Thousand Days War

Between 1899 and 1902 a confrontation took place civil In colombia. This episode has gone down in history as the Thousand Day War. Two were the opposing sides: the conservatives led by the government army against a group of liberal guerrillas.

Background to the conflict

The Conservatives sought to consolidate a strong centralist state, while the Liberals advocated a focus federalist of the nation.

From the Constitution In 1886 an agreement was established with the Vatican. According to him, the education of Colombians it had to be managed by the Catholic Church. This initiative generated deep discontent among liberals.

From a political point of view, the country was in a situation of permanent instability and there was a social atmosphere of hostility between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party.

In 1899 the economy Colombia collapsed as a result of low coffee prices in international markets.

The electoral triumph of the Conservatives in the 1899 elections was questioned by the Liberals.

Start and development of the war

Some generals close to the Liberal Party rebelled in October 1899 in the population de Socorro and days later the battle of the Magdalena River took place in which the liberal troops were defeated.

Despite some isolated victories, the Liberals gradually weakened militarily and this It caused its division into two factions, as some defended the pacification of the country and others wanted to continue the fight navy. In the conservative ranks there was also a division between two camps, historical and national.

To the margin From the confrontation between Colombians, it should not be forgotten that other nations gave their support to each of the parties involved. The liberals had the active collaboration of the liberal sectors of Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, while the conservatives received the help of the United States and the Venezuelan conservatives or Andradistas.

Finally the troops related to the conservatives prevailed because their army was more numerous and effective and, on the other hand, because of the collaboration of the United States Marines.

Consequences of the conflict

The Thousand Day War ended with approximately 100,000 deaths. In the following years there was a period of economic instability with high rates of inflation.

In 1903 the secession of Panama was consummated and the new nation became an independent republic supported by the United States.

Photo: Fotolia - penwin

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