Independence movements
Table of Contents
Colonialism introduc/on .................................................................................................... 2
Background to Vietnam ..................................................................................................... 4
The rise of Independence movements in Vietnam ............................................................... 5
The methods of success in Vietnam .................................................................................... 7
Challenges to Independence in Vietnam ............................................................................. 9
Factors and historiography............................................................................................... 13
Background to Algeria ..................................................................................................... 15
The rise of Independence movements in Algeria ............................................................... 16
The success of the Independence movements in Algeria ................................................... 19
Challenges to Independence in Algeria ............................................................................. 22
Factors, historiography and Timeline ............................................................................... 25
Essay Ques/ons ............................................................................................................... 28
, Colonialism introduc/on
Colonialism = process of acquiring full poli1cal and economic control over another country.
Reasons for colonialism
1. Capital gains.
• Minerals, sugar, rice, and rubber.
2. Cultural pride / Na1onalism
• A na1on is created through a shared iden1ty and white spirit was one such
thing that kept it alive. This was the reason France fought so hard to maintain
its empire. Examples of na1onalism were:
i. The 1931 pairs exhibi1on + seMler life.
White spirit = the belief that colonialism is everlas1ng, and that white people are invincible.
This belief slowly faded aOer WWI when the Japanese beat the Russians.
How colonies were maintained
Fear and violence, like in Congo, where Belgium notoriously cut off the ligaments of slaves
who did not work hard enough.
• The Violence was jus1fied by Social Darwinism, a “scien1fic theory” that asserted that
the white race was superior. Survival of the fiMest would be the only way colonial
subjects could make part of the modern world. Many colonial powers claimed to
undertake a “civilizing mission” whereby the lives of the barbaric were improved.
Importance to France
• The French sense of unity was vulnerable due to the World Wars.
o Loss in WWI
o Collabora1on with Nazi Germany (betrayal of own)
§ Vichy South (free) à
§ Retain North (Nazi territory).
• Their 72 colonies stood at the heart of their iden1ty.
o The French saw themselves as saviors and world leaders.
• France’s elite and poor have been historically divided.
France and their colonies
• The common folk (excitement)
o The 1931 Paris exhibi1on yielded 8 million visitors. People were enthusias1c
about the far reach of France and got to see snippets of colonial life.
o Public media was also centered around colonial life. Pornography, postcards,
school maps, and films all arouse excitement for the French empire.
• Na1onal iden1ty intertwined with their empire.
o Everybody felt superior as they stood “outside the cage”.
o The term “Mission Civilisatrice” originated from France, making them a model
country.
• Colonies reinforced economic and poli1cal power.
o Isolated France from the great depression (1929), leading the East-Asian
trading block – like rice and rubber from Vietnam.
,General causes for discontent.
Despite the glorious French propaganda, its commercial interests lead to unjust acts.
• Forced labor was introduced in the 1920’s.
o 130.000 people were forced to build the equatorial highways, and 10% died.
§ Builders included Algerians.
o Laws mandated every fit male to work a minimum number of days each year.
o Local compe11on was liquidated (no African exporters by 1930).
• People were marginalized from their land.
o In Algeria, land was taken from rural farmers to expand grape cul1va1on for
wine. This par1ally drove the country into the 1937 famine.
o Half of Indochina became landless in 1930.
• Na1onal iden1ty was suppressed.
o Banned the na1onalist North African Star Party in 1973.
§ Yet French Na1onalism couldn’t be aMained.
o People started to protest in Indochina and Algeria in the 1930’s but this was
mostly sporadic.
, Background to Vietnam
Historical background to Vietnam
• Part of the Chinese empire from 111BC to 929 AC.
o Resistance towards occupa1on became an integral part of North Vietnamese
culture.
• A series of lords and rulers take control over Indochina.
o Confucianism jus1fies poli1cal legi1macy.
• The Nguyen Dynasty is set up under the emperor Dai Nam (1802 – 1945).
o Used as a “puppet emperor” by the French (1858).
Confucianism = A hierarchical society that lived under an emperor. The popula1on was
obedient to this emperor, as long as he acted in the general well-being of the popula1on.
obedience and reciprocal duty of care
Mandarins = Civil servants within this society who enforced the Confucianism system.
(bureaucra1c scholars).
Vietnam (pre-France).
• North
o Geographical challenges prompted the forma1on of communal villages.
§ 25% of the village land was communal and there were social welfare
systems in place for the less fortunate (very rural).
o Previously subject to Chinese rule, there was a strong sense of Confucianism
and a Buddhist society.
§ There was a collabora1on with the government, which would lower
taxes in 1mes of hardship.
• South
o More favorable agriculture in the Mekong Delta shaped looser villages with an
emphasis on individuality.
o The sense of Confucianism was not as strong, yet a respec1ng government.
French arrival in Vietnam (1858).
Seeking a gateway to trade with the (rich) China, France ini1ated its violent conquest of
Vietnam. They succeeded through violence and the assistance of those who opposed Dai
Nam.
• Economic impacts
o Especially in the South, rice was cul1vated, and Vietnam became the 3rd largest
rice exporter.
o In the North, coal, and rubber minerals were extracted.
• Governance
o North, the Dai Nam emperor was kept as a puppet for indirect rule.
o South, Vietnamese subjects were directly subject to French law.
