French In Vietnam

French Influence in Vietnam

Social Effects:

The French brought some good things to Vietnam, like education. They set up schools where they taught in both French and Vietnamese and even established the University of Hanoi in 1902. A few students from Vietnam got scholarships to study in France. However, this mainly happened in cities, and kids from farming families often missed out on education. Also, the lessons at these schools focused a lot on French culture, which was part of the French trying to maintain control. In cities, the French also changed how things looked by tearing down old, traditional Vietnamese buildings.

Political Effects:

The French rule in Vietnam was quite random and often harsh. France didn't have a clear plan for Vietnam, as long as it could benefit economically. The country was managed by different governors sent from France, and they had a lot of power, which sometimes led to corruption and unfair treatment.

Economic Effects:

The main reason France was in Vietnam was for money. They changed Vietnam’s economy so it would make more money for the French, not for the Vietnamese. The French took over a lot of land for big farms, and local farmers had to work for them or move away. Some were tricked or forced into working for very low pay. The French grew rice and rubber to sell for profit and introduced a lot of taxes that made life harder for the Vietnamese.

Dutch Colonial Era:

From 1680 to 1800, the Dutch East India Company had strict control over spice production in what is now Indonesia. They forced local people to produce spices, treating them almost like slaves. If communities didn't produce enough, they faced severe punishments. The Dutch were especially tough on the island of Java, where they faced strong resistance. Dutch settlers didn't treat the Indonesian people well, looking down on them and sometimes bringing in workers from other countries to manage them.

The Dutch East India Company made a lot of money but also spent a lot trying to control the area. They eventually went bankrupt in 1800. The Dutch government took over in 1816, establishing a system that required villages to dedicate land or labor to the government, which helped make the colony more profitable. This focus on cash crops like spices, sugar, and coffee led to famine and disease because not enough everyday food was grown.

The Dutch did work on improving infrastructure, like ports, roads, and water systems, which did bring some benefits to the people. After Indonesia became independent, these improvements helped the country develop faster.