Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
History Nationalist Movement in Indo China - Notes
THESE NOTES ARE NOT BY RITU MAM AND ARE BY CHANCHAL MAM, I THINK. :P
1. (NCERT Q.5)Discuss the influence of China on the life and culture of Vietnam?
i. POLITICAL INFLUENCE : Even after establishment of an independent country in North and Central Vietnam, its ruler continued to maintain the Chinese system of Government and some aspects of Chinese culture. A Communist party was also formed under Chinese influence by Ho Chi Minh.
ii. Vietnam was also linked to the maritime silk route that brought in goods, people and ideas. It was used by China also
iii. SHARED CULTURE : The elite in both countries shared cultural ties. They used the Chinese Language.
iv. The religious beliefs of Vietnam were like China, a mixture of Buddhism, Confucianism and local practises. The City of both countries were powerfully influenced by Confucius.
v. INFLUENCE OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT: Nationalist leaders of Vietnam like Phan Boi Lieu and others who led the anti colonial movement were scholar activists who were advised and influenced by Chinese reformers. The 1911 Chinese revolution led bySun Yat Sen inspired them to change the nature and objectives of the Nationalist movement. They now wanted a democratic Republic and not Constitutional Monarchy.
2. Why were colonies considered necessary by the French? (OR) What were the reasons for colonization in Vietnam?
i. Colonies served the economic and political interests of the Mother Country (i.e Imperialist Power)
ii. They were a source of many essential goods especially raw materials and natural resources needed for the French revolution.
iii. The French could increase profits through trade and other business enterprises in Vietnam as well as expand markets there for French goods.
iv. Like other nations of Europe, the French believed in the civilizing mission. They considered it a duty of the advanced nations to bring the benefit of civilization to the backward people of the colonies.
v. They wanted to promote the religious mission of spreading Christianity to people who believed in superstitions and useless rituals. Anti-Catholic movements were crushed. Religion was used to strengthen colonial control.
3. (NCERT Q.1-A)What was the civilizing mission of the French in Vietnam?
i. CIVILIZING MISSION AND CONTROL OVER EDUCATION:
i. The French considered Vietnamese inferior and backward and aimed at civilizing them even if it led to the destruction of their local culture, religious beliefs and traditions.
ii. They tried to change the values and perception of the people and tried to develop a master-slave mentality. White collar jobs were denied to Vietnamese.
iii. By introducing the French schools and French language they hoped to secure the support of people. The new textbooks glorified French superiority and culture and justified colonial rule for ensuring peace.
ii. CIVILIZING MISSION:
i. Though the civilizing mission, the French claimed to bring modern education, ideas and development to the natives. They wanted the Vietnamese to support the French and their ideas and willingly work for them.
ii. Through the new education, they wanted them to respect French sentiments and culture and the notion of French superiority. They however represented the Vietnamese as backward, primitive and uncivilized. The French believed that it was their duty to civilize the backward people of Vietnam.
4. What dilemmas did the French face in the sphere of education in Vietnam?
i. The French needed an educated labour force in Vietnam but they feared that if they provided education to the Vietnamese, then the Vietnamese would begin to question the domination of the French.
ii. Moreover the French people in Vietnam called the colons, might lose their jobs as teachers, shopkeepers, policemen etc to the educated Vietnamese.
iii. The Vietnamese elite were powerfully influenced by Chinese culture, education and language. Therefore, the French had to counter this influence.
iv. The French found it difficult to replace the Chinese language. If French language was introduced, it would help the Vietnamese to learn about French culture and ideas. They would be encouraged to support the French and work for them. Some people suggested the use of Vietnamese language in lower classes.
v. The French had to counter the schools which became an important place for political and cultural battles. In fact, the battle against the French colonialism grew from the battle against colonial education. Teachers and students silently or openly opposed or criticized French education. They protested also because they felt that French education was developing a master- slave mentality and destroying the culture and identity of Vietnam.
5. (NCERT Q.2-A)Explain – “Only one third of the students in Vietnam would pass the school leaving exam”?
Only one-third of the students in Vietnam would pass the school leaving exams because:-
· The French government followed a deliberate policy of failing students particularly in the final year so that they would not qualify for better paid jobs.
· French people living in Vietnam, called the ‘colons’ feared that they might lose their jobs as teachers, shopkeepers, policemen etc., to the educated Vietnamese.
· The French also feared that once educated the Vietnamese would begin to question the domination of the French.
