Vietnamese Citizens Ho Chi Minh example essay topic

Ho Chi Minh, the vital leader in Vietnam's fight for independence had an enormous impact on the struggle against, and victory over the French. His early influences and surroundings whilst growing up had a significant impact in shaping Ho's views on French colonisation, leading him to establish the Indo-Chinese Communist Party, (the ICP). Through his political involvement in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh became the founder of the Viet Minh, where he gained essential support, resulting in many of his successes. His ability to appeal to all Vietnamese people led to him being perceived as a patriot by the Vietnamese. As well as being respected by his people, Ho Chi Minh was able to skilfully manipulate the French through his "superior political manoeuvring". Ho Chi Minh was born in May 1890 into a poor peasant family in Ngu e An province.

The particular region in which he was born was renowned as being the centre of resistance to French rule, where many rebellions occurred. Ho's father's strong rebellious view of the French colonizing Vietnam had an enormous impact in shaping Ho's own opinion and view of the French. In 1925, after arriving in Canton, Ho established the revolutionary youth league of Vietnam. This was the first significant step towards Ho's aspiration of a communist-governed Vietnam. However, as well as the Communists International (Comintern), there were other factions claiming to represent Communism in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh eventually brought together a new party of all the Communist groups, to form the ICP. The founding of the ICP by Ho in 1930 sparked a new era of the first serious challenges against French authority in Vietnam. As a result of the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939, the ICP were able to operate with more power through the relaxation of the French in Vietnam. However, this was soon overcome as French repression strengthened. Ho attained an important leadership role in the ICP focusing his efforts on the border of Southern China. His active role in establishing relationships with military leader Pham Van Dong and future military leader Vo Nguyen Giap demonstrate his clever insight to orchestrate a solid power base.

These crucial relationships made Ho a nationally recognised figure, in effect giving him the ability to attain more power and authority in Vietnam. Whilst on the border of China Ho led the ICP in developing the Viet Minh. With the support of Pham Van Dong and Vo Nguyen Giap, the ICP, under Ho's leadership managed to gain the support of a huge number of men, with which no other Vietnamese political group could be compared. Throughout this time period it became apparent to Ho that in order to pursue his goal of independence the Viet Minh would have to seize power over Vietnam when Japan was defeated. In 1945 Japan seized administrative control of Vietnam. It was at this time that Ho urged the Viet Minh to oppose the return of the French when Japan was defeated.

He saw it as an excellent opportunity to gain independence. After the defeat of the Japanese and the end of WWII, the Viet Minh took over Hanoi leading to Ho proclaiming Vietnam's independence. Ho Chi Minh then took over Bao Dai, forming a new government. This significant event led to support for Ho Chi Minh increasing dramatically. The Vietnamese people saw Ho Chi Minh as their saviour, one who had released them from the chains of French colonisation.

Ho pursued their dream of becoming free and independent, even though he promoted communism. He addressed the people of Vietnam in 1945: "They [the French] have drowned our uprisings in rivers of blood... they have robbed us of our rice fields... the whole Vietnamese people... are determined to fight to the bitter end... to reconquer our country". Ho Chi Minh was so significant in the victory over the French because he addressed not only certain classes of society, but all Vietnamese people. This is evident in the many letters he issued, that began with "Elders! Prominent personalities!

Intellectuals, peasants, workers, traders, and soldiers! Dear compatriots". A significant attribute of Ho Chi Minh was the two different facades he portrayed. He was a devout leader of Vietnam who pursued the Vietnamese peoples' dream of independence, whilst also being a manipulative political figure. Through addressing all Vietnamese citizens Ho Chi Minh gained tremendous support, which became the catalyst for his success. Towards the end of 1945 the French troops returned to Vietnam with clashes between Communist and Nationalist forces.

In March 1946 the French recognised Vietnam as an independent state within the French Union. Ho Chi Minh then made an agreement with the French to allow a small number of French troops in Vietnam for 5 years. This unexpected, seemingly ludicrous compromise made by Ho with the French was a very dangerous move. Such an alliance with the French risked the opposition of some of Ho's closest associates.

