Brief History of Colombia

 
 
When Europeans arrived they found a scattered people. The diversity of languages, customs,
religions and geographical location became a disadvantage for the natives faced the invaders.
  
The first expeditions in the territory took place on the Atlantic coast in 1499, although the process
of colonization began in 1509 when the first settlements founded in the Gulf of Uraba. Santa
Marta, founded in 1525, is the oldest city in existence today in Colombia.
 
The expeditions continued throughout the interior of the territory with Gonzalo Jimenez de
Quesada who founded Santa Fe of Bogota on August 6, 1538.

Around the square twelve thatched huts were built to house troops and a church where the first
mass held by the Dominican Domingo de las Casas, protector of the Indians.
 
At the time of colonization exchanged native gold, which had accumulated over many
generations, mirrors, fabrics and objects that represented only a small part to the pre-Colombian
treasures.
 
In addition, the Indians had to work for the conquerors through institutions such as the mita, a
form of work is not free but mandatory, the parcel, delivery of a group of indigenous families in
the care of a conqueror, life in exchange for supplies entrusted to the natives, the guards, the
concentration of indigenous families in a previously chosen, which should not walk away, and
slavery.
 
In this period the church helped to unify ideologically conquered territories and provided the
administration.
 
During the second half of the eighteenth century began in America on discontent with the
economic and political order imposed by colonizers. The ideas of the Enlightenment, the
reactions against the absolutism and the international situation: the French Revolution and
independence of the United States, helped create the atmosphere of independence in New
Granada which started with the Revolution of the Communards in Socorro.
 
There are two schools of thought: federalism and centralism, which led to a military
confrontation, and allowed the Spanish reconquered the territory in 1814.
 
This radicalized the independence movement and led to the liberation campaign led by Simon
Bolivar that the August 7, 1819 with the Battle of Boyaca was short for complete independence.
Another factor that contributed to the revolutionary movement was the work being conducted by
some intellectuals Creoles, known as precursors, who spread the principles of freedom and
equality. Among them are: Antonio Nariño, Francisco Miranda and Camilo Torres. Bolivar was
declared President and Francisco de Paula Santander, who fought in the campaign, was named
vice president.
 
A mid-nineteenth century began to be structured in New Granada, philosophical and doctrinaire,
liberal and conservative parts. In 1848 appeared the first program developed by Ezequiel Rojas
liberal and a year later José Eusebio Caro and Mariano Ospina Rodríguez wrote the conservative.
  
In this period there is the Liberal leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan as a defender of farmers in the
banana and strengthens the political part UNITE (Union of Revolutionary Left), representative of
the masses. This political force achieved great success in all areas of the country, making an
important leader Gaitan.
 
In the decade of the 50 increased migration to cities due to the intensification of partisan conflict
(liberal-conservative) that were vying for power.The conflict that manifested itself since the 30s
as a result of social tensions escalated after the death of Gaitan on April 9, 1948 and acquired
different characteristics in different regions of the country.