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 colonial government put these uprisings down with great severity, even using planes to bomb demonstrators. The Great Depression and the brutality of the French against the workers provided an opportunity to the nationalist leaders to group together.