The Great Depression of the 1930s which shattered most economies of the world had a severe impact on Vietnam too. (i) The prices of rubber and rice fell, leading to rising rural debts, unemployment and rural uprisings, such as in the provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh. (ii) These provinces were amongst the poorest, had an old radical tradition and were called the ‘electrical fuses’ of Vietnam. When the Great Depression started showing its impact, people started demonstrating against the colonial government. (iii) The Great Depression and the brutality of the French against the workers provided an opportunity to the nationalist leaders to group together. (iv) The French had started educating Vietnamese earlier in France to become low level civil servants in Vietnam, but the reality of the colonies was much different. A variety of movements for change arose. (v) In response to falling prices of the great depression the colonial government devalued the currency and increased taxes on the people.