The Influence of the FLN on De Gaulle and Algeria's Independence

The history has shown that Great Britain succeeded to decolonize generally in peace while France had much more problems to give up its colonies, which led to numerous conflicts opposing the colonists and the colonized. It has been the case especially in Algeria where a murderous war lasted almost eight years. The philosopher Frantz Fanon has studied the outbreak of this conflict as he was working in Algeria and he spent some time working on the question of colonialism, drawing the conclusion that violence was the only way to get rid of colonists. This essay will analyse who was Fanon and why he came to such a conclusion along with the reasons why it could be said that he is right ,and finally, the arguments against his statement. Finally, it will aim to prove that even though Fanon had valid points, diplomacy could have been for efficient and less tragic rather than his support to violence.

In September 1791, France achieved the movement of freeing and outlawing slavery. In turn, Haitian slaves were inspired to do the same by revolting against French plantation owners. This transformative movement of 100,000 slaves was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture; unfortunately, he died before experiencing Haiti’s separation from France in 1804. However, along the way of success of both revolutions, a toll occurred on the numerous lives lost. The Reign of Terror in France was created as a way to protect the republic from its internal enemies, but instead 16,000 people were guillotined.

de Gaulle and the Granting of Independence to Algeria Charles de Gaulle played a vital role in the decolonisation of Algeria. There were a number of factors that lead up to independence of Algeria for example the FLN. The FLN were the foundation of the nationalist movement, after seeing France occupied by Germany in the Second World War the Algerians realised that the French were not unbeatable, and set about to over throw the French and reclaim their country, which was occupied by both colons and the French army. In order to try and gain independence the FLN resorted to terrorism starting in 1954, attacking European settlements, their tactics were responded to with a massive show of force by the French Army. They had previously been defeated in Indo-China in 1940, Vietnam in 1954 and the Suez in 1956.

The assimilation process started with the dramatic rise in French... ... middle of paper ... ... to colonize and take Algeria lead to heavy colonization that lasted for an especially long period of time. The presence of the French combined with fundamental ideas of superiority and entitlement lead to intense oppression in the form of racism, brutality, and injustice. The Algerian citizens responded with nationalistic attempts opposing French rule, but their rebellion only lead to the French attempt to pacify them. Despite all efforts to remain in Algeria, the French occupation grew to become widely unpopular among French citizens in the mainland, leading to eventual retreat and independence. In the long run, the Conquest of Algeria may have lead to Algerian independence, but it also left both countries in a state of chaos.

However, all was not simple in the press. A top critic who significantly drove Toussaint in fear of backlash from France was Sonthonax, who was responsible for many outlooks of Haiti in the French newspapers.Yet Sonthonax had been one of the few contenders who truly pushed for the independence of the African slaves and became a major factor in Toussaint 's decision of declaring independence from France. In November 1803 slaves managed to defeat the greatest European military power. On January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence, and in the proclamation, they used the expression “Live free or die,” which

Desiring to get control of the region the French backed the Vietnamese emperor Bao Dai, and established the state of South Vietnam with Saigon as its capital. After years of armed conflict the Viet Minh ... ... middle of paper ... ...th war opponents, who viewed them as murders and supporters, who blamed them for losing the war. Veteran also began to report PTSD and resorted to drugs and alcohol to help. The Vietnam War left a stain on America’s record with an estimated 58,000 American soldiers that died or were missing during the war (History.com). Works Cited "55d.

The Vietnam War was, and continues to be, one of America's darkest moments, one that nearly tore the nation apart. In order to stop the spread of communism in Europe and Asia, the United States aided French imperialists and their reoccupation of Vietnam. At first, the U.S took a position of neutrality to both countries, but by early 1947, they began fighting in support of France. This war, lasting over 20 years, became the longest and most unpopular war in the 20th century. Overall, the Vietnam War was detrimental to the United States because it caused a massive debt from the 1960s to the 1990s, turned the American people against their government, and many troops were neglected and despised upon their return.

However the French were beaten at the battle of Dien Bien Phu because they were not careful and allowed the Vietnam to cut off their airway to Hanoi. After a fifty-five day siege, the French surrendered. After the war there was a conference in Geneva and at that time Vietnam was divided into two parts along the seventeenth parallel. North Vietnam was mainly Communist and supported Ho Chi Minh, while the south was supported by the United States with the French being based there. Although South Vietnam was supported by the United States, there were still some Communist rebels within South Vietnam.

France during the 1800s was a dangerous war ground filled with distrust and greed for power. Political disputes, bloodshed, prejudice, and more tore France apart. In 1871, the Franco-Prussian war resulted in France being defeated and humiliated. The war France thought it easily could win resulted in France’s Third Republic ceding their provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany, the victor (Krieger p.171). Soon after France’s defeat in war, the people of Paris formed a radical group called the “Commune.” The Commune rejected the new conservative government to be established and started a revolt in Paris.

The Indochina War ended with French loosing terrible at Dienbienphu, where a whole French garrison was wiped out. When Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh and his political organization, the Vietminh, seized control of their independence from France United States Politicians saw it as another communist take over. When really Ho was more a nationalist than a communist. All Minh wanted was for the United States to recognize its independence from France and to send aid to help it reach its nationalistic goals. "Before the Cold War Ho and the Vietmin... ... middle of paper ... ... of South Vietnam that resulted in the fall of Saigon on 30 April.