The document provides an overview of the nationalist movement in Indochina from the 19th century to the mid-20th century. It discusses how Vietnamese nationalism developed in response to French colonial rule, with resistance emerging from different sectors of society. Notable nationalist figures and groups pursued different visions, such as modernizing Vietnam while resisting Western domination, or establishing a democratic republic. The document also examines the roles of education, religion, communism, and women in the nationalist movement, which ultimately led to Vietnam's independence after decades of conflict.

1. THE NATIONALIST
MOVEMENT IN
INDO-CHINA
Social Science (History)
Chapter 2
Class 10

2. Subtopics
◦ Emerging from the Shadow of China
◦ The Dilemma of Colonial Education
◦ Hygiene, Disease and Everyday Resistance
◦ Religion and Anti-Colonialism
◦ The vision of Modernisation
◦ The Communist Movement and Vietnamese Nationalism
◦ The Nation and its Heroes
◦ The End of the War

3. Introduction
◦ n 1945, Vietnam got independence from colonial rule but it took three more decades of establishing the
Republic of Vietnam.
◦ Nationalism of Indo-China developed in the colonial context and was discussed with the help of one of the
most important state of the peninsula, namely Vietnam.
◦ The communities came together to fought against the colonialism for Vietnam and created the modern shape
of the state.

4. Emerging from the Shadow of China
◦ Indo-China basically made by three countries
namely Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
◦ The empire of China always had influence on the
local people of these countries, culturally, socially
even in politically also.
◦ Even after independence Vietnam followed the
Chinese system of government and its culture.
Vietnam was a part of maritime silk route which
trade the ideas, goods and people.

5. Colonial domination and Resistance
◦ The French control over Vietnam as economic and military dominance made some changes in Vietnamese
culture. Nationalism in Vietnam came into existence through the struggle of different sections of the society
to fight against the French rule.
◦ In 1858 French traders came to Vietnam and in 1880’s they had control in administrative and political
situations on Northern Vietnam. After the French-China war in 1887, the Tonkin and Anaam was under the
control of French rule. At that point of time Indo-China was formed.
◦ In the following time Vietnamese people lost their position and French rule got control in all aspect of the
country. Nationalist movement was developed to fight against the French rule by the local people.

6. Why the French thought Colonies
Necessary
◦ Colonies were considered essential to supply natural resources and other essential goods. French
Government started making Canals and draining system for irrigation for the large cultivable area.
◦ Vietnam exported two – third of its rice production and by 1931 had become the thirds largest exported of
rice in the world.
◦ Due to the development of infrastructure in the time of French rule movement of military garrisons and
control the entire region.
◦ Construction of a Trans – Indo – China rail network that would link the northern and southern parts of
Vietnam and China was begun.
◦ Vietnam to Siam (as Thailand was then called) Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. More infrastructural
development helped in businesses to flourish.

7. Should Colonies be developed?
◦ Due to the development in the economy the standard of living was improved and more goods were in
demand which make the market larger for the French Business.
◦ The land reform and development of infrastructure was much needed policies for the overall development
of Vietnam.
◦ The colonial economy in Vietnam was, however, primarily based on rice cultivation and rubber plantations
owned by the French and a small Vietnamese elite. Rail and port facilities were set up to service this sector.
◦ Indentured Vietnamese labour was widely used in the rubber plantations. French rule did not spread
industrialization in that area which helped landlordism to prevail and the standard of living declined.

8. The Dilemma of Colonial Education
◦ French rule in Vietnam not only brought economic explorations but also modern way of living in the local
people. It sometimes destroyed the local culture and traditions.
◦ Education was the only way out to modernize people, but French rulers got confused regarding the level of
education. To safeguard the French employment and problems raised by the educated people, French rulers
not gave full access to the Vietnamese people.

9. Talking Modern and Looking Modern
◦ This would help create an ‘Asiatic French solidly tied to European French ’. The Vietnamese were
represented as primitive and backward, capable of manual labour but not intellectual reflection. They could
work in the field but not rule themselves. They were ‘skilled copyists’ but not creative.
◦ The education included classes in science, hygiene and French. It was not enough to learn science and
Western ideas: to be modern the Vietnamese had to also look modern.

10. Resistance in schools
◦ Teachers and student did not blindly follow the curriculum. There was open opposition, at other times there
was silent resistance. Vietnamese teachers quietly modified the next and criticised what was stated. It became
difficult to control what was actually taught.
◦ In 1926 a major protest erupted in the Saigon Native Girls School. The principal also a colon (French people
in the colonies), expelled her. The government forced the school to take the student back.
◦ Vietnamese from qualifying for white – collar jobs by patriotic feelings. The conviction that it was the duty
of the educated to fight for the benefit of society.
◦ The 1920s, student were forming various political parties. The Party of Young Annan, and publishing
nationalist journals such as the Annanse Student. School thus became an important place for political and
cultural battles.
◦ The control of education they tried to change the values, norms and perceptions of the people to make them
believe in the superiority of French civilization and the inferiority of the Vietnamese. The people were
developing a master – slave mentality. The larger battle against colonialism and for independence.

