Activity 1 - Which events should we revise?

  1. Mind-Map - Create a concept-map using Padlet, Mindmup or any other similar mind-mapping tool (or create a sketchnote by hand!). In the middle write ‘The French Indochina War 1946-54’.
  2. Summarise - Now fill in your mind-map with key historical information and facts about the main events of the unit. Review your notes and summarise using the following headings and events:
    1. Causes - Japanese Occupation; Defeat of French; VNQDD/ICP; Viet Minh; Declaration of Independence; Fontainebleau Agreement; Haiphong Massacre; Battle of Hanoi/
    2. Course - ​1946 - Battle of Hanoi; 1947 - Operation Lea, Operation Ceinture; 1949 - Battle of Cao Bang, State of Vietnam created by French; 1950 - Battle of Route Coloniale 4, PRC/USSR recognise the DRV, US MAAG arrives; 1951 - Battle of Vinh Yen, Battle of Mao Khe, Battle of Day River, Battle of Hoa Binh; 1952 - Battle of Na San, Operation Lorraine; 1953 - Operation Hirondelle, Operation Castor; 1954 - Battle of Dien Bien Phu
    3. Resolution - Reasons for French defeat;  Convention; Geneva Accords; Aims of Powers
    4. Impact - Impact of DRV/RVN; Impact on Laos and Region; Impact on the US
  3. Revise - Use your mind maps to help you revise the historical content for your upcoming assessment and final exams. Make sure you store a copy with your other revision materials.

Activity 2 - What was our inquiry?

  1. Recall -  Examine the statement of inquiry for this unit again and consider how it applies to what you’ve studied:
    1. The causes of military defeat can be analysed and applied across time and space, but if ignored can set the seeds for future conflict
  2. Analyse - With a partner, discuss how this statement of inquiry could be applied to the French Indochina War. Consider the following questions:
    1. Connect - How is the statement of inquiry connected to what you have studied?
    2. Extend - Does the statement of inquiry extend your thinking about the French Indochina War in any way?
    3. Challenge - What is challenging or confusing about the statement of inquiry? 
  3. Discuss - Does the statement of inquiry apply to the French Indochina War? What else might it also apply to?
  4. Evaluate - What were the most significant causes or reasons for French defeat? What does this tell you about Cold War conflicts in Asia? What lessons can you draw?

Activity 3 - How might we be assessed?

  1. Essay Plan - Try practicing for your end of unit review by essay planning. Use this essay mark-scheme to help:
    1. “The Viet Minh won the French Indo-China War (1946–1954) because the French were weak.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? - May 2018
    2. With reference to the period from 1954 to 1963, discuss the reasons why conflict continued in Vietnam after the French Indo-China War - May 2017
    3. Evaluate the causes of the French Indochina War, 1946 – 1954 - Teacher Example

Further Reading for Revision

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Sanders, V. (2015). Access to History: The Cold War in Asia, 1945-93, pp. 94-133
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Windrow, M. (1998). Osprey Men-at-Arms: The French Indochina War 1946-54
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Goscha, C. (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Indochina War (1945-1954): An International and Interdisciplinary Approach, pp. 8-20
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