The treaty signed between King Norodom and France established a protectorate over Cambodia, granting French authorities extensive mineral and timber rights, as well as the freedom to spread Christianity. However, this arrangement led to unrest in the provinces, where riots erupted against both Norodom and the French. The French sought a new treaty that would allow them to appoint administrative residents in all provincial centers, effectively taking control of the country’s day-to-day governance. This attempt to solidify their power sparked rebellions throughout the nation, which proved challenging for the French to suppress, even with the help of Vietnamese troops.

In spite of the ongoing resistance, a new treaty was signed in 1886 that significantly reduced Norodom’s authority, enabling the French to collect taxes and establish residents in ten provincial towns. As the century drew to a close, Norodom, who struggled with opium addiction, fell ill. Consequently, the French résident supérieur received permission from Paris to assume executive powers in Cambodia. By the time Norodom passed away in 1904, France had effectively taken full control over Cambodian governance. Norodom’s half-brother, Sisowath, was installed as king (r. 1904–27) with the French bypassing Norodom’s son, Monivong, who was the rightful heir.

Under French rule, there was little effort to develop the human resources of Cambodia. Instead, key clerical positions were predominantly filled by Vietnamese, who also operated many small businesses and performed labor-intensive jobs. This neglect of the Khmer population, coupled with the heavy taxes imposed by the French, fostered significant resentment, which the French authorities largely ignored. The situation escalated in 1916 when revolts against taxation erupted, shocking the French officials. Their alarm grew in 1925 when Félix Bardez, the French resident in Kompong Chhnang, was brutally beaten to death by locals while investigating resistance to tax payments in a village, highlighting the growing discontent among the Cambodian populace.