6. (NCERT Q.3)Describe the ideas behind the Tonkin free school. To what extent was it a typical example of colonial ideas in Vietnam?
i. The Tonkin free school was started in 1907 to provide a western style education to Vietnamese with classes in science, hygiene and French.
ii. People were not only encouraged to learn western ideas but also to look modern by adopting western styles such as having a short haircut. This was meant to break the Vietnamese from their tradition of keeping long hair.
iii. To bring about a total change, the Vietnamese were told to drop useless and meaningless practices, study western customs and ideas and speak openly and frankly.
iv. The school was a typical example of colonial ideas as it glorified the French and justified colonial rule.
v. It represented Vietnamese as primitive and backward, skilled copyists but not creative. It considered them as inferior to the French.
7. (NCERT Q.2-C)Explain – “The government made the Saigon native girls school take back the students it had expelled”
i. The French colon teachers practiced racial discrimination in the Saigon native girls school in 1926. A Vietnamese student refused to vacate the front seat for a French student as instructed by the teacher. The Vietnamese students strongly protested.
ii. The protests increased and spread against the racist policy of the principal as well who expelled the student and others and made Anti-Vietnamese remarks and threats.
iii. As the situation went out of control, the government forced the school to take the students back. The incident reflects the courage and determination of the Vietnamese to resist colonial policies.
8. (NCERT Q.2-D)Explain – “Rats were most common in the modern, newly built areas of Hanoi”
i. The large sewers in the modern part of city, a symbol of modernity were an ideal and protective breeding ground for rats.
ii. The sewers also served as a great transport system allowing the rats to move around the city without any problems
iii. Rats began to enter the well cared homes of French through the sewage pipes and became a menace.
9. Discuss the religious beliefs of the people of Vietnam?
Vietnamese had varied religious beliefs:-
i. Their religious beliefs were a mixture of Buddhism, Confucianism, local practices and beliefs in the supernatural.
ii. Christianity, mainly Catholicism was introduced by the French
iii. Confucianism influenced the elite to develop good conduct, practical wisdom and proper social relationship.
iv. Syncretic traditions, combining Buddhist and local beliefs were followed by the peasantry. They followed various rituals and practices.
v. Many popular religions in Vietnam were spread by people who claimed to have seen a vision of God.
10. (NCERT Q.1-B)Write a note on Huynh Phu So and Hoa Hao Movement.
i. Huynh Phu So was the leader of a socio-religious reform movement called the Hao Hao Movement.
ii. He inspired people against French colonial rule in 1939
iii. He performed miracles, helped the poor and criticized useless expenditure.
iv. To reform society, he opposed the sale of child brides, gambling and use of alcohol and opium.
v. The French accused him of being mad, put him in an asylum and later exiled to Laos.
11. (NCERT Q.6) Discuss: What was the role of religious groups in the development of anti-colonial feeling in Vietnam?
OR
How did religion provide ways of resistance in Vietnam?
i. Many religious movements like the Scholars revolt, 1868 were hostile to western presence and spread of Christianity. They criticized Catholicism and French power
ii. They led a general uprising in which many Catholics were killed. The uprising served to inspire other patriots to rise up against colonialism.
iii. Some socio-religious movements like the Hoa Hao movement inspired movements against colonial rule. Hoa Hao drew on the religious idea popular in Anti French uprising of the 19th century.
iv. Some religios movements also supported the French. E.g- Movements of those who claimed to have seen a vision of god.
v. Some political parties often drew upon the support of socio religious reform movements, even though they were uneasy about their activities.
12. (NCERT Q.4) Compare the ideas of Phar Boi Chou and the ideas of Phan Chu Trinh.
i. Differences: 1. Phan Chu Trinh was intensely hostile to the monarchy and wished to overthrow it in order to create a basis for the promotion of popular rights. 2.Phan Boi Chou on the contrary planned to make use of the monarchy to drive out the foreign enemy first.
ii. Differences: 1. Phar Chu Trinh wanted to raise to the people to abolish the monarchy. He opposed the idea of using the monarchy against the French. 2. On the other hand, the revolutionary Phan Boi Chou absolutely disagreed with Chu Trinh’s idea
iii. Similiarity: 1. Both Phon Boi Chou and Phan Chu Trinh were Chinese nationalists who shared the same goal of Vietnams independence but both advocated different methods. 2. Both were Confucian Scholar Activists.
