Eric Mancebo

ALGERIA AND VIETNAM

ALGERIA: COLONIAL HISTORY

Algerian War (“War of Independence”) French colony for 130 years (1830-1962), the French invaded in

1830 with the desire to increase trade, spread French culture, and religion.

1830-1870: Colonization, French populate Algeria “Settler Colony”- significant population of European settlers, the

majority were small farmers who grew wheat or produced wine. 1870-1940: Slow but minimal assimilation

Berlin Conference (1884-1885) Atlantic Slave trade (West and Central Coasts)

Europe traded guns, textiles and other items for enslaved Africans. Europe’s conquest of Africa

“Scramble of Africa” 1880 80% of Africa was independent 1900 All but Ethiopia and Liberia where claimed

ALGERIA: COLONIAL HISTORY

Europeans denied Africans to decide their own political economic aff airs. They exploited Africa’s natural and human

resources for their own economic benefit. Europe’s main goal was to obtain raw

materials and sell their manufactured goods in African economies. Wheat, timber, cotton, peanuts, palm oil,

and coffee. French authorities pursued to accelerate

Algerian economic development in key areas such as agriculture. Increased commercial interest to expansion

led to French zone of occupation. They created large agricultural tracts, built factories, and exploited cheap labor.

ALGERIA: COLONIAL HISTORY

In the 1920s and 1930s, a number of Algerian nationalist groups formed in Algeria and France. Laws defined Algerians as “subjects” rather than citizens

unless they agreed to stop following Islamic laws. They were governed with harsh punishments for offenses of

speaking ill of the French government. Algerians were segregated from neighborhoods, hospitals,

schools, beaches, and business. May 8, 1945 nationalist groups staged demonstrations

across Algeria in order to draw attention to the link between the end of fascism and their desire to end colonialism.

ALGERIA: RESISTANCE

Beginning of Armed Resistance November 1, 1954 Libteration Nationale (FLN)

launched. War broke out- France vs. Algeria (1954-1962)

The war in Algeria was a complex confl ict characterized by guerrilla warfare, maquis fighting, terrorism, and the use of torture by both sides. Toussaint Rouge

The Battle of Algiers Algiers was the capital of French Algeria

Algerians gained independence in 1962 Ahmed Ben Bella became the first president of

Algeria. But divisions of the FLN led to more violence.

Religious and ethnic confl icts Rise of Islamic Salvation Front

ALGERIA: DECOLONIZATION

FRENCH INDOCHINA

1. Colonial Protectorate 1887-1954

2. 17 th century missionaries arrived in Vietnam. French, Portuguese

3. France- direct involvement in early 19 th century In 1847, French troops were sent to Vietnam. France wanted to trade with inner China. They wanted

rubber, which was made by burning sap from rubber trees found in Vietnam.

4. 1862 Conquest of Cochin China June 5th, 1862, Treaty of Saigon

5. Tonkin and Annam 1884-1885

THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH

Coercive powerExport-oriented economy

Rubber, Tea, and CoffeeTransformation of Vietnamese society, cash economy,

divide between colonial urban elite and rural villages.Political repression

IMPACT OF THE FRENCH

Can Vuong movement (1885-1889)- “Aid the king”Traditional Vietnamese resistance, centered in

Annam, sought to restore the imperial system.Attacks on Vietnamese Christians- 40,000 killed (a

third of the total)Revolt crushed by the French, capture of the king

RESISTANCE

Born in Nguyen Tat Than, 1890Son of Imperial offi ce holderHe left Vietnam in 1912Agitated for independence at Versailles Joined French Communist party in 1920-

Lenin’s Essay on Imperialism- the Highest Stage of capitalism

Formed Indochinese Communist Party- 1930- belief in revolutionary potential of the peasantry

During Japanese occupation, a Vietnamese anti-colonial movement led by Ho Chi Minh had grown in strength. 1945- Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s

independence from France

HO CHI MINH

1. Economic protectionism heightened importance of colonial territories- trade barriers made Indochina more signifi cant

2. Increasing Nationalist activity- formation of the VNQDD- Vietnamese Nationalist Party- modeled on Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) of China

3. VNQDD Yen Bay revolt in 1930- leadership destroyed; remnants fl ee to China

4. Destruction of more moderate nationalist groups- communists survived through disciplined organization and secrecy.

INTERWAR ERA- CHALLENGES TO THE FRENCH

Westward Expansion Acquisition of Philippines as colony in 1898; Hawaii brought

into union Interest in China Market- the Open Door notes- role of

missionaries and traders Fears of Japanese power, vulnerability of the Philippines

THE USA AS A PACIFIC POWER

War seen as part of the same strategic theatre Increase to $133 million in aidFrench position weakens in late 1950; defeat at Cao

Bang- Chinese role in helping Vietnamese

IMPACT OF KOREA ON VIETNAM

French refusal to grant Vietnam independence

America calls for a more aggressive strategy

Connection between French cooperation in Europe with European Defense Community and policy in Indochina

In the United States, there was little interest at fi rst in the French colonial war in Indochina. However, after the Chinese

communist conquest of the Chinese mainland in October 1949 and the North Korean invasion of South Korea, the US changed its perspective of the war in Indochina.

US-FRENCH TENSIONS OVER THE WAR

Recognized weakness of French will to fight

Pushed the French to adopt a more aggressive strategy, train more Vietnamese soldiers, off er greater independence to Bao Dai government

US paid 80 percent of the costs

EISENHOWER AND VIETNAM

US support for the French- Paying up to 80% by 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu- April- May 1954

Eisenhower’s “United Action” policy- the “domino theory”

US reluctance to interveneFrench Defeat- May 1954

INDOCHINA IN 1954

Division of Vietnam at 17 th ParallelElections in two yearsMovement of peoples North and SouthUS takes “note” of the agreements, but is not a party

to them.

