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Read more: 1862 to 1952 French colonial era Protectorate In 1863 the French and Prince Norodom signed the Protectorate Treaty. The treaty required the Khmer sovereign to hand over to France the conduct of his country's foreign relations and prohibited the King from receiving any foreign consuls within his kingdom without French authorisation. In return, France pledged itself to give "protection" to the kingdom, to recognise the sovereignty of the King, and assist in maintaining internal order as well as protecting the country against external attack. Colony After around twenty uneventful years of French influence, the situation changed. The French decided to add Cambodia to French Indochina. King Norodom signed a new treaty making Cambodia a colony. "His Majesty the King of Cambodia accepts all the administrative, judicial, financial, and commercial reforms which the French government shall judge, in future, useful to make their protectorate successful." Article 2 of the Treaty Through key reforms in the treaty the French abolished the system of slavery to landowners, introduced private ownership of land and placed French residents in charge of provincial cities instead of local people. Despite a shortage of weapons, a nation-wide rebellion broke out in the countryside that continued for two years until the French finally stopped it in 1886. Control Ten years after becoming part of Indochina, the French finally controlled most of Cambodia's important administration. They appointed every government job, issued laws, collected taxes, and controlled the army and the police. Every Khmer court had to include a French judge. The King was simply a figurehead, with no official role. Three kings came to the throne during French rule, chosen by the Council of Regent and the French 'Resident Superieur'. The last was King Norodom Sihanouk in 1941.
Economy The French administration did little to improve the economy or modernise the country. Most French development (mining and agriculture) happened in Vietnam. French officials enjoyed high salaries paid for in the long run by farmers' labour and rice. The French severely taxed Cambodia's rice harvests. Farmers held back increasing rice production to avoid paying more taxes but the French thought they were lazy. Moneylenders did well, especially after a poor harvest, but taxes and debt kept many families struggling to survive in a cycle of poverty. The French introduced plantations, mainly of rubber, but also coffee and other export crops. They contracted labourers from Vietnam to work in these plantations rather than trust "lazy" Cambodians. Relationships In 1908, when the total Cambodian population was less than one million, the French census showed that about 60,000 (6 per cent) were Vietnamese. During the reign of King Monivong (1927 - 1941) the French encouraged a large influx of Vietnamese into the country. They migrated to the less populated Cambodia, farming its land and fishing in its waters. In Vietnam they worked for the French so the French favoured them, seeing them as the industrious race of the future. Many Vietnamese could read French so they often worked in clerical jobs and represented the French administration. The French dreamed of annexing Cambodia to Southern Vietnam, something the Vietnamese also wanted. The Chinese population also increased over this time, from perhaps 170,000 in 1905 to around 300,000 in 1939. Education Monks ran 5000 traditional schools in the Buddhist pagodas and were responsible for the high literacy rate in the country. The French altered the curriculum so students learned French. Cambodian students from elite families usually studied at French secondary schools in Vietnam. The French deliberately neglected building schools so that there were few well-educated, modern Cambodians to challenge their ongoing control. The first secondary school in Cambodia didn't open till 1935 with mainly French and Vietnamese students enrolled. By 1939 only about six Cambodians had graduated. As a result in 1940 there was only one high school, one hospital and only three trained Cambodian doctors in all of Cambodia. The first Cambodian language newspaper started in 1936. Up until this time, the main records of events existed in French books, official reports and newspapers, with little Cambodian perspective. The newspaper produced about 5000 copies per issue and gave Cambodians a chance to read about events in the outside world in their own language. It was more pro-Cambodian than anti-French. Its articles objected to Vietnamese domination of the civil service, Chinese domination of commerce and the shortage of suitable employment for educated Khmer. It also criticised French delays in modernising the education system, the lack of credit available for farmers and the low pay of Cambodian civil servants.
Colonialism A 'colony' was the name given to a group of people, usually from a European nation, who established themselves as rulers in another country but retained the language, customs and allegiances of their home country. Colonialism started around 1500 when European nations began to conquer, settle and exploit vast areas of the world - America, Asia, and Africa. They saw their colonies as suppliers of raw materials such as gold and silver, cotton, tea, coffee and rubber. Despite their ideas about civilising and educating the native people the main goal was to transfer wealth back home. The original inhabitants of colonised countries often suffered slavery, violence, and imported diseases. Cultures, politics, institutions and economies changed irrevocably. Most colonial systems began to disintegrate in the time between World War I and II. After the colonisers left or were forced out, the people inherited economies based on a colonial model, with underdeveloped local skills and reduced resources. Definitions Protectorate: Territory largely controlled by a stronger state. Colony: Territory occupied by people from another country who remain subject to their parent state. Occupied: Taking possession of a place by force.
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