Evaluate the economic, social and cultural effects of the French colonial system in Indo-China.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the of the French colonial system in Indo-China, weighing up the importance or otherwise of its economic, social and cultural effects. Candidates may offer equal coverage of economic, social and cultural effects or they may emphasize their evaluation of one or two of them. However, all aspects will be a feature of the response. A comparative approach may or may not be used. Candidates may refer to the economic exploitation of Indo-China through, for example, the repatriation of profits, the development of infrastructure at the expense of agriculture or the failure to promote manufacturing. Social effects could include the promotion of the French language and the impact of missionaries. Cultural effects could include colonial architecture, especially in Hanoi, and continued patronage of the imperial court in Hue. Both importance and limitations must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal focus on each.

The question required candidates to make an appraisal of the French colonial system in Indo-China, weighing up the importance or otherwise of its economic, social and cultural effects. Candidates needed to cover economic, social and cultural effects although there did not need to be equal coverage of each.