Table of Contents
Colonialism introduc/on .................................................................................................... 2
Background to Vietnam ..................................................................................................... 4
The rise of Independence movements in Vietnam ............................................................... 5
The methods of success in Vietnam .................................................................................... 7
Challenges to Independence in Vietnam ............................................................................. 9
Factors and historiography............................................................................................... 13
Background to Algeria ..................................................................................................... 15
The rise of Independence movements in Algeria ............................................................... 16
The success of the Independence movements in Algeria ................................................... 19
Challenges to Independence in Algeria ............................................................................. 22
Factors, historiography and Timeline ............................................................................... 25
Essay Ques/ons ............................................................................................................... 28
, Colonialism introduc/on
Colonialism = process of acquiring full poli1cal and economic control over another country.
Reasons for colonialism
1. Capital gains.
• Minerals, sugar, rice, and rubber.
2. Cultural pride / Na1onalism
• A na1on is created through a shared iden1ty and white spirit was one such
thing that kept it alive. This was the reason France fought so hard to maintain
its empire. Examples of na1onalism were:
i. The 1931 pairs exhibi1on + seMler life.
White spirit = the belief that colonialism is everlas1ng, and that white people are invincible.
This belief slowly faded aOer WWI when the Japanese beat the Russians.
How colonies were maintained
Fear and violence, like in Congo, where Belgium notoriously cut off the ligaments of slaves
who did not work hard enough.
• The Violence was jus1fied by Social Darwinism, a “scien1fic theory” that asserted that
the white race was superior. Survival of the fiMest would be the only way colonial
subjects could make part of the modern world. Many colonial powers claimed to
undertake a “civilizing mission” whereby the lives of the barbaric were improved.
Importance to France
• The French sense of unity was vulnerable due to the World Wars.
o Loss in WWI
o Collabora1on with Nazi Germany (betrayal of own)
§ Vichy South (free) à
§ Retain North (Nazi territory).
• Their 72 colonies stood at the heart of their iden1ty.
o The French saw themselves as saviors and world leaders.
• France’s elite and poor have been historically divided.
France and their colonies
• The common folk (excitement)
o The 1931 Paris exhibi1on yielded 8 million visitors. People were enthusias1c
about the far reach of France and got to see snippets of colonial life.
o Public media was also centered around colonial life. Pornography, postcards,
school maps, and films all arouse excitement for the French empire.
• Na1onal iden1ty intertwined with their empire.
o Everybody felt superior as they stood “outside the cage”.
o The term “Mission Civilisatrice” originated from France, making them a model
country.
• Colonies reinforced economic and poli1cal power.
o Isolated France from the great depression (1929), leading the East-Asian
trading block – like rice and rubber from Vietnam.
,General causes for discontent.
Despite the glorious French propaganda, its commercial interests lead to unjust acts.
• Forced labor was introduced in the 1920’s.
o 130.000 people were forced to build the equatorial highways, and 10% died.
§ Builders included Algerians.
o Laws mandated every fit male to work a minimum number of days each year.
o Local compe11on was liquidated (no African exporters by 1930).
• People were marginalized from their land.
o In Algeria, land was taken from rural farmers to expand grape cul1va1on for
wine. This par1ally drove the country into the 1937 famine.
o Half of Indochina became landless in 1930.
• Na1onal iden1ty was suppressed.
o Banned the na1onalist North African Star Party in 1973.
§ Yet French Na1onalism couldn’t be aMained.
o People started to protest in Indochina and Algeria in the 1930’s but this was
mostly sporadic.
, Background to Vietnam
Historical background to Vietnam
• Part of the Chinese empire from 111BC to 929 AC.
o Resistance towards occupa1on became an integral part of North Vietnamese
culture.
• A series of lords and rulers take control over Indochina.
o Confucianism jus1fies poli1cal legi1macy.
• The Nguyen Dynasty is set up under the emperor Dai Nam (1802 – 1945).
o Used as a “puppet emperor” by the French (1858).
Confucianism = A hierarchical society that lived under an emperor. The popula1on was
obedient to this emperor, as long as he acted in the general well-being of the popula1on.
obedience and reciprocal duty of care
Mandarins = Civil servants within this society who enforced the Confucianism system.
(bureaucra1c scholars).
Vietnam (pre-France).
• North
o Geographical challenges prompted the forma1on of communal villages.
§ 25% of the village land was communal and there were social welfare
systems in place for the less fortunate (very rural).
o Previously subject to Chinese rule, there was a strong sense of Confucianism
and a Buddhist society.
§ There was a collabora1on with the government, which would lower
taxes in 1mes of hardship.
• South
o More favorable agriculture in the Mekong Delta shaped looser villages with an
emphasis on individuality.
o The sense of Confucianism was not as strong, yet a respec1ng government.
French arrival in Vietnam (1858).
Seeking a gateway to trade with the (rich) China, France ini1ated its violent conquest of
Vietnam. They succeeded through violence and the assistance of those who opposed Dai
Nam.
• Economic impacts
o Especially in the South, rice was cul1vated, and Vietnam became the 3rd largest
rice exporter.
o In the North, coal, and rubber minerals were extracted.
• Governance
o North, the Dai Nam emperor was kept as a puppet for indirect rule.
o South, Vietnamese subjects were directly subject to French law.
