By Tim Gale

Ho Chi Minh was born in 1890 Father was Nguyen Sinh Huy-teacher

employed by French Father enrolled children in French school

to help prepare for forthcoming struggle Ho became schoolteacher-then sailor-

went to other countries in French Empire Settled in Paris in 1917

Read books by Karl Marx and other left-wing writers-converted to communism

Founding member of the French Communist Party

Returned to Vietnam-but had to stay in China

During WWII, Vietnam invaded by Japan-French surrenders and leaves Vietnamese to themselves

Minh saw opportunity and fought Japanese with help of Soviet Union/American supplies

After WWII-Japan leaves and Minh announces formation of Democratic Republic of Vietnam

France tried to re-establish control and did not recognize DRV

War broke out between Vietnamese and French

Kept fighting until Allied Powers decided fate of Vietnam-split into North and South Vietnam

Minh took control of North Ngo Dinh Diem took control of South

According to Geneva Convention-Vietnam would hold vote to unite or keep country separated

Diem ignored this and soon fighting broke out between North and South

Minh and enemies of South Vietnam created the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF)

After 3 months of being in office-Lyndon B. Johnson launched Operation Rolling Thunder to destroy the NLF

Ho Chi Minh died in 1969

Document was based off of United States and French Declarations of Independence

Stated that Vietnam was oppressed politically and socially, more prisons were built than schools, and there was unfair treatment of Vietnamese

Also stated that French robbed Vietnam of its natural resources and exploited it economically

Talked about Japanese invasion and how France was unable to come to the aid of its colony

States that country is desperate for freedom and is determined to fight for freedom

Thought United States would aid Vietnam and recognize its independence