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Cambodia Gains Independence and King Sihanouk is made Head of State
After 90 years as a French colony, Cambodia earns its independence and re-establishes itself as a monarchy led by Norodom Sihanouk. Sihanouk was the grandson of Sisowath Monivong who gave the throne to his grandson upon his death. Sihanouk went on to become prime minister several times and was the King of Cambodia twice. The Cambodians initially appreciated French Rule but they later grew to resent the French for their lack of sovereignty and little to no representation within the government. -
King Sihanouk Breaks off ties with the U.S
Cambodia and the U.S had been allies until the King allowed North Vietnamese to hide in Cambodia. While Communist, the pro-communist sentiment that this act expressed enraged the U.S which was in the midst of a cold war with the Soviet Union. They feared that communism would spread from Vietnam and create a powerful ally for the USSR. This is why the U.S was at war with Vietnam, a former French Colony not unlike Cambodia. Their tactics frustrated the U.S. which is why they eventually pulled out. -
The U.S Begins a Secret Bombing Campaign in Cambodia
The U.S. had already been at war with Vietnam for nearly 14 years and President Nixon believed that the Northern Vietnamese had supply lines that ran through Cambodia so in an attempt to weaken their enemy they began a secret bombing campaign known as operation menu. President Nixon had already faced criticism for the length of the Vietnam war and for some of the questionable ethics of the troops involved so this secret bombing campaign made him that much more unpopular in the eyes of America. -
U.S backed prime minister Lon Nol overthrows Sihanouk with political Coup
King Sihanouk had just returned from a trip when Lon Nol staged a bloodless coup against his Pro-Vietnam rival. Lon Nol was a strict believer in Cambodian Hierarchy who prostrated himself at the feet of Sisowath Kossamak, the mother of Sihanouk and begged her forgiveness. Queen Sisowath was the daughter of Sisowath Monivong who had abdicated the throne to Sihanouk. This Coup would lead to further aggression from the Anti-Capitalist Khmer Rouge. -
Occupation of Phnom Penh by Khmer Rogue
The Khmer Rouge, A militaristic faction of communist hell-bent on turning Cambodia into a communal agrarian society, has takes Phnom Penh, The Capital City of Cambodia on this date. This will mark the beginning of Angkar's rule over Cambodia and the begining of the mass evacuations of all of Cambodias major city's so that the Khmer Rouge can put the Cambodian Populace to work farming rice. -
Lon Nol is ejected and Sihanouk is reinstalled by the Khmer Rouge
After U.S forces evacuated in 1973 Lon Nol's army could no longer combat the Khmer Rouge. Lon Nol is then forced to flee to Hawaii, therefore, leaving the communist government in control. Lon Nol would later die in America following complications from his stroke in 1971 in 1985. -
The CPK implements the 4 year plan
The CPK created the state of Democratic Kampuchea and wrote the first “Four-Year Plan,” which called for the collectivization of all private property and placed a high national priority on the cultivation of rice. All Cambodians were required to bring their private possessions to be used collectively. Families were split up and people were assigned to work for groups. The goal of the Four-Year plan was to achieve an average national yield of three tons of rice per hectare throughout the country. -
Vietnam Invades Cambodia
After the Khmer Rouge gain control of the Cambodian government they fall out of favor with Vietnam and their ideological differences prompt Vietnam to invade Cambodia, therefore, expanding there own territory and eliminating an enemy in the process. -
Vietnamese Troops Take Phnom Penh
The Vietnamese take Phnom Penh after a year of fighting and the Khmer Rouge Leadership regroups west of Cambodia. When the U.S is eventually forced to choose sides in the war, they choose the Khmer Rouge and for years afterward the Khmer government is the only one recognized as the legitimate government of Cambodia. -
Khmer Rouge Movement Collapses
The Khmer Rouge movement totally collapsed. All of its leaders had either defected to the Royal Government of Cambodia, been arrested or died. This marks a new era of healing and prosperity for the Cambodian people.