13. Discuss the importance of Go East Movement.
i. In the Ist Decade of the 20th Century, a ‘ Go East Movement’ became popular. In 1907-08, some 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan to acquire modern education.
ii. For many of them the primary objective was to drive out the French from Vietnam, overthrow the puppet emperor and re-establish the Nguyer dynasty that had been deposed by the French.
iii. The nationalists looked for foreign arms and help. They appealed to the Japanese as fellow Asians.
iv. Japan had modernized itself and had resisted colonization by the West. Besides, its victory over Russia in 1907 proved its military capabilities.
v. Vietnamese students established branch of the Restoration Society in Tokyo but after 1908, the Japanese Ministry of Interior clamped down on them. Many including Phan Boi Chau, were deported and forced to seek exile in China and Thailand.
14. Who was Sur Yat Sen? How did he inspire the Vietnamese Nationalists?
i. Sur Yat Sen was a popular revolutionary leader of China. He organized a popular movement to overthrow the long established monarchy in China in 1911 and set up a Republic.
ii. These developments in China inspired the Vietnamese students to organize the Association for the Restoration of Vietnam called Vietnam Fuar Phuo Hoi.
iii. Now the nature of the anti French Independence movement changed. The objective was to set up a democratic republic and not a constitutional monarchy.
15. Trace the growth of communist movement in Vietnam and its contribution to Vietnamese Nationalism.
i. Ho Chi Minh was a communist leader of Vietnam. He was influenced by the Comintern (Communist International) and the militant demonstration of the European Communist parties against capitalism. In February 1930, he united the different nationalist groups and established the Vietnamese communist party, later called the Indo China Communist Party. He successfully led it for forty years.
ii. Ho Chi Minh organized the league of independence for Vietnam, which was later called Viet Minh. It successfully fought against the French colonizers as well as Japanese occupation of Vietnam in 1940. It recaptured Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh became the chairman when the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed.
iii. The French was completely annihilated in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu by the Viet Minh. Peace negotiations were held at Geneva Convention. Vietnam was persuaded to accept the division of the country in to North and South Vietnam. The Communists came to power under Ho Chi Minh in the North. Bao Dai’s regime held power in the South. It was overthrown by a Dictator Ngo Dinh Dien. He was against the communists and punished them severly.
iv. Ho Chi Minh’s Communist government helped the NLF (National Liberation Front) of South Vietnam to fight for the unification of Vietnam, under communist rule.
v. The US intervened to check communism from spreading. The communists became popular for their heroic defense of the country against the Japanese. Vietnam was finally unified in 1975 (April). The NLF occupied Saigon. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed in 1976.
16. What were the Challenges faced by the New Republic of Vietnam from 1954 onwards?
i. The French tried to regain control over Vietnam with the help of Vietnamese emperor Bao Dai. The Viet Minh retreated for eight years in the face of a strong French offensive but defended them later at Diem Bien Phu.
ii. The Geneva convention split Vietnam in to North and South Vietnam. There were serious differences between the Republic of Vietnam under the Ho Chi Minh communists and the South Vietnamese emperor Bao Dai and later the dictator Ngo Dinh Diem who was Anti- Communist.
iii. The US intervention in Vietnam to check communism further led to war and massive destruction of Vietnam and loss of lives.
17. (NCERT Q.7) Explain the causes of US involvement in the war in Vietnam.
i. The Fear of Communism: 1. It made US join the war in Vietnam. US watched the alliance of Ho Chi Minh government and the NLF (National Liberation Front) with suspicion. 2. It was worried that communists would gain price in Vietnam and the USSR communist power would be strengthened further.
ii. Domino Effect: The US policy maker feared that it would start a Domino Effect i.e, Communists governments would be established in other countries of South East Asia as well. US were determined to check the growth of communism and therefore joined the war in Vietnam.
18. Discuss the effects of US entry in to Vietnam war Or Vietnam.
i. Thousands of US troops arrived equipped with heavy weapons and bombers
ii. US used chemical weapons namely Napalm, Agent Orange and Phosphorous Bombs.
iii. Chemical Weapons destroyed many villages and decimated jungles. Civilians died in large numbers.
