Colombia Prologue

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Colombia Revolution

On July 20th, 1820, revolutionaries caused an uprising in Bogota, New Granada (present day Colombia). This is the day that independence is celebrated in Colombia, although it was not declared officially until later in 1811. Soon after the uprising, deputes over the government organizations took place and caused a series to split into two parties. One party was made up of Idealists and some provincial leaders that desired a federation, while the other party was made up of Creole leaders who wanted to centralize authority over the new government. These two parties could not come to a compromise, which resulted in a series of civil wars. These wars severely weakened the already disorganized country(3), which was exactly the kind of opening the Spanish need to regain control. They jumped at this opportunity and set out for reconquest in 1814, and were victorious in 1816(3). As soon as the Spanish regained control, they started executing republicans, and as a result, most of the republican force fled to Casanare with their leader, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Paula_Santander Francisco de Paula Santander](2). After pulling the troops together, Santander took them to the Orinoco basin of Venezuela(2), where he was set to meet up with Simon Bolivar, the "Liberator of South America(1)." This combination of troops took back power with capped by a lopsided victory at Boyaca, on August 7, 1819(3). Bolivar then became the first president of the land which he claimed as, "Gran Colombia" or "the Republic of Colombia(1)," with Santander as his vice(2).

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/126016/1057/The-division-of-Gran-Colombia

Elements of Brinton’s Anatomy of a Revolution that match Colombia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Paula_Santander

Bold= Colombian Match

CONDITIONS WHICH SEEM TO BE PRESENT AS CAUSES OF MAJOR REVOLUTIONS:

1.	People from all social classes are discontented.

'''During the time of the uprising it seemed as though almost everyone were discontent with the Spanish, and called for a revolution. Colombians were inspired by the fight toward independence performed by many of its surrounding countries. '''

7.	The government does not respond to the needs of its society.

'''Society needed more freedom and to be protected from the brutality of the army. The government did not respond to these pleas(3). '''

THE COURSE THAT REVOLUTIONS SEEM TO TAKE:

2.	Unsuccessful government attempts to suppress revolutionaries.

The Spanish government failed to squash the feeling of change, and the need for a revolution.

3.	Revolutionaries gain power and seem united. At first, Colombia is very united and nationalism is strong.

4.	Once in power, revolutionaries begin to quarrel among themselves, and unity begins to dissolve(2).

Quarreling over the government structure results in civil war in Colombia.

7. A strong man emerges and assumes great power.

'''If you consider Spain a strong man, then yes. During the time of struggle, Spain emerges and crushes everyone else(2).'''

9. A period of terror occurs.

The Spanish reconquest seemed to be a period of terror during which republicans were being executed(2).

10. Moderate groups regain power. The revolution is over.

'''This moderate group consisted of Simon Bolivar and his republican allies. They defeat Spain in 1819, ending the revolution(1).'''

RESULTS:

1. Did the ideals of the revolution change as its leadership changed?

They ideals changed from those of the Spanish, to the combination of creole/ idealist, to Spanish again, and finally to republican(2).

2.  Were the original goals of the revolution achieved? At what point? Were these achievements conserved?

'''Yes, although the goals were not completed until the end of the revolution, for the Spanish had a successful reconquest. The achievements remained conserved after Spain's defeat in 1819(2).'''

3.  Which social classes gained most from the revolution? Which lost? Did the original ruling group or individuals from this group return to power?

Everyone seemed to gain from the revolution, and the Spanish returned to power 4 years after the original uprising, but did not return again Bolivar defeated them in 1819(2)



Key

blue line-Colombia

red line- Gran Colombia

left balloon- Bogota (where the uprising in 1810 occurred)

right balloon- Boyaca (where Bolivar defeated the spanish in 1819)

Timeline of Revolution

Click the link above to go to the Colombia Revolutionary Timeline created by one of the users. If you click the bubbles under a certain event, more information will come up about this event including the time frame it occurred in if it was more then one date.