Editing History of Thailand (section)

=== Revolution and difficult compromise ===
[[File:King Prajadhipok Signs Constitution of Siam 1932.jpg|thumb|King [[Prajadhipok]] signing the [[Constitution of Thailand#1932 constitution|Permanent Constitution of Siam]] on 10 December 1932]]
{{main|Siamese revolution of 1932}}

A small circle from the rising bourgeoisie of former students (all of whom had completed their studies in Europe – mostly Paris), supported by some military men, seized power from the absolute monarchy on 24 June 1932 in an almost nonviolent revolution. This was also called the "[[Siamese revolution of 1932|Siamese Revolution]]". The group, which called themselves ''[[Khana Ratsadon]]'' or ''sponsors'', gathered officers, intellectuals and bureaucrats, who represented the idea of the refusal of the absolute monarchy.

The Khana Ratsadon installed a [[constitutional monarchy]] with Prajadhipok as king at the top – a corresponding constitution was proclaimed on 10 December of the year. On the same day, the experienced and rather conservative lawyer [[Phraya Manopakorn Nititada]], was appointed as first Siamese [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]]. By selecting a non-party head of government, the Khana Ratsadon wanted to avoid the suspicion that the coup had only been carried out in order to come to power itself. However, the overthrow of the monarchy did not lead to free elections, and political unions were forbidden. Bureaucracy and the military shared the power in the [[National Assembly (Thailand)|National Assembly]]. The constitution was annexed to the monarchist ideology ("[[nation, religion, king]]") as a fourth pillar.

In the following period it became clear how heterogeneous the group of Khana Ratsadon was, and it fell into several rival wings, especially those of the high officers, the younger officers and the civilians. From the liberal and civilian wing, [[Pridi Phanomyong]] sought a profound transformation of the country's social and economic system. To this end, he presented an economic plan in January 1933, which became known as a "Yellow Cover Dossier" ({{langx|th|สมุดปกเหลือง}}). Among other things, he proposed the [[nationalisation]] of farmland, [[industrialization]] through [[Public Company|public companies]], [[Universal health care|universal healthcare]] and [[pension]] insurance. The King, the rather conservative Prime Minister Phraya Manopakorn, and the high-ranking officers in the Khana Ratsadon around [[Phraya Songsuradet]] and even Pridi's friend and co-worker [[Prayun Phamonmontri]], opposed the plan.

Fearing that Pridi's liberal wing, who had the majority in the National Assembly, would decide to take action, Phraya Manopakorn dissolved the parliament in April, imposed an emergency, and rescinded the constitution, which had not yet been a year old. He imposed a law against Communist activities, which was directed not so much against the almost insignificant [[Communist Party of Thailand]], but rather against the alleged Communist projects of Pridi. However, the younger officers of the Khana Ratsadon resisted and countered the actions of Phraya Manopakorn in another [[Siamese coup d'état of 1933|coup d'état]] only one year later, in June 1933, resulting in the appointment of [[Phot Phahonyothin|Phraya Phahon]] as Siam's second prime minister.