Southeast Asia: Colonialism, Independence & Cold War

What was the Dutch East Indies?

A colonial territory in Indonesia controlled by the Netherlands.

In which century did European merchants begin to control Indonesia's foreign trade?

The 1600s.

What major trading port did the Dutch establish in Indonesia?

Jakarta.

By which century had nearly all of Java come under formal Dutch control?

The 1700s.

What system did the Dutch institute in the Philippines for cash crop production?

The 'Culture System'.

What percentage of farmland were villages forced to set aside for cash crops under the Culture System?

20%.

What types of crops were produced under the Culture System?

Coffee, tea, sugar, tobacco, and spices.

What year did the Spanish establish the colonial port of Manila?

1571.

In which century did the Spanish establish control over most of the modern-day Philippines?

The 1600s.

What religion did the Spanish introduce to the Philippines?

Roman Catholicism.

What was the economic status of most peasant farmers in the Philippines under Spanish rule?

They were sharecroppers, obligated to pay rent to landlords.

What happened to Spain's power in the Philippines during the 1800s?

Spain began to weaken.

What event in the 1890s marked the beginning of armed insurrection against Spanish rule in the Philippines?

Filipinos, emboldened by their wealth, began armed insurrection.

What year did the United States seize the Philippines from Spain?

1898.

What was the nature of American rule in the Philippines from 1898 to 1935?

American rule with Filipino autonomy.

What was the role of the American governor-general in the Philippines?

Appointed by the U.S. president, he was the chief executive.

Who controlled the Philippines' external affairs during American rule?

The United States.

What was the status of farmland ownership in the Philippines during American rule?

Most farmland continued to be owned by a wealthy ruling class.

What impact did the influx of American manufactured goods have on Filipino industrialization?

It stunted Filipino industrialization.

What year was full home-rule granted to the Philippines?

1935.

What major transition period began in Southeast Asia before World War II?

The beginning of the transition period toward democracy.

Which countries were involved in the colonial history of Southeast Asia?

Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

What year did France conquer southern Vietnam?

1858.

What was the name of the single colony formed by France in Southeast Asia?

French Indochina.

What significant improvements did the French make in Vietnam?

Improvements to industrial and transportation infrastructure.

Which Southeast Asian country was never formally colonized?

Thailand (Siam).

What year did Britain assume control over Burma?

1885.

Which country did the Portuguese seize control of in 1511?

Malacca.

What was the geopolitical importance of Singapore?

It served as an entrance to the Strait of Malacca, located halfway between India and China.

What was the outcome of World War II for Indonesia?

The Netherlands recognized Indonesia's independence in 1949.

What was the impact of World War II on Vietnam?

A communist insurgency led by Ho Chi Minh began as resistance to Japanese occupation.

What did the Geneva Accords establish in Vietnam?

The 17th parallel as a demilitarized zone.

What year did Malaysia gain independence from Britain?

1957.

What event led to Singapore's separation from Malaysia?

Singapore's desire for economic autonomy and Indonesian objections to the formulation of Malaysia.

What year did Brunei gain full independence from Britain?

1984.

What was the Cold War?

A four-decade international struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.

What was the role of the U.S. in Thailand during the Cold War?

The U.S. supported Thailand's efforts to defeat communist insurgency from 1965 to 1980.

What was the Viet Cong?

A communist insurgent group in South Vietnam that carried out guerilla attacks.

What military strategy did the U.S. employ during the Vietnam War?

Utilized heavy artillery, helicopter assaults, napalm, and chemical defoliants.

What was the outcome of the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu?

The communists seized control of northern Vietnam.

What was the primary reason for the Dutch's challenges in Indonesia after World War II?

Numerous insurrections following the Japanese surrender.

What was the significance of the 1941-1945 Japanese occupation in Southeast Asia?

It sparked armed resistance and undermined the myth of European superiority.

What happened to East Timor in 1976?

Indonesia invaded and occupied East Timor after Portugal granted it independence.

What was the fate of more than 100,000 Timorese rebels during the Indonesian occupation?

They died in fighting against Indonesian forces.

What was the U.S. aerial bombing campaign in North Vietnam intended to achieve?

To target the Viet Cong and disrupt their operations.

What was the peak number of U.S. troops in Vietnam in 1967?

500,000 troops.

What major issue led to a decline in U.S. public support for the Vietnam War?

The mounting casualties and deaths of Vietnamese civilians.

What year did the U.S. begin to withdraw troops from Vietnam?

1969.

When did the final U.S. combat troops leave Vietnam?

1973.

What significant event occurred in 1975 in Vietnam?

Saigon fell, and Vietnam was unified under communist rule.

How many American military personnel died during the Vietnam War?

58,000.

What was the estimated number of civilian casualties in Vietnam during the war?

About 2 million civilians.

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail used for?

To supply Viet Cong fighters in South Vietnam.

What was the nature of the U.S. bombing campaign in Laos from 1964 to 1973?

A secret campaign orchestrated by the CIA targeting the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

How many bombing runs were conducted during the U.S. campaign in Laos?

230,000 bombing runs.

What was the impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos after the war?

It has killed nearly 200,000 civilians since 1975.

What was the Khmer Rouge?

A communist regime led by Pol Pot that seized control of Cambodia in 1975.

What was 'Year Zero' in Cambodia?

The Khmer Rouge's radical transformation of society, abolishing money, private property, and education.

What happened to the intellectual elite under the Khmer Rouge?

They were targeted and executed.

What was the fate of Phnom Penh's population from 1975 to 1976?

It decreased from 1 million to 40,000 due to the Khmer Rouge's policies.

What were the 'killing fields' in Cambodia?

Sites where mass executions took place during the Khmer Rouge regime.

What was the estimated percentage of Cambodia's population that died during the Khmer Rouge regime?

Nearly a third of the population.

What year did Vietnam invade Cambodia to depose the Khmer Rouge?

1979.

What was the result of the U.S. bombing campaign in Laos?

It combined with civil war to kill 200,000 people, about 10% of Laos's population.

What was the impact of the U.S. bombing campaign on the environment in Laos?

It left a legacy of unexploded bombs that continue to kill people.

What was the public sentiment towards the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War?

It was largely unpopular among the Vietnamese people.