Prior to colonization, the Chinese Han Empire took over Vietnam in 111 BC. They brought in governors, generals, and bureaucrats to bring order to this region and enforce taxes, the practice of Chinese agriculture, Viet language, and Viet education. Additionally, they pushed Chinese social classes, cultural values, and religions onto the Vietnamese, marking the beginning of the transformation of this country. Under Chinese control, Vietnam was separated by two main belief systems: Confucianism and Buddhism. Although Confucianism was not necessarily a religion, but expressed the moral standards of life, it was still useful for the Chinese to take control over Bac Bo, a kingdom of Vietnam. People of the middle class, royals, and the wealthy sided with Confucianism putting this belief higher than Buddhism which was mostly represented by the peasants. Buddhism became a state religion because of the many emperors that were raised as Buddhists. After several years of being controlled by the Chinese, the Vietnamese gained their independence in the 10th century when Ngo Quyen defeated Chinese force by making compromises. This settlement between the two countries entailed for the Viet people to follow laws and pay taxes in return of political freedom given by the Chinese. The northern region of Vietnam was ruled by local dynasties for the following nine centuries.
As time went on, World War I began and ten months into this war, there were six million Frenchmen that were drafted, causing a shortage of labor in France. This then led to the demand for weapons and ammunition to be produced because of the lack of labor workers. The Undersecretary of State Artillery and Munitions resorted to the hiring of women, people of the colonies, and European immigrants. On the other hand, the Colonial Labor Organization took labor workers from North Africa, Indochina, Madagascar, and China. Specifically, in Indochina, there were 49,000 men volunteers to be workers in France. Because Indochina became was directly associated with France early on through the thousands of volunteers for the occupation of being a labor worker, there was no change in Indochina. As the people of Indochina continued to work for France, they were unaware that the French were gradually taking control over them through collective action. Within the work industry in France there was great diversity in regards to ethnicity. Approximately 662,000 foreigners were labor workers in France and either held an occupation in war industries or in areas of agriculture. With these many different people all in one place, tension emerged between different ethnic groups, specifically between the Vietnamese and French workers because they were not respectful of each other's customs. Thus, exemplifying the effects of bringing several different cultures into one region. In regards to a normal week in an average worker's life during this time, they had ten hour work days, six days a week. Over the span of one month, they would were paid twice. Between 1924 and 1930, the Vietnamese people started a protest movement over their harsh working conditions. They had a high demand for shorter workdays, an increase of income, and fair treatment from the French. Taking a lead in the political revolution of the Vietnamese Communist Party run by Ho Chi Minh was this labor movement. Thus, it had a lasting impact for the Vietnamese as they worked towards gaining their independence.
Because the Japanese had the capability of taking over Vietnam, the Vietnamese decided to avoid confrontation with them. Thus, they collaborated with the Japanese instead and made a compromise that the Vietnam government could stay in control of the citizens while the Japanese could transport weapons and supplies throughout the country as well as other regions. However, when times became difficult for the Japanese in March of 1945, they claimed a coup d'etat in opposition to the French government. They, therefore, had full power over Vietnam. In response to this taking over of Vietnam, both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanese cities, were bombed by the Americans which then went on to force the Japanese to surrender in August of that same year.
As time went on, World War I began and ten months into this war, there were six million Frenchmen that were drafted, causing a shortage of labor in France. This then led to the demand for weapons and ammunition to be produced because of the lack of labor workers. The Undersecretary of State Artillery and Munitions resorted to the hiring of women, people of the colonies, and European immigrants. On the other hand, the Colonial Labor Organization took labor workers from North Africa, Indochina, Madagascar, and China. Specifically, in Indochina, there were 49,000 men volunteers to be workers in France. Because Indochina became was directly associated with France early on through the thousands of volunteers for the occupation of being a labor worker, there was no change in Indochina. As the people of Indochina continued to work for France, they were unaware that the French were gradually taking control over them through collective action. Within the work industry in France there was great diversity in regards to ethnicity. Approximately 662,000 foreigners were labor workers in France and either held an occupation in war industries or in areas of agriculture. With these many different people all in one place, tension emerged between different ethnic groups, specifically between the Vietnamese and French workers because they were not respectful of each other's customs. Thus, exemplifying the effects of bringing several different cultures into one region. In regards to a normal week in an average worker's life during this time, they had ten hour work days, six days a week. Over the span of one month, they would were paid twice. Between 1924 and 1930, the Vietnamese people started a protest movement over their harsh working conditions. They had a high demand for shorter workdays, an increase of income, and fair treatment from the French. Taking a lead in the political revolution of the Vietnamese Communist Party run by Ho Chi Minh was this labor movement. Thus, it had a lasting impact for the Vietnamese as they worked towards gaining their independence.
Because the Japanese had the capability of taking over Vietnam, the Vietnamese decided to avoid confrontation with them. Thus, they collaborated with the Japanese instead and made a compromise that the Vietnam government could stay in control of the citizens while the Japanese could transport weapons and supplies throughout the country as well as other regions. However, when times became difficult for the Japanese in March of 1945, they claimed a coup d'etat in opposition to the French government. They, therefore, had full power over Vietnam. In response to this taking over of Vietnam, both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanese cities, were bombed by the Americans which then went on to force the Japanese to surrender in August of that same year.