Asia 2.1 The End of French Colonial Rule

Question 1

Why were the French originally in Vietnam? What was the land a part of at the time? (AS 2.1)

Answer 1

• Raw materials; rubber, tin, zinc and coal.

- French Indochina.

Question 2

When was Vietnam declared independent? How did the US support France’s reinvasion? How did China support the Vietminh? (AS 2.1)

Answer 2

• President Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent country In 1945.
• French Reinvade in 1946, supported by the US. (Given them 3bn by 1954).
• China supports Vietminh with training and supplies.

Question 3

What occurred at Dien Bien Phu in 1954? What happened to the French survivors, and France? (AS 2.1)

Answer 3

• 50,000 Vietminh rush a French base, trapping them with bombs until they run out of supplies and surrender on the 7th May 1954.
• Some French survivors die walking far to prisoner camps.
• French PM resigns and France withdraws from Vietnam.

Question 4

What did the involved countries in Vietnam agree in Geneva, 1954? Who would rule each side, what would the French and Vietminh do, and how did this affect Laos and Cambodia? (AS 2.1)

Answer 4

• Vietnam would remain divided along the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh in the North and Ngo Dinh Diem in the South.
• French would withdraw and Vietminh would leave the south.
• Laos and Cambodia would be independent.

Question 5

How did Diem create tension in the south? What happened in the October 1955 Election? (AS 2.1)

Answer 5

• Pushed peasants off their land.
• Gave jobs to his family and friends (Nepotism).
• Punished and killed his opposition.
• Called an election a year early, and rigged it, claiming he won 98.2%, worrying the US.

Question 6

Who were the National Liberation Front? What did they want, and what did they do? (AS 2.1)

Answer 6

• South political organisation led by Ho Chi Minh.
• Wanted land given back to peasants and a united Vietnam.
• Murdered hundreds of Diem’s government officials, and fought the ARVN.

Question 7

Who were the Vietnamese Buddhists? What did they want, and what did they do? (AS 2.1)

Answer 7

• Buddhists who felt victimised by catholic Diem.
• Went on hunger strikes and organised rallies. Some Self-Immolated (burned themselves) and made it onto a lot of foreign media.

Question 8

What did each side of the civil war in the south do? What did the US do about communism? (AS 2.1)

Answer 8

• Against Diem: Moved into the jungle, formed resistance groups, joined the NLF, used the Ho Chi Minh trail for smuggling.
• For Diem: ARVN had money and weapons and jets and helicopters from the USA. They also got training.
• The US launched a propaganda campaign against communism in the north.

Question 9

Who were the Vietcong? What were their aims? How did peasants help them? (AS 2.1)

Answer 9

• Resistance groups, formerly the NLF, led by Hua Tho.

- Wanted a government representing all, a united Vietnam and land for peasants, who hid and fed the Vietcong.

Question 10

What were the tactics of the Vietcong? (AS 2.1)

Answer 10

• Wore the enemy down through guerrilla tactics.
• Attacked in cells of 10 or less.
• Targeted small patrols and poorly guarded posts.
• No uniform.

Question 11

When died Diem die? How? (AS 2.1)

Answer 11

• 2nd November 1963.

- Killed in an ARVN coup.