COLOMBIA: HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, & CULTUREDirections: Copy all notes in blue.

COLOMBIA: History First inhabited by

Native Americans: Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona.

Originally known as New Granada (Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama).

The 1st permanent Spanish settlement was at Santa Marta in 1525.

COLOMBIA: History Remained a

Spanish colony until Simon Bolivar showed up in 1810 ready to lead their struggle for independence!!!

Gained independence from Spain in 1819

COLOMBIA: History In 1886 this area

becomes known as the Republic of Colombia

Republic of Colombia was named after Christopher Columbus.

COLOMBIA: History After independence, Colombia remained an unstable country. The War of a Thousand Days (1899-1903) claimed an estimated

100,000 lives and La Violencia (1946-1957) claimed about 300,000 lives.

In all, Colombia has battled through more than 8 civil wars and over 50 revolts.

COLOMBIA: Government Today, Colombia is

a democratic republic

Leader is a president (2-4 year terms)

Juan Manuel Santos (the president) is both the Chief of State and the Head of Government (Executive branch has the most power)

COLOMBIA: Government Suffrage is 18 yrs

old What is suffrage?

So, do the citizens have a role in government?

COLOMBIA: Culture Population:45,239,0

79 Ethnicities: Mestizo

58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%

75% live in urban areas

Bogota is the capital. Life Expectancy: 74

years (dudes=71 yrs and gals=78 yrs)

COLOMBIA: Culture Official language:

Spanish• Why?

90% follow the Roman Catholic religion.• Why?

COLOMBIAN SUMMARIZERWrite a paragraph answering the 3-2-1

below:3= Pieces of evidence that Colombia

used to be a Spanish Colony2= Important people from Colombia’s

past1= Thing that would have lead us to

believe they would have never become the Democratic Republic they are today