Page 46 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Southeast Asia, 1920s

rance has played a role in Vietnam a Roman alphabet. In the 1920s, after the
since the 17th century, when the Jesuit discovery of rich oil deposits, the country
missionary Alexandre de Rhodes made is experiencing a boom, producing huge
F the perilous journey to the region to revenues for the elite and wealthy French Learn French.
spread Christianity. Since then, the French investors. However, while the rich get richer, Although native languages are
presence gradually increased and, in 1859, peasants – who make up 90 per cent of the still spoken, French is the
France captured Saigon and formed French population – are unable to reap any benefits. official language of the region and is the
Indochina. French rule destroyed the old Opposition to French rule is also growing language of government, trade and
Vietnamese systems and created a new one among the educated young Vietnamese, media in the country.
in which the elite could decide how best blocked from ascending the professional
to govern the country. French intervention ladder. While it appears that Vietnam is Visit Angkor Wat.
has opened up many new opportunities, enjoying the benefits of the Roaring Twenties, This stunning temple complex
modernising the country with railways, beneath the surface, hostility, frustration and has become the symbol of
movies, automobiles, cities and even creating revolution are brewing.
French Colonialism in Vietnam, with a
reconstruction made for the Colonial
Exhibition in Paris.
FIG.01
Make some investments in
coal, rice or rubber.
International demand for these
products is huge, and it’s the sure-fire
waytomakeahealthyprofit.
Did you know?
Try to meet Phan Chu Trinh.
French citizenship is
This venerated nationalist is a
highly sought after
pacifist who supports
and encouraged
Vietnamese liberation through the
among the educationofhiscountrymen.
Vietnamese elite
Make your opposition to
French rule obvious. Though
political activity is encouraged
in theory, the colonists are quick to quell
any rebellious action.
WHERE TO STAY
FIG.02 Reject the chance to go to
Roughlyspeaking,theFrenchhavedividedtheregionintothreeareas– France to study. This is a great
Tonkin in the north, Annam in the centre and Cochinchina in the south, opportunity to enhance your
as well as several protec education and make key connections.
and quality of life will di
you choose to stay in. Co Forget to take advantage of
populated and prosperou the new transport links.
has been heavily influen Including the new network of
by French rule, with roads connecting market towns and the
profitable rice and rubbe railways in Cambodia and Vietnam.
plantations. However,
in the protectorates, Join the peasant rebellions.
things are harder. With The French Foreign Legion will
localrulersreigning,itis be sent in, seeing Nguyen Thai
difficulttoobtainFrench Hoc, the leader, executed and 546
citizenship and there is collaborators given life sentences.
strictcontroloverthe
media and press.
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