Reasons for French colonisation of northern Vietnam

Question 1

What are the political factors of French colonisation?

Hint: DA

Answer 1

• Ambitions of Jules Dupre

- Desire to increase French prestige in Europe

Question 2

What are the economic factors of French colonisation?

Hint: 3N

Answer 2

• Need for new raw materials
• Need for new trading bases
• Need for new markets

Question 3

What are the social factors of French colonisation?

Hint: DDI

Answer 3

• Desire to spread the Catholic faith
• Internal stability and chaos
• Desire to civilise Vietnam

Question 4

Need for new materials
- Rich resources in Vietnam
Hint: TIPZ

Answer 4

• Coal ( coal mines in Vietnam) –> Coal energy for the French navy
• iron, tin, zinc and phosphate

Question 5

Need for new bases

- Saigon

Answer 5

-trading base supposedly to rival British Malaya and Singapore

Question 6

Need for new bases

- What did the Mekong river give access to?

Answer 6

• Access to China to Yunnan

- -> Access to Chinese tea, silk and textiles

Question 7

Need for new bases

- Why was the Mekong river not used?

Answer 7

• Rapids in upper parts of Mekong River hindered entry

Question 8

Need for new bases

- What did the French do after not gaining access to China at first?

Answer 8

• French shifted attention to setting up a trading base in Hanoi in Tonkin

Question 9

Need for new bases

- Which river gave them access to China to Yunnan

Answer 9

• Red river

Question 10

Need for new markets

- What was France hit by and when?

Answer 10

• France was hit by the economic depression in 1873

Question 11

Need for new markets

- What happened when France was hit by the economic depression?

Answer 11

• Profits plunged and exports stagnated which led to the need for new markets

Question 12

Desire to civilise Vietnam

- Social Darwinism

Answer 12

• Concept of “survival of the fittest”

- The world is made up of a hierarchy of competing nations and the white European race was superior to other races