History Primary Document Assessment

President Ho Chi Minh; September 2nd, (1945) after the French invaded Vietnam, following World War 2; Ba Dinh Square, (Vietnam)

a Declaration of Independence (of the Republic of Vietnam)

The Declaration of Independence marked the end of France’s colonialism within the country, and opened a new era of “independence, freedom, and happiness” for Vietnam.

President Ho Chi Minh quoted the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of the French Revolution in 1791, in order to show respect and the spirit of fraternity between the two countries. The French imperialists’ standard towards their own country, “liberty, equality, and fraternity,” was an inspiration for Ho Chi Minh to established Vietnam’s aspiration to be free and equal from France and other countries (Japan, China and later on the United States of America). Accordingly, to show support to the Alliance in World War 2, Vietnam had also formed an organization called Viet Minh as loyal patriots and nationalists. Earlier in the year of 1945, the Viet Minh had convinced France to ally with Vietnam to fight Japan fascists, but there were negative responses from France, as they “intensify their terrorizing policy.” The French and Vietnamese war was intense and had left many severe consequences, such as famine, loss of men, cultural shifting and resources lacking. Despite this, Ho Chi Minh still affirmed that “our fellow citizens have always manifested an attitude pervaded with toleration and humanity,” 5 in order to convince Vietnamese to keep a friendly relationship between France and Vietnam in the near and far future.

-Ho Chi Minh also quoted Thomas Jefferson’s famous speech from the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence (1776) in the very beginning of the source. Ho Chi Minh shared the same opinion of how “all men are created equal,” showing his proposal to receive US’s support, and enhancing the amity between the two countries.

-By quoting the two famous declarations of France and the United States of America, Ho Chi Minh indicates that Vietnam’s independence is as important as other countries as well. Ho Chi Minh strongly believed that Vietnam deserve to be independence just like any other countries. In the end of the Declaration, Ho Chi Minh clearly declared that “the people who has opposed French domination, fought by the Allies’ side against the fascists, such people must be free.”

To declare the rights of Vietnam to be independent; to state the tremendous consequences of the wars and Vietnam’s attitude towards France and the Allies during World War 2.

This reveals that, at the time, Vietnam wanted to be free from French influence and move forward as a country in its own right. Thus, the Republic of Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence is a call for decolonization.

3 . Throwing Off Colonialism
HO Chi Minh , Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Vietnam
( 1945 )
The devastation wrought by World War II encompassed more than the countless
bombed buildings and millions of dead . The war had also fatally weakened the
European powers’ grip on their empires , as colonial peoples around the globe rose
up against imperialist rule . A small nationalist organization – the Viet Minh – had
formed in French Indochina in 1939 and achieved new prominence in the wake of
World War II when the French sought to reassert their control in the region . Less
than a month after Japan’s surrender , the Viet Minh declared Vietnam’s
independence from France , as noted in the following document . It was signed by
" President Ho Chi Minh " ( 1890 – 1969 ) – one of the organization’s original leaders –
who had lived in Paris , Moscow , and China . The document explicitly draws on the
language of the French Enlightenment to further the Viet Minh’s cause and condemn
that of France .

How did World War II prepare the way for Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of independence for Vietnam, as implied in this document?

b.The war had strengthened Vietnamese military power.

Which strategy did Ho Chi Minh employ to support his point about Vietnamese independence?

c.Pointing out the hypocrisy of the French imperialists

Why, according to Ho, was Vietnam deserving of independence?

c.It was the Vietnamese, not the French, who fought off the Japanese.