11. Hygiene, disease and everyday Resistance
A) Plague Strikes Hanoi
◦ The spread of disease created serious social conflicts.
The ‘Native quarter’ was not provided with any
modern facilities.
◦ During heavy rains or floods, overflowed into the
streets. The French city became the cause of the
plague. The sewers also served as a great transport
system, allowing the rats to move around the city
without any problem.
B) The Rat Hunt
◦ In 1902, The French hired Vietnamese workers
and paid them for each rat they caught.
◦ The dirty work of entering sewers found if they
came together they could negotiate a higher
bounty. The French were forced to scrap the
bounty programme.
◦ The contradictions in their ‘civilising mission’.
The rat – catchers took to just clipping the tails
and releasing the rats. Some people, in fact,
began raising rats to earn a bounty.

12. The vision of Modernisation
◦ Two opinions held (i) Vietnamese traditions had to be strengthened to resist western domination. (ii) The
second school felt that the Vietnamese had to learn from the West, while resisting its domination.
◦ Phan Boi Chau (1867-1940) formed the ‘Revolution Society’ (Duy Tan Hoi) in 1903 with Prince Cuong De
as the lead. He wrote a book, ‘History of the Loss of Vietnam’ under the influence of the Chinese reformer
Liang Qichao (1873-1929). He believed that the French should be driven out first and then monarchy should
be restored in Vietnam.
◦ Phan Chu Trinh (1871-1926) differed strongly. He was totally opposed to monarchy and wanted to establish a
democratic republic

13. Other ways of Becoming Modern: Japan
and China
◦ Some 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan in 1907-08 to acquire modern education. Their aim was to
drive out the French and re-establish the Ngu Yen dynasty. They wanted Japanese help and established a
Restoration Society in Tokyo. But after 1908, the Japanese closed the society, and sent many of them,
including Phan Boi Chau to exile in China and Thailand.
◦ Whe Sun Yat Sen overthrew monarchy in China in 1911, a new association – Association for Restoration of
Vietnam was formed. Their objective was to have a Democratic Republic and a Constitutional Monarchy in
Vietnam.

14. The Communist Movement and
Vietnamese Nationalism
◦ The Great Depression of the 1930s led to unemployment, debts and rural uprisings in Vietnam.
◦ A new leader, Ho Chi Minh, appeared on the scene in 1930. He established the Vietnamese Communist (Vietnam Cong
San Dang) Party, inspired by Europeon communists.
◦ Ho Chi Minh (He who enlightens) was born in Central Vietnam; later became an active member of the committee. He
met Lenin and other leaders. After 30 years stay in Europe, Thailand and China he returned to Vietnam in May 1941. He
became President of Vietnam Democratic Republic.
◦ In 1940, Japan occupied Vietnam. The League for the Independence of Vietnam (known as the Viet Minh) fought the
Japanese, recaptured Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh became the chairman of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in
September 1943.
◦ Vietnamese Nationalism: The French set up a puppet regime under Bao Dai as Emperor. After years of fighting, the
French were finally defeated in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu.
◦ The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1953-1954), On 7 May, 1954, more than 16,000 soldiers of the French army were either
killed or captured. The entire French commanding staff, including a General, 16 Colonels, 1749 officers were taken
prisoner.
◦ Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and Bao Dai became rulers in north and south
respectively. The division led to war. The Bau Dai regime was overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem. The south united and
formed the National Liberation Front (NLF) and fought for unification of the country under Ho Chi Minh.
◦ Fear of communism made the US intervene in Vietnam and a bitter war was fought during 1965-1972. Finally, peace was
restored in 1974.
Ho Chi Minh
Trial Of Ho Chi Minh

15. THE NATION AND ITS HEROES
◦ Women played no role in public life of the Vietnamese, but the freedom struggle led
to an emerging new image of womanhood.
◦ Women like Trung sisters (39-43 CE) became idols. Same was the case with Trieu Au
of 3rd century CE.
◦ In the 1960s, women were depicted as young, brave and dedicated. They were shown
as warriors and workers.
◦ The image of the warrior woman was replaced with the image of worker woman, in
the 1970s, when the end of the war was near.
Women Warrior

16. THE END OF WAR
◦ US failed to achieve its objectives in the US
Vietnam war.
◦ The US-Vietnam war was called the first
television war.
◦ On 30 April, 1975 the North Liberation Front
(NLF) occupied the presidential palace in Saigon
and unified Vietnam.
Symbols of Republic of Vietnam

17. Thank You