POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND

ETHNIC HISTORY OF COLOMBIA

Tay P and Chante’

Colombia

BACKGROUND COLOMBIA ALSO KNOWN AS THE

REPUBLIC OF COLUMBIA IS A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC LOCATED- COLUMBIA IS LOCATED IN

NORTHWESTERN SOUTH AMERICA, BORDERED TO THE NORTHWEST BY PANAMA; TO THE NORTH BY THE CARIBBEAN SEA; TO THE EAST BY VENEZUELA AND BRAZIL, TO THE SOUTH ECUADOR AND PERU.

26TH LARGEST COUNTRY 4TH LARGEST COUNTRY IN SOUTH

AMERICA.

HISTORY IT WAS ORIGINALLY INHABBITED BY

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE INCLUDING MUISCA, QUIMAYA, AND TAIRONA.

THE SPANISH ARRIVED IN 1499 AND COLONIZED COLUMBIA AND CREATED THE VICEROYALTY OF NEW GRANADA (THIS WAS MODERN DAY COLUMBIA, VENEZUELA, EQUADOR, NORTHWESTERN BRAZIL AND PANAMA)

PRE-COLUMBIA The indigenous people developed a

political system of Cacicazgos with the head being Caciques.

The Muiscas inhabited the area which is now Boyacá and Cundinamarca.

For example they cultivated cotton, maze, potatoes, they traded gold hand crafts with neighbors.

The taironas inhabited the Andi’s which is in Northern Colombia.

Spanish colonization

IN 1819 SPAIN GAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE.

IN 1930 GRAN COLUMBIA COLLAPSED.

TODAY’S COLUMBIA AND PANAMA WAS THE REPUBLIC OF GRANADA.

COLUMBIA WAS THE FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AMERICA.

ETHNICITY

This is a combination of the original native inhabitants, Spanish colonies, Africans which were slaves, and the 20th century immigrants from Europe.

ETHNIC GROUPS 58% MESTIZO 20% WHITE 14% MULATTO 4% AFRO-COLUMBIAN 3% ZAMBO 1% AMERINDIAN

POLITICAL Monopolized by the liberal party

(founded in 1848, a economically liberal and federalist platform)

the conservative party (founded in 1849 by Catholicism, protectionism, and centralism).

Both parties had power conflicts -Alvaro Uribe- improved security and the

economy Carlos Gaviria

GOVERNMENT The President of Colombia serves

as both head of state and head of government, followed by the Vice President and the Council of Ministers.

The Current President is Juan Manuel Santos.

ECONOMY 20th century- the economy improved 4% between 1970-1998 Recession in 1999 Reach a 8.2% growth in 2007 Economic performance is aided by

the liberal reform – from Alvaro Uribe

Natural resources- main exports -petroleum, coal, coffee and other

agricultural produce, and gold