The Causes of the independence of Colombia Are of different types. To the economic and social causes are added facts like the vase of Llorente and other detonantes.
It is called Independence of Colombia to the multiple events carried out in the Viceroyalty of New Granada from the end of the eighteenth century until the beginning of the nineteenth century. These events triggered the creation of the Republic of Greater Colombia between the years 1819 to 1831.
Battle of Boyaca, Martin Tovar and Tovar
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Causes of Colombia's Independence
Background
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the events that took place in Spain affected the economic and political life of the colonies in South America.
The Illustration In Europe served as an influence for the middle and upper classes of creoles in the search for control over the decisions of their territory.
This movement criticized traditional patterns in areas such as politics, economics and religion. The revolutions in France and North America served as the basis for the idea of a new society.
Another of the major events that would give rise to the wars of independence was the Napoleonic invasion at the beginning of the 1800s. In 1807 Napoleon named his brother Joseph as King of Spain, forcing Charles IV to abdicate and his son Fernando VII to renounce the throne.
In exile, this last one forms the Council of Regency that constituted a provisional government for Spain and the colonies.
In 1809, the Creole politician, Camilo Torres , Writes the"Memorial of Agravios", where it details the repetitive faults on the part of the Spaniards against the creoles.
Many of these focused on the impossibility of this population to occupy important positions and the restrictions to trade imposed by the Empire. This document extends and begins to create the desired revolution effect among the people.
During that same year in Quito, there had been attempted riots that resulted in the imprisonment of their leaders. In the same way in Venezuela for April of 1810, it had been possible to create a first republic that could not be sustained by much.
Even within New Granada itself, the coastal city of Cartagena had already managed to declare its independence as well as that of other small towns in the region in May of that year.
The vase of Llorente
The plan by the criollos to obtain the independence of the New Granada began with a request of hearing to the Viceroy to discuss the segregation of Spain. This was denied according to the plans drawn by the patriots.
An application for loan of a vase to the Spanish merchant José González Llorente was also made to honor the visit of the sympathetic patriot Don Antonio Villavicencio to Bogota. This loan was also to be denied, which caused the enraged criollos to break the vase.
This immediately triggered protests in the streets demanding an immediate intervention to define the future of New Granada. Only the mayor of the city was the only one who managed to save the life of Llorente before the enraged mob.
The viceroy had no choice but to agree to the election of a local junta. This junta granted some autonomy to Santa Fe of Bogota but remaining loyal to the king Ferdinand VII. Later in 1813 complete independence was declared for the territory.
The Homeland
The period after these events between 1810 and 1826 was renamed"La Patria Boba". Colonial elites stagnated in discussions among themselves about whether the national structure should be of a central or federal type.
This discrepancy exacerbated the existing regional differences in Colombia and gave way to the separation of political elites into rival groups. Other elements such as the relationship that the church should keep with the state deepened these discussions. The federalists were led by Camilo Torres himself, while the centralists were with Antonio Nariño .
In 1811 and in search of avoiding a civil war between the two factions, a constitution is written in Bogota. That same year a congress is installed for the first time and the United Provinces of New Granada are formed.
In 1812, each of the provinces began declaring its absolute independence from Spain. However, discussions between federalists and centralists continued to leave New Granada weak and vulnerable in the face of Spain's attempts to regain control over these provinces.
The reconquest
In 1815, Ferdinand VII was restored to the throne and Napoleon's forces retired from Spain. A peacekeeping group led by Pablo Morillo In the king's name began his march from Venezuela to Bogota.
All those who laid down their arms and swore loyalty to the king were forgiven their lives. It was also guaranteed the freedom of slaves who would aid in the reconquest of the provinces.
Due to a division between the upper classes and weak military leadership, Cartagena again fell into the hands of the Empire in 1815. In 1816, it also took Bogotá and installed the Purification Tribunal which was in charge of exiles and executions for rebels.
This repression caused the uprising of groups that previously were not in agreement with the cause independentista.
The battle of boyaca
Simón Bolívar returns to the New Granada in 1816 with the iron conviction of gaining to the masses to obtain the definitive independence of Spain.
In 1819 he commissioned the General Francisco de Paula Santander The mission of liberating the region of Casanare, arriving to get it in April of the same year.
In August, a key defeat takes place for the Spanish forces during the battle of Boyacá, what makes that the independentistas armies can make its entrance to Bogota without resistance some.
Traders and landowners now truly possessed the political, economic, and social control of the new state comprising the present territories of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.
The first economic reforms allowed the entrance of merchandise from Great Britain to this area and the traders and farmers previously excluded, now have a relevant role for the nation.
References
- Countrystudies.us. Developments Leading to Independence. [Online] [Quoted on: February 23, 2017.] countrystudies.us.
- Colombian Diaries. Colombian Independence - Reverberations of a Vase Smashed 200 Years Aug. [Online] February 11, 2014. [Quoted on: February 23, 2017.] colombiadiaries.wordpress.com.
- Minster, Christopher. About Education. Colombia's Independence Day. [Online] August 26, 2016. [Quoted on: February 23, 2017.] latinamericanhistory.about.com.
- History World. HISTORY OF COLOMBIA. [Online] 2001. [Quoted on: February 23, 2017.] historyworld.net.
- Countrystudies.us. The Independence Movement. [Online] [Quoted on: February 17, 2017.] countrystudies.us.