CAMBODIAN INDEPENDENCE

WHO WERE THE DOMINANT POLITICAL AUTHORITIES DURING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

• At first, the French controlled the area under colonial rule
• However, during WWII, the Japanese travelled through French Indochina

ON WHAT DOES THE ECONOMIC LIVELIHOOD OF THE NATION DEPENDS?

• Cambodia produced mainly pepper, rice, rubber, corn and cotton products
• It also depended on foreign labor, since the French discriminated against the cambodians
• Since Cambodia was a French colony, its trade consisted of materials to the motherland

SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY THAT SUPPORTED STATUS QUO

• French political figures, such as the viceroy, supported the status quo
• No major Cambodian group openly supported French occupation

SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY THAT DID NOT SUPPORT STATUS QUO

• The main supporters of Cambodian nationalism were the western educated elite
• Since the majority of the area is Khmer, this group also supported nationalism
• The Khmer Serei were an anticommunist, anti-monarchy guerilla force
• The Khmer Serei supported the Vietminh against French colonial rule

WHAT CHALLENGES DID AUTHORITIES FACE

• Nationalists remained quiet at first due to fear and lack of education
• The Nagaravatta was a French language anticolonial newspaper
• The Nagaravatta helped induce feelings of nationalism for Cambodia against France and Vietnam
• Support from outside groups such as Vietminh helped oust French rule

WHAT CONFLICTS AROSE DURING 20TH CENTURY

• The Khmer Issarak was an independent movement among Cambodians in Thailand
• The French tried to Romanize the Cambodian language
• Khmer Rouge was a communist party that instituted the Cambodian Genocide
• Japan occupied Cambodia during WWII when France fell to Germany
• The Cambodian civil war took place between Viet Cong and Cambodian nationalists

WHAT CONFLICTS AROSE DURING 20TH CENTURY CONT.

• Cambodia and Thailand dispute over borders due to French occupation
• Vietnamese occupation during late 70s ended Khmer Rouge terror
• Vietnamese invasion induced Cambodian-Vietnamese War

HOW DID COLD WAR AFFECT CAMBODIA

• The Khmer Rouge were a communist party that overthrew Cambodian monarchy
• The Khmer Rouge won Cambodian civil war and gained power
• Pol Pot, leader of the Rouge, began genocide and exodus for all opposing parties
• During Vietnam War, Vietnamese took control of Cambodia in 1978
• Vietnamese invasion ended Khmer Rouge terror

HOW IS CAMBODIA TODAY & WHY

• Currently, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with Monarch chosen by council
• In 1990s, United Nations briefly occupied Cambodia, a coup placed Cam. Ppls. Party in charge
• Currently Cambodia is indexed as 2nd most corrupt nation in Asia, after N. Korea
• Strong textiles, agriculture, garments, and construction heavily boosted economy

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