PDP 7- Selected Writings

Author Bio:
Ho Chi Minh was the president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the leader of the Vietnamese revolutionary movement, organizer of the Japanese occupation against Vietnam, and leader of the Vietnamese nationalist struggle. He had an education, studied politics, and spent time in both France and Russia. He has extensive knowledge on the content he speaks about, however it is clear that he is bias. His communist beliefs and values are present in his writing, along with his great hatred for any imperialistic powers (United States, France, etc.). 

Date/Context:
At the time Ho was most prominent (in the early to middle 1900s), imperialism was a large issue and point of discussion for many countries. The Vietnamese Declaration of Independence discussed the imperialistic power of France, while Vietnam was not the only place France imperialized. Many African countries were also imperialized by France and had to fight for their freedom and independence from the French rule. Britain's period of imperialism was very similar to that of France's, making more states in desperate hope for change and independence. 

Summary:   
            The document contained Ho's writings of the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence and his "Appeal to the Nation" given after the ending of the bombing of North Vietnam. 
           The Vietnamese Declaration of Independence first begins by comparing Vietnam with the American Declaration of Independence, showing that the undeniable truths listed in the U.S. document are being denied in Vietnam because of the French. He explains the many things the French have done to weaken Vietnam including setting up three different political regimes, building more prisons than schools, massacring patriots, weakening their race with opium and alcohol,  driving their people to destitution, taking farmland and natural resources, monopolizing bank notes, causing poverty, and exploiting workers. Also, the French imperialist powers over Vietnam opened its doors to the Japanese. When the Japanese surrendered to the Allies, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam arose and cut off all relations with France. Ho makes a final remark by the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam declaring Vietnam's freedom and independence. 
           His "Appeal to the Nation" discusses the great victory by their armed forces and the ending of the U.S. bombings in northern Vietnam. He claims that the reason this victory is so prominent is because of its opposition to American imperialism and aggression. He gives the victory's credit to the party's second revolutions lone, people's fervent patriotism, their oneness, their determination to win, and their social regime. He thanks fellow countrymen and fighters, the fraternal socialist countries, friendly countries, and world people's including the progressives in the U.S. However, he talks about how the fight isn't over and his need for any more help from all over the world. His requests are as follows: the end of the American aggression in against Vietnam,  American troops be drawn from south Vietnam, the south of  Vietnam settles its internal affairs without foreign interference, and the reunification of  Vietnam is settled without international interference. He is confident in his statements and closes with the sentence "Our people will undoubtedly win!".

Key Quotation:
"Our people will undoubtedly win!"