Question

List three things the government of Siam did to improve the country and escape the social turmoil of other colonial-controlled countries.

a) This question cannot be answered with the provided information.
b) Siam remained a neutral and uninvolved nation.
c) Siam embraced colonial rule without resistance.
d) Siam promoted modernization, neutrality, and diplomatic skills to avoid colonization.

Answer 1

The government of Siam (now Thailand) employed modernization, neutrality, and diplomatic negotiation to maintain its independence during the colonial era, avoiding direct control by Europeans, unlike its neighboring countries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The government of Siam took several measures to improve the country and avoid the turmoil experienced by other countries under colonial control. These efforts can be encapsulated in three major strategies:

Modernization: Siam actively pursued modernization, investing in infrastructure, reforming the education system, and adopting Western technologies and customs to strengthen its position and avoid being seen as a 'backward' nation by colonial powers.

Neutrality: Siam maintained a policy of neutrality, playing colonial powers such as France and Britain against each other, thus avoiding outright aggression or control by any single foreign power.

Diplomatic Skills: The leaders of Siam exhibited remarkable diplomatic skills, negotiating treaties and agreements that would ensure the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of colonial aggression.