French Rule in Vietnam

• • France had controlled Vietnam before WW2, but during the war it had been taken over by Japan and in 1945 France wanted Vietnam back.
  • However, French rule was opposed by the nationalist group, the Viet Minh who wanted Vietnamese independence
  • The Viet Minh were strongest in the Northern part of Vietnam
• • In 1949 China became communist, and the USA was scared communism would spread into Vietnam as China sent military supplies to the Viet Minh
  • In response, the USA sent the French military supplies
• • In the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the French were surrounded and defeated by the Viet Minh left Vietnam
  • The USA didn’t help because they didn’t want to get involved in another large war after WW2 and had spent a lot of money on a recent war in Korea
• Reasons the French lost:

  • The Viet Minh knew the area well and used it to their advantage to surprise the French
  • China supported the Viet Minh with troops and supplies
  • Local villagers helped the Viet Minh by moving supplies and spying on the French army