Tricky Questions - Fall of french Empire

Question 1

What was the aim of France after the second world war?

Answer 1

To retain her empire (all parties in the 4th republic wanted to do so)

Empires seen as power and prestige indicators

Question 2

What did France have in her empire (4)

Answer 2

1. Metropolitan France
2. Overseas departments like Algeria and French colonies in west indies
3. Overseas territories like sub saharan Africa
4. Associated states and territories like protectorates of Morrocco and Tunisia and three territories of Indochina

Question 3

What happened after French surrender in September 1940? Who opposed who after this?

Answer 3

• Japanese invasion (cooperation with Vichy regime in France)
• Vietminh and national front for independence of Vietnam

Question 4

What did Ho do in the North of the country?

Answer 4

took control of Hanoi when French did not send troops immediately after the war.

Question 5

Ho petitioned who for independence?

Answer 5

President Truman (French troops landed October 1945)

Question 6

What was the March 6th 1946 compromise agreement?

Answer 6

Neither the French nor the vietminh wanted war.

Vietnam would be an autonomous state in an indochinese federation, but some French influence would remain (part of federal french empire)

HO REJECTED THIS, HE WANTED A FULLY INDEPENDENT VIETNAM, DIDNT WANT FRENCH CONTROL ON DEFENCE, FP AND INFLUENCE IN SOUTH

Question 7

exemplify the rise in French troop levels

Answer 7

from 60,000 to 145,000 by 1950

French controlled the towns but Viet minh had control of the countryside

Question 8

How much did the war effort cost of French marshall aid budget?

Answer 8

it consumed two thirds of it by 1950 ($2.296 hundred million)

Question 9

When France turned to the USA what support did the states provide?

Answer 9

The US agreed to aid in 1950:

• MAAG: Military assistance and advisory group
• supplied 300,000 small arms and $1 billion in support

Question 10

What did JFK say pre presidency?

Answer 10

We have allied ourselves to a desperate regime

Question 11

By 1953 what was the French war effort looking like?

Answer 11

• The French were overstretched, on defensive everywhere

- USA financing 1/3 of war effort

Question 12

When was the end of the war for the French?

Answer 12

• Dien Bien Phu 1954

- 56 day siege

Question 13

What was the legacy of Bien Dien Phu for the French?

Answer 13

Algerian war of independence 1954-1962

- 1958 collapse of fourth republic (Replaced by De Gaulle who made more centralised govenrment)

Question 14

Total of US men lost to the war?

Answer 14

• 58,000