The Battle for Independence

        The initial movement for Independence in Colombia began in the 1790s, a period of time after the French revolution. [1]  The Venezuelans who tried to set up an independent government, the first major attempt for independence in Colombia, in Bogota through revolt in 1796 to 1806, but failed.[1]  Four years later, in May of 1810, Cartagena declared its’ independence, which drove Bogota to declare independence on June 20, 1810. [1]  Colombia  went on with 6 years of independence. Spain then regained their power over Colombia in 1816 when they shifted their attention back to Colombia. [1]  They were preoccupied before because they were fighting a war against France from 1810 to 1816. [1]

       The Colombians finally gained independence when Simon Bolivar and his generals fought the Spaniards at the Battle of Boyaca and won in August of 1819. [1]  Instability arose when Bolivar and his generals, Jose Antonio Paez and Francisco de Paula Santander, wanted different forms of government. Bolivar wanted a strong central government while his two generals campaigned for a federation of sovereign states, where the land would be divided up governed in states. [1] They even extended their plot of land with the Constitution of Cucuta,  established in 1821. [1]  This constitution set up the Republic of Colombia which included Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia itself. [1]

          Bolivar ended up being named the president of Colombia, otherwise known Gran Colombia, and his general, Francisco de Paula Santander was his vice president. Bolivar continued to fight for Ecuador’s liberation and Peru’s independence. During Bolivar's absence Francisco de Paula Santander governed Gran Colombia, which was named Colombia in 1863. [1]  This was a great end to the tough battle for independence.  It took numerous trials, rebellions, and battle, but in the end it was worth it for the Colombians.