Explain two reasons for the French exit from Indochina in 1954

One reason for the French exit in 1954 was the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in spring 1954. This is because the battle highlighted how weak colonial French control had become; it was a Viet Minh victory, mostly due to their large peasant support base. The French defeat resulted in the Geneva Accords, which detailed French withdrawal from Vietnam.
Another reason for the French exit in 1954 was the popularity of the Viet Minh leaders, Ho Chi Minh and General Giap, the leader of Ho's militia. Ho's humble background appealed to the peasantry, and Giap's strict rules of conduct made his polite officers seem much more professional - this allowed the Viet Minh to win military victories and support. In comparison, the French leader Bao Dai was wildly unpopular, and so raised no support for the French regime, eventually leading to their defeat and exit in 1954.

LB
Answered by Lily B. History tutor

6503 Views

See similar History GCSE tutors

Related History GCSE answers

All answers ▸

To what extent was the ideological divide between the west and the USSR responsible for the development of the Cold War?


Explain one way in which smuggling in Britain during the 18th and 19th C was similar to smuggling in the 20th C.


Explain why 17th century Puritans were opposed to the theatre.


To what extent were Gorbachev's reforms responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning