Cambodia Major Events

  • Cambodia independence

    Cambodia wins its independence from France, under Kind Sihanouk its name becomes the Kingdom of Cambodia
  • Pol Pot takes place

    Disappearance of Cambodian Communist leader Tou Samouth and Pol Pot takes his place and plans for rebellion
  • Vietnam escalation

    US escalation of the Vietnam war; Sihanouk breaks relations with the US
  • Insurgency begins

    Pol Pot’s group of Cambodian communist launch as insurgence (revolt or uprising) against Sihanouk in northwest Cambodia
  • United States Bombs

    US bombardment of Vietnamese sanctuaries in Cambodia begins
  • Period: to

    The Khmer Republic . Coup

    The Khmer Repiblic. Coup against Sihanouk establishes General Lon Nol as President of a US- backed regime, Sihanouk joins forces with Vietnamese and Cambodian communists
  • United States 2nd bombardment

    US bombards Cambodian countryside in support of Lon Nol 250,000 tons of bombs are dropped in a period of 7 months
  • Pol Pot defeats Lon Nol

    Pol Pot defeats Lon Nol army and take Phnom Penh
  • Pol Pit eliminates communists

    Pol Pot eliminates communists and other moderates, Cambodia launch’s military attacks on all 3 of its borders
  • Cambodia declines negotiation

    Cambodia declines to negotiate with Vietnam over the border war, massive purges spark uprising in eastern Cambodia
  • Vietnam invades

    People’s Republic of Kampuchea. Vietnamese troops invade and overthrow Pol Pot regime. Former eastern zone rebel Heng Samrin is proclaimed President
  • Vietnamese troops withdraw

    First Paris Conference on Cambodia fails. Vietnamese troops withdraw from Cambodia. Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge and their allies (including Sihanouk) resume their attempt to retake power
  • Pol Pot kills

    Pol Pot executes Son Sun and is then placed on house arrest
  • Pol Pot dies

    Pol Pot dies in his jungle hideout