-
Communist Movement Begins
Cambodian communist movement begins as Cambodia struggles against French colonization. -
Indochina War
The First Indochina War helped fuel the communist movement in Cambodia. -
Coup d'etat
Revolutionary Marshall Lon Nol and his pro-American party overthrows Prince Sihanouk. This sparks a civil war between the communist Khmer Rouge party (allies to Sihanouk) and Lon Nol's party. Khmer Rouge was aided by the Vietnamese against Lon Nol. -
Phnom Penh Falls
The Khmer rouge captured the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Democratic Kampuchea is created. -
Phnom Penh Evacuated
Citizens are forced to evacuate Phnom Penh and move into rural areas. Many die during the evacuations. The Khmer Rouge saw peasants, or "old people," as ideal communists for the new state. They were simple, uneducated, and hard-working. Those who lived in the cities, known as "new people," were viewed as supporters of capitalism and therefore enemies. New People were discriminated against. -
Citizens Work in Collectives
Cambodian citizens were forced to work collectively to farm the vast rice fields. Food was rationed for each person. Because most of the food was hoarded by the military and government officials, the peasants recieved rations that were barely enough to prevent starvation. -
Enemies Executed
The Khmer Rouge began executing soldiers and politicians who had worked for the Khmer Republic, as well as those considered "traitors." This list included intellectuals, city residents, and minorities, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cham peoples. -
Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea
The Khmer Rouge established the Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea. Among other things, this constitution outlawed money, free markets, normal schooling, private property, foreign clothing styles, religious practices, leisure, and traditional Khmer culture. In addition, showing relationships with others was not permitted. The penalty of breaking any of these laws was death. -
S-21 Established
S-21, the codename for the most important prison in Cambodia, was established on this date. It's location was inside an unused highschool known as Tuol Sleng. One step out of line meant being sent to S-21, where innocent prisoners were tortured until they confessed to being traitors. S-21 held 14,000 prisoners overall. There are only 12 known survivors. -
Four Year Plan
The Angka, the secret team of leaders who are heading the Khmer Rouge, pronounce that all Cambodians were expected to produce three tons of rice per hectare within four years. Citizens were forced to gorw and harvest rice crops all twelve months of the year. They had to work twelve hours a day without adequate food or rest. Those who complained or didn't work hard enough were killed. -
Khmer Rouge Begins Purge
Pol Pot, one of the most influential leaders within the Khmer Rouge, began a bloody purge against enemies hidden within the Khmer Rouge government. Nearly 200,000 communists are executed. -
Angka Revealed
The identities of the Angka leaders are revealed on this date during a radio broadcast to the world. -
Vietnamese Invade Cambodia
Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia on this date. The two governments had distrusted each other, and communist Vietnam wished to establish a more moderate communist government in Cambodia. -
Phnom Penh Falls to Vietnamese
The Vietnamese captures Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge government fled the country and established itself in Thai territory. The Vietnamese establish the People's Republic of Kampuchea in 1982. -
People's Republic of Kampuchea
The Vietnamese government established the People's Republic of Kampuchea on this date. It was renamed the State of Cambodia in 1989. -
Constitution Adopted
The People's Republic of Kampuchea adopted its official Constitution on this date. The constitution outlawed capital punishment, reintroduced Buddhism as the national religion, and allowed citizens to own personal property. -
Elections Held
Cambodia's first multi-party elections in 20 years are held after Sihanouk's throne was restored, turning Cambodia's government into a constitutional monarchy.
