CHAPTER 2: LIFE BEFORE THE WAR

A FARMING PEOPLE

• Hmong people lived in huts with no electricity.
• Most Hmong families were farmers.

CLEARING LAND

• Every January Hmong men and boys cleared the fields.

PLANTING RICE

• Every May, and twice during the summer Hmong women and children weeded the fields.
• During the fall Hmong prepared the rice to eat.

FARMING ON A MOUNTAINSIDE

• Sometimes the Hmong would run out of space in the valley to grow food. When this happens they traveled tgrow food in the mountains.

EVERYONE MUST WORK

• All Hmong people worked from morning till night
• Everyone worked in the fields

LITTLE TIME FOR SCHOOL

• Not many Hmong children attended school.

THE FRUITS OF WAR

• Up until the Vietnam war Hmong led a simple life.
• When the Vietnam war started Hmong had to choose to join the U.S, the communists, or not fight.