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French Begin Acticity in South East China
The French were the first European nation to imperialize Vietnam, and travelled there for three reasons, God, Glory, and Gold, like many other imperialistic conquests. The French had a desire to control the Red River and Mekong Deltas in order to open up to more of China and Asia. The Frech had also come to Vietnam out of a competitive mood towards other European countries over economic, and miltitary superiority. France's desire for a strong imperialistic power drove them to gain Vietnam. The -
French Activity Cont.
gain of Vietnam would allow the French to use the land as a profitable economic enterprise. Before France imperialized Vietnam, there were already some underlying feeling towards the Vietnamese. France was very insesitive to the desires that the Vietnamese possessed, and browsed the land for outputs suitable for surplus population and reestablishment of French power. Also, although the French called for an indirect rule of Vietnam, their practice of rule was actually absolute rule. -
French Navy Cont.
river, they were not able to threaten Vietnam's capital city. As time passed, situations only worsened for the French navy. The navy was left in Da Nang without reinforcements, because the reinforcements joined the British in the Second Opium war against China. It was then over time that the French navy began dying of tropical diseases, immobilizing their army. -
French Navy Attacks Da Nang and French Colonial Rule Begins
In July of the year 1857, French leader Napoleon III sent a navy of 14 ships to Da Nang. Napoleon's attacking navy consisted of 5,000 men, fighting to occupy Da Nang. Da Nang was easily conquered, taking only a day to be occupied by the French navy. Although the French drove into Da Nang strong and hard, they did not have the ability to keep pressing on. Without the neccesary shallow draft boats to travel to Hue up the Perfume river, the French were not able to threaten the Vietnamese capital. -
Vietnamese Protest Con.
burnt down entire villages, arrested thousands, and executed 2 Vietnamese scholars. -
Vietnamese Farmers Protest
The farmers of Vietnam in 1908 revolted against the French government by protesting the sudden raise in taxes. Thousands and thousands of Vietnamese farmers and peasants marched to protested in front of the French Administration Headquarters in Hue, Vietnam. For weeks these peasants made passionate speeches and pickets in front of the French administration. The protest spread, only to the demonstrator's doom. The French reacted to the demonsrators with violence. Demonstrators were gunned down, -
First Indochinese War Cont.
were local and easy to obtain. Later on, the Chinese began aiding the Vietnamese with weapons as the U.S. aided France as well. The U.S. though, had done a great ordeal for the French Military. The French military now had an artillery that was five to one against the Viet Minh. But this five to one advantage did not prevent the French from losing the war to the Viet Minh or holding on. The Viet Minh won the war in 1954. -
First Indochinese War
The first Indochinese war was fought between the French and the Vietnamese, mainly Northern Vietnam. The Viet Minh launched a rebellion against the French authority governing the colonies of French Indochina. Although the French had superiority in weapons, and the ability to hold any area of land that they wanted to, the French military still had to bring in recruits that were thousands of miles away. The Viet Minh however, recruited their men more easily because the man power that the Viet Minh -
Geneva Accords Cont.
In 1954, the Viet Minh controlled much more than half of Vietnam though, so the boundaries were changed so that South Vietnam had more land. Even so if South Vietnam gained more land, the Viet Minh believed that they were certain to win the vote in 1956. The Viet Minh had a strong politcal superiority over the entire rest of Vietnam. The Viet Minh eventually agreed to the Geneva Accords even though they may lose their land. In the end, both the US and Vietnam refused to promise obedience to it. -
Genevea Accords
The Geneva Accords was an international conference held in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the problems of Indochina. It stated that Vietnam was to become an independent nation. Elections took place during July of 1956 to choose Vietnam's government. But during this two year interval Vietnam split into a North and a South Vietnam. The Viet Minh soldiers took comfort in the North, while anyone who fought for the French headed South. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a long, bloody battle that resulted in the United States' first major military upset. The Vietnam War represented a successful attempt on part of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam to unite and impose a communist system over Vietnam. The opposers of these two groups were the Republic of Vietnam, aided by the United states. Leading the communist Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh, and leading the Democratic Vietnam was Ngo Dinh Diem. -
Vietnam War Cont.
The result of casualties taken during the Vietnam was millions in total. The casualties that America had suffered, were 58,119 killed, 153,303 wounded, and 1,948 missing in action. The casualties of South Vietnam were 230,000 killed and 1,169, 763 injured. Finally the casualties for Northern Vietnam were 1,100,000 killed in action. The results of The Vietnam War were very bloody, and showed how these countries fought for what they desired. -
Vietnamese Revolt Against Chinese Rule
The Vietnamese people held a revolt against the Chinese rule of their territory, and were succesful with their attempt. Soon after the revolt for their territory, there was a period lasting 500 years, where the Vietnamese people were engaged in open warware to secure their claim to a dynastic rule. At this point, Vietnam begins its title as a more or less independent country. -
Period: to 313
Nam-Viet Founded, and China's Rule (208BC-111BC)
The kingdom of Nam-Viet located near where the Tonkin region of Northern Vietnam of today. This was the first date of importance in Vietnam history because it led to the annexing of the territory by the Chinese. This caused the people of Vietnam a 2000 year struggle for independence against foreign countries. The Territory of Nam-Viet was taken over by China, who ruled the land for over 1000 years.
