“French colonial rule was the main reason for the beginnings of nationalism in Indo-China.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that French colonial rule was the main reason for the beginnings of nationalism in Indo-China. Reasons may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may discuss the tendency for French colonial rule to be repressive, and in some instances corrupt, which contributed to a rise in anti-French sentiment amongst the local population. French reluctance to allow self-representation drove moderate political parties to the “left”; a key element of each party’s platform was (anti-French inspired) nationalism. Protests against elements of French rule (for example, poor peasants against taxation in 1908) often took on nationalist (and anti-French) rhetoric. Candidates may discuss reasons for the relative strength of nationalist feeling in Vietnam compared with the rest of Indo-China. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.