Colombian Independence Movements

Colombian Independence Movements

A series of independence movements had marked most of South America, or "Nueva Granada" in particular during the vast time period of the early 16th century up until the late 18th century Ð'- early 19th century. An introduction of the time period which dates back to the late 15th century, illustrates how the Southern portion of the now Colombia had become a part of the Incan Empire whose central base had been located deep into Peru. Only the enlightened historians and those that have done thorough research of the time period have noted the existence concerning the various Indian tribes that roamed freely throughout portions of the land much before the emergence of the Spaniards into the territory.

Beginning in the early 16th century, we begin to see the arrival of a substantial number of Spaniards throughout several portions of New Granada (Nueva Granada in Spanish). One must also take into account that Colombia was not the only country in New Granada:

Ð'* Ecuador

Ð'* Panama In addition to Colombia, these three counties formed

Ð'* Venezuela what had been referred to then as New Granada.

The first permanent settlement on the European mainland, Darien, had been found and conquered by the Spaniards in 1510. This had marked the surfacing of the Spaniards across South American lines as many more were to follow. An additional notable conquering had occurred when Pascual de Andagoya had reached the San Juan River in 1522. The term New Granada itself had not been instituted until the actual foundation of the colony in 1538; it had remained as New Granada up until 1861 which was when it was called the United States of Granada as a result of the rewriting of the constitution.

Moving ahead in time periods until the early 18th century, BogotÐ"ÐŽ (the present capital of Colombia), became the capital of the new Spanish Viceroyalty of Nueva (New) Granada, which also ruled over Ecuador and Venezuela.

While studying the independence movements of Colombia, many historians have also noted that the Indians initially tolerated the influx of the Spaniards but rebelled when the colonists tried to enslave them and take possession of their lands. Almost immediately, a large

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