Compare French colonialism in Indochina with that of North Africa. What differences were there in management, interest, and economic benefits? What was accomplished by the French presence in Asia?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. The French presence in North Africa was a more integrated approach with settler colonies. The occupation of Indochina was more an accident of circumstance because Napoleon III interceded against the Indochinese rulers' restrictions on missionaries. After conquering the territories, the French began to export silk and luxury goods from the region, but lacked the administrative apparatus or interest in developing the region. Few French were willing to settle in Indochina on a permanent basis, unlike in North Africa. Small groups of settlers built plantations to harvest teak or rubber, but overall, there was little dedication to this as an active plan of expansion. While there was an initial intent to make over the native population into true Frenchmen, this proved impossible and the French largely abandoned the idea. There was some intermixing of the population because the French did not transfer their European families to establish households in Asia, but instead took native wives and often left them behind when their tour of service was up. Racial and nationalist prejudices made the French unwilling to allow native peoples in Indochina the same legal rights and financial advantages enjoyed by French colonists and officials. Even the wives and offspring of French officials did not receive equal rank or rights.