What sparked the first nationalist movements in Vietnam?

The first nationalist movements in Vietnam were sparked by French colonial rule and the desire for independence.

The first nationalist movements in Vietnam emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily as a response to French colonial rule. The French colonisation, which began in the mid-19th century, had a profound impact on Vietnam, leading to widespread discontent and resistance among the Vietnamese people. This discontent was fuelled by a range of factors, including economic exploitation, cultural erosion, and political repression.

Economically, the French imposed heavy taxes and exploited Vietnam's resources, leading to widespread poverty and hardship. They also introduced a capitalist economy, which disrupted traditional Vietnamese society and created a new class of landless peasants. This economic exploitation led to widespread resentment and anger among the Vietnamese people, which in turn fuelled the nationalist movements.

Culturally, the French sought to 'civilise' the Vietnamese by imposing their own culture and values. They suppressed Vietnamese culture, language, and traditions, and promoted French language and culture instead. This cultural erosion led to a strong sense of national identity among the Vietnamese people, who sought to preserve their culture and traditions.

Politically, the French ruled Vietnam with an iron fist, suppressing any form of dissent or resistance. They denied the Vietnamese people basic political rights and freedoms, and ruled through a system of indirect rule, using Vietnamese collaborators to enforce their rule. This political repression led to widespread anger and resentment among the Vietnamese people, who sought to regain their political rights and freedoms.

The first nationalist movements in Vietnam were thus sparked by a combination of economic exploitation, cultural erosion, and political repression under French colonial rule. These movements sought to end French rule and achieve Vietnamese independence, and they laid the groundwork for the later struggle for independence in the mid-20th century.