Pathway to Cambodian Independence

1863 - King Norodom signs a treaty which recognizes Cambodia as a dependent state of the French. The monarchy remains intact but power reverts to the French resident general who resides in Phnom Penh.
1940 - 1941 - During WWII the Japanese authorities force the French government to cede several provinces of Cambodia to Thailand. The Japanese government and French colonial administration remain to supervise Cambodia's affairs.
November 9, 1953 - The French government grants Cambodia full independence and the kingdom takes full administrative control of its military and finances. King Sihanouk becomes "The Father of Independence". Cambodian Independence Day is celebrated every November 9th after the annual Water Festival.

Cambodian Civil War

Peasants begin uprising against their government because of inequality and corruption within the administration.

Lon Nol, Prime Minister of Cambodia, sought to repress the uprising however many peasants and officials were killed in the conflicts.

Leaders joined forces with the Khmer Rouge to establish Communist rule of the country with the assistance of the Vietnamese.

1975 - Year Zero - Pol Pot becomes the leader of Cambodia and sets about making a new Cambodia in a communist-style paradise. The country's currency is terminated, religion and private property ownership is abolished. This is known today as "Year Zero".
1975 - 1979 - The Pol Pot's regime carried out brutal control of Cambodian citizen and hundreds of thousands died working in Khmer Rouge controlled farm camps. Anyone deemed an enemy of the state was executed. The estimated number who died under Pol Pot's control is between 1.7 - 2.2 million.
1979 - The Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot lose power over Cambodia after a major defeat to the Vietnamese military. Vietnam controls Cambodia heavily during the 1980's, which causes tensions with the USA who was still distrusting after the Vietnamese war of 1975.

1989 - The Vietnamese withdraw from from Cambodia and socialism is abolished. The country is renamed and Buddhism becomes the states official religion again.

1975 - 1979 - Norodom Sihanouk becomes the official head of state in the State of Cambodia and power is shared with the United Nations in an easy peace

1993 - The king is considered a constitutional monarchy but does not have an active role governing the people, and the country is renamed the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge loses all government power.

On January 3, 2014, 500,000 garment workers in Cambodia protest to demand the minimum wage be increased. The government agrees to a smaller increase than demanded, but the protests continue to escalate.

Police open fire into the crowds after policemen were injured in the conflicts. Three protesters are killed and this fuels demands for better working conditions on the largest industry in the country.

The brutal reactions resulted in demands for the current government head, Prime Minister Hun Sen, to step down by the opposition party which supports the garment workers.