GENEVA CONFERENCE OF 1954

Springhall summarizes decolonization into three explanations: Nationalist, Metropolitan, and Internationalist

SPRINGHALL

NATIONAL

Algeria Vietnam

Nationalism -WW1- Stirred up anger, caused the first nationalist resistance movements.-WW2- French lost Paris. -Ahmed Ben Bella-FLN (National Liberation Front) - Guerilla tactics-Better technology and tactics targeting. (Crenshaw’s revolutionary terrorism)-Targeted: French government, Algerian elite, and Arab states. (Battle of Algiers)-Britain and France invaded Germany’s African colonies for more land. This gave Africans hope because they saw Europeans being killed. They began rise up while European soldiers were away from their colonial posts. -Great depression in the 1930s strengthened African opposition to colonialism.

• Phan Boi Chau (1867-1940)

• Ho Chi Minh • Communist led

revolution• Heavier taxes produced

sporadic revolts in Vietnam• Viet Minh- “League for

independence of Vietnam from the French Empire”

• Guerilla tactics• Geneva Peace Talks led to

Vietnam division• Influenced by Viet

Minh’s victory at Dien Bien Phu

Although a victor of WW1, France was utterly devastated by the trench warfare fought against the Germans on French lands. Their economy was destroyed after WW1 & WW2

They suffered a high loss of life, which destroyed the industrial region. Destruction of prime agricultural land led to an increased need for

imports from other countries. France depended on Vietnam after WW2 for its economic resources

WW1 forced colonizers to fight WW2 was the offi cial turning point, European colonial

powers depended on their colonies. Africa’s raw materials were critical in supplying the war effort. The Versailles Treaty not only blamed the conflict on Germany but

also forced them to make huge payments to the victors of the war. France needed these reparations payments in order to pay down their

own debts.

METROPOLITAN

INTERNATIONAL

WW2 Nations suffered severe casualties:

1. Soviet Union (23,400,000)2. China (20,000,000)3. Germany (8,680,000)4. Japan (2,700,000)5. French Indochina (1,500,000)

These nations were severely weakened, it caused a shift in the world leading to new superpowers.

Cold War Soviet A-bomb Sept. 1949, Fall of China Oct 1949, McCarthysim Feb

1950 US decides to provide $15 million to Bao Dai, May 1950- connected

to agreements in Europe to beef up NATO, eventually rearm Germany

Tensions grew between Soviets and Americans European Nations were tempted to align themselves

USA did not support the French in Algeria, they focused on Soviet action and their military build up.

Proxy Wars Vietnam

USA did not support France in the First Indochina War Communist China and Korea

Fear of Domino Theory (USA Containment

UN had little to no impact in Vietnam or Algeria

INTERNATIONAL

Spivak argues that “The Subaltern cannot speak”. However Algeria and Vietnam prove her theory wrong. Vietnam and Algerian resistance

and nationalist movements were successful. Therefore, the subaltern had a voice. Ho Chi Minh FLN Vietcong's Civilians successfully mobilized

Both nations broke ties with France Communist Vietnam Non-Aligned Algeria

GAYATRI SPIVAK

“Imagined Communities” Nationalism and nations

based on language. However, Algeria and Vietnam proved his theory wrong. Nationalism was based on

ideals and religion FLN in Algeria- Muslim-

Battle of Algiers Vietnam- Communist-

Guerilla warfare

BENEDICT ANDERSON

“Nationalism is paradoxical to liberation.” Franz was a member of the

ALN (National Liberation Army) He supported methods of

violence and believed there was no other way to receive independence.

Through the use of violence and heavy nationalism, independence was achieved. However, there was not a smooth transition in breaking away from these colonial ties.

FRANZ FANON

“Decolonization must be understood through a global perspective” A process of globalization

So exterior confl icts such as the Cold War, end of WW1 & WW2, and formation of the UN works with movements to achieve decolonization.

A.G. HOPKINS

Steven, argues that nationalism needs to be seen as a conversation that the present holds with the past… The strength of nationalism as a political phenomenon is its

ability to draw on sentiments- language, religion, family, culture- that appear to be natural and autochthonous.

After WW2 Vietnam and Algeria saw that the European powers were weakened and could be defeated. Nationalism stirred up after: Gia Dinh Bao (First Vietnamese

newspaper), Japanese Invasion, Ho Chi Minh and his communist ideals.

STEVEN KEMPER

Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory Core-France Semi-Periphery- China Periphery- Algeria & Indochina (Vietnam)

Still remain Periphery as countries

WORLD-SYSTEM THEORY

WORLD-SYSTEM THEORY

Algeria: Ahmed Ben Bella is elected president

Declared that Algeria would follow a neutral course in world politics Banned opposition parties

The war of national liberation disrupted Algeria’s society and economy. Many civilians were homeless, unemployed, and suff ered from illness.

Ahmed Ben Bella was exiled, Boumédiènne assumed power. Admitted as the 109 th member of the United Nations Non-Aligned movement (1973) Algeria suffered from another violent civil war in the 1990s.

Vietnam Partition Second Indochina War (Vietnam War, 1956-1975)

Soviet Union, China, and North Vietnam vs. South Vietnam and USA Vietnam unified under communism in 1976 Free Market reforms in 1986

POST-COLONIAL IMPACT

Is violence necessary in gaining independence or is it possible to achieve independence through diplomacy and peace? As seen by both French colonies (Algeria & Vietnam),

violence appears to be a more successful means for attaining independence when the colonial power has invested more in the infrastructure of the colony. However, it does not matter if a nation gains independence

violently or peacefully, the results of decolonizing will still cripple economies and cause global conflict.

SO WHAT?