Reasons+for+French+imperialism+in+this+area

====During the late 1800s and early 1900s the major countries of the world were competing to expand their territories around the world. The major countries included mostly European nations and the U.S and they competed to colonize mostly Africa and Southeast Asian countries. The French were one of the countries that colonized Southeast Asia. Later naming the modern day countries ,Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, into Indochina. ====
 * Reasons for French imperialism in Southeast Asia **

 The French colonized in Southeast Asia for many economic and social reasons:

 * ====Cash crops such as sugar, coffee, cocoa, rubber, fruit, pepper, tin, coal, and cotton. ====
 * ====A major cash crop which is rice. ====
 * ====Spread Christianity ====

==== France has always felt a great sense of competition between Great Britain and the race for colonizing was a way of trying to beat them. France colonized in this area because they felt it was necessary to try and civilize the native people. They called this "mission civilisatrice" or the civilized mission. They also felt it was they're moral obligation to spread Christianity and the ideas of the Enlightenment. The French felt it was necessary to go into Vietnam to protect the missionaries who were sent there but killed by the anti-Christian emperor. Emperor Napoleon III ordered his troops to invade southern Vietnam and later adding Laos and Cambodia. ====

Economically, the French gained new markets and a resource rich colony.