The Hmong People

Introduction The Hmong people have a long history of searching for a homeland. They are among the oldest societies in Asia, yet very few know about them. As they have an oral culture, it is hard to determine certain aspects of their history, like their origin. However, comparing their religious viewpoints to others, they seemed to have originated from Chaldea, a region located near present-day Iraq. They then migrated to Asia, and the majority of the Hmong population resided in China near the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers and are credited as some of the first people to grow rice.

The Hmong did not find peace in China. At that time, China was home to many other minorities, all of whom were trying to gain more and more power. The Chinese government

Fearing the spread of communism to Laos, the United States declared an anticommunist containment. This was the first time United States declared said statement as it was a rather bold move. Southern Laos was the home to the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which the United States deemed dangerous, as it connected the South part of Laos to the Northern communist regions, and they sought to destroy it (Vang). The United States also firmly believed Laos couldn’t defend itself. They thought that Laos lacked the economic development needed to get out of its poverty. Another reason was that the Laotian government was believed as basic and powerless. In addition, Laos had divided borders that disunified the people. Furthermore, the people were all of different ethnicities and there was no formal treaty connecting the people together. In essence, America wanted to help defend Laos against communism. However, they were unable to directly intervene in Laos, because they had signed a treaty in 1962 with Moscow that designated neutrality for Laos

They had to undertake many horrendous actions to make sure they weren't found by the communists. For example, they knew that crying children could alert nearby villages of their whereabouts. Therefore, parents drugged them with opium to make them silent or sleep quieter (Pringle). Opium is a narcotic and a highly addictive drug; it is often used in heroin. Oftentimes, children died due to opium overdoses. The Hmong had to leave behind their dead. In addition to that, there was little to no food, so the Hmong had to resort to eating bugs, berries and whatever they could find available. Many died of starvation, diseases and chemical