However, this dangerous situation only seems to reiterate how significant Ho Chi Minh was in the struggle against the French. It demonstrates how strongly Ho felt about his goal of independence. Allowing French troops in Vietnam showed how Ho believed a war with them would bring Vietnam into the eyes of the world. Ho Chi Minh may have risked his closest associates, however such a manipulative manoeuvre brought even greater benefits to the country he would die for. Vietnam was now being recognised internationally, and its increasing status throughout the world led to many advancements such as alliances with countries of greater importance. November 1946 marked the beginning of the Indo-China war after 6000 Vietnamese were killed by a French cruiser.

The Viet Minh refused to relinquish their authority, responding with an attack on the French. As leader of the Viet Minh, Ho was entirely devoted to the independence of his country. He possessed superior skills of political manoeuvring through his ruthlessness of assassinating powerful opponents. Ho was respected by the ordinary Vietnamese people because he was seen to symbolism many of the values they admired. He was committed to his country's independence, a scholar as well as referring to the Vietnamese people as his "nephews and nieces". Ho was very clever in selecting capable and loyal leaders to help him fight the French.

He also managed to have policies that appealed to the Vietnamese civilians, such as literacy promotion drives and improved taxation, whilst maintaining his own military goals. However, in addition to all of this, it was Ho Chi Minh's guerrilla warfare tactics that finally defeated the French. Throughout 1947 and 1950 Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh forces fought a highly successful guerrilla warfare campaign, eventually gaining control of much of rural Vietnam. General Vo Nguyen Giap developed 8 necessary conditions for attack based solely on surprise, ease of access and quick withdrawal. Guerrilla Warfare also relied greatly on no time constraints. As Ho Chi Minh said "You will kill 10 of our men for every one of yours.

But in the end it will be the French, and not us, who will tire of it". Ho Chi Minh was very patient in the war against the French, who were the complete opposite. In his attacks he did not allow time for the French to call reinforcements when they attacked, and it was this tactic that led to such success. In May 1954 the Viet Minh's triumph over the French in the Dien Bien Phu battle was a major victory that was demoralizing for the French. Through the skilful tactics of the Viet Minh cutting off the French troops' exit route and the guerrilla attacks the Viet Minh defeated the French. However, the French still maintained a position in the South providing a starting point for America to join in on the anti-communist battle.

The Geneva peace agreement resulted in a division of Vietnam into two separate zones; North and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh took control of North Vietnam and set up a communist government. He instituted a harsh "agrarian reform" and at the same time he helped to develop communists who had stayed in South Vietnam (Viet Cong), by giving them arms and guerrilla training. America was giving support to the government of South Vietnam because it feared the spread of communism through the 'domino theory. ' Ho Chi Minh's communist government was seen as a threat to all of Asia.

Ho Chi Minh was not deterred by the threat of American invasion, in 1962 he stated: "I think the Americans greatly underestimate the determination of the Vietnamese people". It is this characteristic of determination and devotion to his cause that inspired the Vietnamese people to look at him as their hero. Milton Osborne stated that "it was the force of his personality,"the appeal he had for his countrymen", and his resolution in standing up to more powerful countries such as France and America that made him such a significant influence in the struggle for independence. It is clearly evident that Ho Chi Minh was the central figure in the Vietnamese struggle against, and victory over the French.

From his early influences Ho became determined to drive the French out of Vietnam and gain his goal, and the Vietnamese peoples' goal of independence. Through the founding of the ICP, which began the first serious challenges against the French, the Viet Minh was established. Ho obtained a significant leadership role in the organisation, and with his clever guidance the Viet Minh became one of the most successful political groups ever. Ho Chi Minh's ability to address all Vietnamese people resulted in his growing support, which in the end was the reason for his victory.

His skilful, manipulative political moves eventually overcame the French through tactics such as Guerrilla warfare, which the French could not defeat. Through his vital involvement in Vietnam, as a leader and patriot of the people, Ho Chi Minh was indeed the major influence in the struggle against and victory over the French.