United States of Colombia
Colombia, 1863–1886. Draft, not yet reviewed
The United States of Colombia was the name adopted in 1863 by the Constitución de Rionegro for the Granadine Confederation, after years of civil war. It was a federal state composed of nine sovereign states. In 1863 the Constitución de Rionegro established a federal system with a central presidency with a term of two years and without the possibility of immediate re-election. In 1886 the Colombian Conservative Party led by President Rafael Núñez proclaimed a new constitution of a unitary and centralist character that abolished the United States of Colombia and created the Republic of Colombia.
Seat of power: Bogotá
Rulers
Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera
President of Colombia, 1863–1864
After the liberals won the civil war, a new federalist constitution was implemented, which established a two-year presidency. Due to the liberal reforms carried out under his leadership, he is considered one of the most important persons in Colombian history of the 19th century.
Portrait of Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera: Unknown author, PD, file
Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera
President of Colombia, 1866–1867
He had a fourth term from 1866 to 1867.
Portrait of Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera: Unknown author, PD, file
José María Rojas Garrido
President of Colombia, 1866–1866
He assumed the office of the Presidency on April 1, 1866, acting in the absence of the President Elect, until May 22, 1866, when General Mosquera returned to the country and was sworn in.
Portrait of José María Rojas Garrido: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Santos Acosta
President of Colombia, 1867–1868
He succeeded to the role of president after Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera was deposed in 1867 and held the position until 1868.
Portrait of Santos Acosta: Cultura Banco de la República, Public domain, file
Joaquín Riascos
President of Colombia, 1867–1867
He became acting President in rebellion of the United States of Colombia in 1867 for 45 days.
Portrait of Joaquín Riascos: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Santos Gutiérrez
President of Colombia, 1868–1870
He was elected president of the United States of Colombia for the term of 1868 to 1870.
Portrait of Santos Gutiérrez: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Eustorgio Salgar
President of Colombia, 1870–1872
He was president of the United States of Colombia from 1870 until 1872 and, elected at age 39, was the youngest president of Colombia. During his brief presidency, he founded and promoted the country's first railway company and the first corporation intended to provide social security.
Portrait of Eustorgio Salgar: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Manuel Murillo Toro
President of Colombia, 1872–1874
He served as President of the United States of Colombia on two occasions, first from 1864 to 1866, and again between 1872 and 1874.
Portrait of Manuel Murillo Toro: Mathew Benjamin Brady, Public domain, file
Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas
President of Colombia, 1874–1876
He was President of the United States of Colombia between 1874 and 1876. Earlier, in his role as Director of Public Instruction, he fomented education and the construction of new schools.
Portrait of Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Manuel María Ramírez
President of Colombia, 1877–1877
While President Aquileo Parra was absent putting down an uprising, he briefly became acting head of government.
Portrait of Manuel María Ramírez: Cultura Banco de la República, Public domain, file
Julián Trujillo Largacha
President of Colombia, 1878–1880
He was elected president without opposition from the conservative party, which had been defeated in the war and decided not to take part in the election.
Portrait of Julián Trujillo Largacha: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
José Eusebio Otalora
President of Colombia, 1882–1884
He became President of the United States of Colombia in 1882 as the Second Presidential Designate, after the death of President Francisco Javier Zaldúa.
Portrait of José Eusebio Otalora: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Clímaco Calderón
President of Colombia, 1882–1882
His presidency is the shortest in the history of Colombia. The next day, on December 22, he handed the presidency to José Eusebio Otálora.
Portrait of Clímaco Calderón: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Francisco Javier Zaldúa
President of Colombia, 1882–1882
He was elected as President of Colombia in 1882. He had served as President of the Rionegro Convention, a constituent assembly that created the United States of Colombia.
Portrait of Francisco Javier Zaldúa: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Ezequiel Hurtado
President of Colombia, 1884–1884
He exercised presidential power between April and August 1884, due to the delay of Rafael Nuñez assuming power.
Portrait of Ezequiel Hurtado: Fotografia, Public domain, file
Culture
- The liberals attempted to establish the United States of Colombia with a decentralized, free market system.
- Land possessed by the Church was seized and transferred to industrialists and the influence and rights of the Church was limited severely.
- During 1871, attempts at modernization and economic reform resulted in the Colombian peso being associated with the French franc as part of the international gold standard.
Picture
The San Carlos Palace in Bogotá was the official residence of the President of Colombia from 1827 to 1908.
Image: Felipe Restrepo Acosta, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
- United States of Colombia (Wikipedia)
- United States of Colombia (Wikidata)
- About the picture (Wikipedia)
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.