influence in
Indochina
Footage from Dien Bien Phu
Viet Minh watch French supplies being dropped into
Dien Bein Phu

Primary source video of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and the
French surrender that followed

Government
Economy
Society
Relationship between
French Imperialism and
Modern Vietnam

• French imperialism gave rise to the
Viet Minh
• Allowed Ho Chi Minh to gain power
• Established communist government that exists today
• Led Vietnam to victory against
U.S. in Vietnam War
• Seen as a hero in Vietnam today
• Many French buildings remain today
Hammer and sickle is the international symbol of communism

• Single party system
• Communist Party of Vietnam
• Socialist Republic
• Reputation for repressing human rights
• Civil Law System
• European style law system
• National Congress elects officials
• President Truong Tan Sang
• Elected in 2011
• Capital city of Hanoi
• Country broken up into 58 provinces
Flag of Vietnam

• GDP per capita of $3,600
• 170 ranking in the world
• 2012 estimate
• Economy rapidly growing
• Currency of the Dong
• 1 Dong = $.000047
• Focus economy on agriculture and industry
• Rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, cashews, sugar cane, etc.
• Food processing, shoes, mining, glass, tires, cell phones, oil, etc.
• 49.18 million labor force
• Decreasing unemployment rate
• 4.3% in 2012, 2.3% in 2013
Vietnamese Dongs

• 89.3 million current citizens
• Official language is Vietnamese
• English second
• 80% of population have no religion
• Largest city is Ho Chi Minh city with
5.976 million people
• 72.65 life expectancy
• 1.78% obesity rate
• 11.3% poverty rate
• 93.4% literacy rate
• Growing HIV/AIDS problem
Ho Chi Minh City
Population Graph

This graph shows the growing number of people in Vietnam being affected by HIV over the course of 21 years. As you can see, the HIV rate has been on a steady rise since 1990.

This chart from 2013 shows the number of people living in
Vietnam from different age groups. You can see that Vietnamese most populated age group in those in their twenties.