19. (NCERT Q.8) Write an evaluation of the Vietnamese war against the US from the point of view of
a) a Porter on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
i. The Ho Chi Minh Trail was an important supply line consisting of an immense network of footpaths and roads to transport men and materials from North and South Vietnam. Most of the trail moved outside Vietnam in neighboring Laos and Cambodia.
ii. Porters were mostly women. They would carry upto 25kg on their backs or upto 70kg on bicycles. In some parts trucks transported the supplies.
iii. About 20,000 troops came from North to South every month. The trail was improved further from the late 1950’s. It had support bases and hospitals along the way.
iv. The trail symbolizes how the Vietnamese used their limited resources and population to great advantage in the war against the US.
b) Women Soldier.
i. Many women joined the resistance movement in Vietnam as fighters and warriors when casualties increased in the 1960’s. There were about 1.5 million women in the regular army, the militia, the local forces and other professional teams. They shot down planes and neutralized tens of thousands of bombs.
ii. Besides fighting the enemy, women helped in nursing the wounded, in constructing underground rooms and tunnels.
iii. They transported cargo, weapons and food on the Ho Chi Minh trail. They also built air strips. They guarded strategic roads and key points on the trail.
20. Short note on
1. Trung Sisters.
Phan Boi Chau wrote a play based on the lives of Trung Sisters. Trung sisters had fought against Chinese domination in 30-43 CE. It is told that they gathered a force over 30,000, resisted the Chinese forces for two years and when defeated, they committed suicide instead of surrendering to the enemy. Their story brought the patriotism in Vietnam.
2. Trieu Au.
Trieu Au was a women rebel in 3rd century CE. She was orphaned in childhood and lived with her brother. On growing up, she left home and went into the jungle. She organized a large army and resisted Chinese rule. When her army was crushed she drowned herself. She became a sacred figure. Nationalists popularized her image to inspire people in Vietnam.
21. (NCERT Q.9) What was the role of Women in the Anti Imperialist struggle in Vietnam?
i. As the nationalist movement grew, the traditional Vietnamese women was shown breaking social conventions and rebelling against some social norms.
ii. The new woman was inspired to action by early woman revolutionaries like the Trung Sisters and Trieu Au, who had resisted China as well as Nguyen Thi Xuan who had shot down a Jet.
iii. Many women joined the resistance movement in Vietnam as fighters and warriors when casualties increased in the 1960’s. There were about 1.5 million women in the regular army, the militia, the local forces and other professional teams. They shot down planes and neutralized tens of thousands of bombs.
iv. Besides fighting the enemy, women helped in nursing the wounded, in constructing underground rooms and tunnels. They transported cargoes, weapons and food on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They also built airstrips. They guarded strategic roads and key points on the trail.
v. Teachers in Vietnam resisted imperialist teaching. They taught modified syllabus against the French quietly.
23. (NCERT Q.3) What effects did the involvement of US in Vietnam war have on US itself?
(OR)
Why did the Vietnam war create strong reactions within the US?
i. The prolongation of the Vietnam war created strong reactions within the US itself because the US had failed to crush Vietnam’s resistance and the growth of communism.
ii. The US had underestimated the power of Vietnamese nationalism and the determination of a small country to fight the most technologically advanced country of the world.
iii. There was widespread questioning of the government policy. Many people criticized the US government for getting involved in an indefensible war. They resented the policy of drafting young soldiers, mostly from middle classes and were angry because of the tremendous loss of young lives.
iv. They were disillusioned by the daily TV reports and horrifying war scenes. They condemned the major role in both criticizing as well as supporting the war. Eg: White John Wayne’s film “Green Berets of 1968” motivated many youth to sacrifice their life in the war, other films Francis Fords “Apocalypse Now” (1979) reflected the moral confusion in US due to the war. Actress Jane Fonda even visited Vietnam and praised the Vietnamese for heroically defending their country.
v. Scholars and writers like Noam Chowisky and Mary McCarthy condemned the war and called it the greatest threat to peace, national self determination and international cooperation.
24. (NCERT Q.2-b) Explain:- “The French began building canals and draining lands in the Mekong Delta”
i. The Main purpose for acquiring colonies was to make profits. Therefore the French began to build canals and drain lands in the Mekong Delta to increase cultivation.
ii. Forced labor was used to build the vast system of irrigation works, canals and earthworks.
iii. Rice production increased and Vietnam became the 3rd largest exporter of rice in the world.
iv. Followed by infrastructure projects to help transport goods for trade, move military garrisons and control the entire region.
v. Construction of a trans Indo China rail network connecting Vietnam and China.
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