Vietnam & the Conflict in Indochina Focus Questions

Part 1. What were the causes of conflict in Indochina after 1945? Why did Ho Chi Minh and the Communists take the initiative in the Vietnamese struggle for independence?

a.A war-torn history. b.French Colonisation. c.The August Revolution, d.The First Indo-China War, e.Dien Bien Phu, 55 Days of Hell. f.The Geneva Conference, 1954.

Part 2 To what extent did the intervention of outside powers increase the divisions amongst the Vietnamese and intensify the conflict in Indochina?

a.The Diem Regime, 1954 – b.The Viet Cong Rebellion. c.The Decline and Fall of Diem, d.Total War, 1964 – e.North Vietnam: the Revolution Continues,

Part 3 Why were the Communists successful in recreating a united Vietnam?

a.The Tet Offensive, b.Nixon’s War, c.Cambodia: Towards Year Zero. d.The Fall of Saigon, 1973 – e.The Aftermath.

a. A War-Torn Country. 1. Glue the map outline into your book. Using the map on page 6, fill in the missing place names. 2. What countries comprise Indochina? What are the two important river deltas? What is the basic economy, and what does this tell us about Vietnamese identity?

3. China dominated Vietnam for _____ years. What 2 religions were introduced and what were the main beliefs? 4. How did the Vietnamese react to Chinese rule? What is a result of this reaction? 5. How have the Vietnamese traditionally reacted to Western influence in their country?

b. A French Colony Turn to page 15 and look at Resource B. What’s the scene in this photograph? What does it reveal about colonial attitudes and customs? How might a Vietnamese person describe this scene?

b. A French Colony Use the information from pages to complete these questions. 1.French Conquest and Reorganisation How was the French conquest of Vietnam carried out? Why did they want Vietnam? What had happened by the 1890s? What 3 privileges did Conchinchina have? How did France reorganise the country economically? ( there are 6 points) How was the traditional life disrupted? How much did the number of Chinese increase? How did the French affect education?

b. A French Colony 2. Revolt Describe the 2 main types of rebels. What happened in 1885? What happened in the early 1900s? What happened in 1911? What did Ho Chi Minh start in Canton? What did the Communists do to the nationalists? What was formed in 1927 and what tactics were used? What happened to peasant demonstrations and soviets? What activities in Saigon were successful?

b. A French Colony 3. World War II Why did the Japanese invade Indochina? What happened to the French in Indochina? What did the Japanese allow? What did Ho Chi Minh do in 1941 and what was his intention? Who helped the Viet Minh? What did Vo Nguyen Giap do? What did the Japanese do in March 1945?