Question

why did the french wanted to change the social and cultural beliefs?

Answer 1

The French policy-makers wanted to educate the people of Vietnam, because they considered education as one way to civilize the “natives". They were driven by the idea of a ‘Civilizing Mission’, and considered it their duty to bring modern ideas to the colony and to reshape its culture because:

a. The objective was also to develop these colonies so as to improve standard of living of the people and improving their purchasing power who would then buy goods leading to profits for French businessmen.
b. To consolidate their control.
c. To glorify the French.
d. To convince them about the superiority of the French civilization and inferiority of the Vietnamese.
e. To have an educated labor force.