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Year 11
AQA

The collapse of French Indochina

I can explain the resistance to French rule in Indochina and the consequences of France's defeats.

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New
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Year 11
AQA

The collapse of French Indochina

I can explain the resistance to French rule in Indochina and the consequences of France's defeats.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A war to remove French control over Indochina began in 1946.
  2. The Viet Minh led resistance to the French.
  3. The Viet Minh support ideas of nationalism and communism.
  4. The Viet Minh defeated the French, despite significant US support for the French.
  5. Vietnam was divided into two states at the 1954 Geneva Conference.

Keywords

  • Colony - a country or territory controlled by another, more powerful, country

  • Exploitation - using someone or something unfairly, in a way that helps you but may cause harm to other people

  • Nationalism - the feeling of pride in your own country and belief that it should be free from the control of others

  • 17th parallel - the border established between North and South Vietnam

Common misconception

The Viet Minh gained full control over Vietnam after defeating the French.

Vietnam was divided in two at the 1954 Geneva Conference, leaving the Viet Minh only in control of the north.


To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The collapse of French Indochina, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students why the USA's actions in 1956 may seem surprising. You may prompt students to consider the criticisms the US often made in its anti-Soviet propaganda.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why did President Truman authorise a roll back strategy after invading North Korea?
to try to defend South Korea
Correct answer: to try to remove communist control in communist countries
to try to ensure the containment of communism
to try to remove communist control in capitalist countries
Q2.
What triggered China's entry into the Korean War?
Correct answer: the US invasion of North Korea
the fear that the US would invade all communist countries
the expectation of war between the US and the USSR
Q3.
What is the term for an agreement to stop fighting that is made between two countries?
Correct Answer: armistice, ceasefire
Q4.
What was significant about the Korean War?
It resulted in the US invading China.
It led to direct conflict between the US and the USSR.
Correct answer: It was the first proxy war of the Cold War.
Q5.
What helped to strengthen the Soviet Union's position in Asia after the Korean War?
worsening relations between China and the USSR
Correct answer: worsening relations between China and the USA
worsening relations between the USSR and the USA
Q6.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
1 - the USA started following containment policies to tackle communism
2 - North Korea invaded South Korea
3 - the USA joined the Korean War to defend South Korea
4 - China joined the Korean War
5 - an agreement was reached to contain communism in North Korea

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What term means the feeling of pride in your own country and belief that it should be free from the control of others?
Correct Answer: nationalism
Q2.
Why did Ho Chi Minh create the Viet Minh?
to remove foreign rule over China
Correct answer: to remove foreign rule over Indochina
to remove foreign rule over Indonesia
Q3.
Why did many people in Indochina support the Viet Minh?
Correct answer: they were fighting for independence
they wanted to remain a colony of France
Correct answer: they helped improve people's daily lives
they redistributed land to the rich
Q4.
What percentage of France's costs in fighting the Viet Minh were covered by the US by 1954?
60%
70%
Correct answer: 80%
90%
Q5.
Why did France agree to withdraw support from Indochina?
French victory in a series of large-scale battles
Correct answer: increasingly successful Viet Minh attacks on French outposts
Correct answer: the fall of Dien Bien Phu
lack of international support
Q6.
What happened to Vietnam shortly after France's withdrawal in 1954?
The entire country fell under communist rule.
The entire country fell under capitalist rule.
Correct answer: The country was split, between a communist ruled North and capitalist South.
The country was split, between a capitalist ruled North and communist South.

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