What does the term French Indochina mean?

British Dictionary definitions for French Indochina French Indochina. noun. the territories of SE Asia that were colonized by France and held mostly until 1954: included Cochin China, Annam, and Tonkin (now largely Vietnam), Cambodia, Laos, and Kuang-Chou Wan (returned to China in 1945, now Zhanjiang)

Why was it called French Indochina?

Vietnamese were forced to surrender control over their land and to provide the French with special privileges. The French also took part in wars between rival Vietnamese factions. In time, France had extended its control to encompass Laos, North and South Vietnam, and Cambodia, which they called French Indochina.

Why did the French fight in Indochina?

Leclerc’s primary objectives were to restore public order in south Vietnam and to militarize Tonkin (north Vietnam). Secondary objectives were to wait for French backup in view to take back Chinese-occupied Hanoi, then to negotiate with the Việt Minh officials.

What was French Indochina made up of?

Indochina, also called (until 1950) French Indochina or French Indochine Française, the three countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia formerly associated with France, first within its empire and later within the French Union.

What was the goal of French expansion into Asia?

The French wanted to ensure that they had control over the actions of other, less desirable countries. The map shows French expansion in the 1900s. France controlled about half of the Siamese peninsula.

Why did the French originally enter Vietnam?

The decision to invade Vietnam was made by Napoleon III in July 1857. It was the result not only of missionary propaganda but also, after 1850, of the upsurge of French capitalism, which generated the need for overseas markets and the desire for a larger French share of the Asian territories conquered by the West.