French Rule in Asia Before the Second World War

What did France rule in Asia before the Second World War?

In the 1700s, during the age of empire building, France took control of significant parts of southeast Asia. This area was known as French Indochina.

Where did France rule in Asia before the Second World War?

France ruled French Indochina, which included Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Why did France extend its rule in Asia before the Second World War?

France built an empire in parts of southeast Asia for 3 main reasons:

• ❖ Much of the area, especially Vietnam, was rich in raw materials such as coal and zinc. France could sell these resources globally.
• ❖ Areas such as Vietnam had a large number of peasant farms France could use for agriculture.
• ❖ They could export goods made in France to sell to the colonies in southeast Asia.

What was the impact of the Second World War on France's rule in Asia?

The Second World War saw France occupied by the Nazis and impacted French Indochina in 3 key ways:

• ❖ Japan occupied French Indochina and took important raw materials from Vietnam, including spices, metals, coal and rice. Japan plundered so much that 2,000,000 Vietnamese had died of starvation by 1945.
• ❖ The war led to the development of a strong resistance group called the Vietminh, who wanted to remove all foreign rule from Vietnam.
• ❖ At the end of the Second World War the Vietminh declared Vietnam's independence, and this led to bitter war with France.