The Isthmus Department, or Department of Panama ( es, Departamento de Panamá, links=no), was one of the
departments of the
Republic of Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia (, "Great Colombia"), or Greater Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia (Spanish: ''República de Colombia''), was a state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 18 ...
and later of the
Republic of Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
. It was created in 1824 and named after the
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama ( es, Istmo de Panamá), also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien (), is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country ...
. It covered the territory of what is now the country of
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
and some coastal territories farther northward along the Caribbean shoreline of present-day
Costa Rica
Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...
and
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...
(
Mosquito Coast
The Mosquito Coast, also known as the Mosquitia or Mosquito Shore, historically included the area along the eastern coast of present-day Nicaragua and Honduras. It formed part of the Western Caribbean Zone. It was named after the local Miskit ...
).
After the
Thousand Days' War
The Thousand Days' War ( es, Guerra de los Mil Días) was a civil war fought in Colombia from 17 October 1899 to 21 November 1902, at first between the Colombian Liberal Party, Liberal Party and the government led by the National Party (Colomb ...
and the influence of the United States to build the
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
the former Department of Gran Colombia
separated from Colombia and became the
Republic of Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cost ...
.
History
The region of Panama was part of the
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...
during
the wars of independence against the Spanish. On November 28, 1821, Panama proclaimed its independence from Spain. Independence was achieved without bloodshed and with the participation of the most prominent men of the country, who through their financial contributions neutralized the Spanish army that guarded the Isthmus. Panama's independence movement began on November 10, 1821 with the
independence of the Villa de Los Santos es.html" ;"title=":es:Primer Grito de Independencia en la Villa de Los Santos">es">:es:Primer Grito de Independencia en la Villa de Los Santos">esled by
Segundo Villarreal; eighteen days later, on November 28, after the patriot victory at the
Battle of Carabobo
The Battle of Carabobo, on 24 June 1821, was fought between independence fighters, led by Venezuelan General Simón Bolívar, and the Royalist forces, led by Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. Bolívar's decisive victory at Carabobo led ...
, there was emancipation from the Spanish Empire and Panama's decision to voluntarily join Gran Colombia was officially proclaimed.
Several factors influenced the final decision to join Panama to Gran Colombia, instead of
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
, its main trading partner during the Spanish colonial era. Of these, the most important to join Gran Colombia was the figure of
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...
, who at that time was at the height of his glory and popularity.
Up until this point, Panama had remained within the Spanish monarchy and had avoided the troubles afflicting the rest of the
Viceroyalty of New Granada
The Viceroyalty of New Granada ( es, Virreinato de Nueva Granada, links=no ) also called Viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada or Viceroyalty of Santafé was the name given on 27 May 1717, to the jurisdiction of the Spanish Empire in norther ...
. On November 28, 1821 Panama was voluntarily annexed to Gran Colombia under the
Constitution of Cúcuta
The Constitution of Cúcuta, also known as Constitution of the Gran Colombia and Constitution of 1821, was the founding document and constitution of the Republic of Colombia (historiographically called Gran Colombia), unifying the territories o ...
, which had been promulgated on August 30, 1819. On February 9, 1822, by Executive Decree of the
Vice President of Gran Colombia,
Francisco de Paula Santander
Francisco José de Paula Santander y Omaña (Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander, Colombia, April 2, 1792 – Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, 1840), was a Colombian military and political leader during the 1810–1819 independ ...
, the Isthmus Department was provisionally created until the next meeting of Congress, with the same rights granted to the original departments created by the law of October 2, 1821. He also divided it into two provinces:
Panamá
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cost ...
and
Veraguas
Veraguas () is a province of Panama, located in the centre-west of the country. The capital is the city of Santiago de Veraguas. It is the only Panamanian province to border both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It covers an area of 10,587.6&nb ...
.
The Isthmus was characterized by a strong tendency towards autonomism, as an early antecedent we have the tenacious opposition of its political class, against the adoption of the Bolivian constitution that was intended to be implemented in Gran Colombia, despite all the efforts of the special envoy of Simón Bolívar and the pressure exerted by the intendant and military chief in the Isthmus.
In 1826, the same year in which the Isthmus rejected the Bolivian constitution, the
Congress of Panama
The Congress of Panama (also referred to as the Amphictyonic Congress, in homage to the Amphictyonic League of Ancient Greece) was a congress organized by Simón Bolívar in 1826 with the goal of bringing together the new republics of Latin Americ ...
was held in the capital of the department. But this remarkable event was not an obstacle for the first attempt of separation from Colombia to take place in that year. It so happened that the
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia ( es, Congreso de la República de Colombia) is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.
The Congress of Colombia consists of the 108-seat Senate, and the 188-seat Chamber of Re ...
ignored the requests for commercial franchises for the Isthmus, which frustrated Panamanian aspirations. Consequently, a separatist movement arose to turn Panama into a
Hanseatic
The Hanseatic League (; gml, Hanse, , ; german: label=German language, Modern German, Deutsche Hanse) was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Norther ...
country, under the protection of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The movement was, however, repressed by the Colombian military stationed on the Isthmus.
Regarding concrete separations, the first was carried out under the leadership of General José Domingo Espinar
es.html"_;"title=":es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar.html"_;"title="nowiki/>:es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar">es">:es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar.html"_;"title="nowiki/>:es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar">es_who_separated_the_Isthmus_on_September_26,_1830._However,_he_returned_to_reintegrate_it_to_Gran_Colombia_on_December_11_of_the_same_year._The_second_attempt_was_made_by_Colonel_Juan_Eligio_Alzuru_[
:es:Juan_Eligio_Alzuru.html" ;"title=":es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar">es.html" ;"title=":es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar.html" ;"title="nowiki/>:es:Jose Domingo Espinar">es">:es:Jose_Domingo_Espinar.html" ;"title="nowiki/>:es:Jose Domingo Espinar">es who separated the Isthmus on September 26, 1830. However, he returned to reintegrate it to Gran Colombia on December 11 of the same year. The second attempt was made by Colonel Juan Eligio Alzuru [
:es:Juan Eligio Alzuru">es] on July 9, 1831, following the example of Venezuela and Ecuador. But the movement was suffocated and its leaders executed on August 29 of that year by orders of General Tomás de Herrera.
Administrative divisions
The department of the Isthmus was constituted with the territory of the current Republic of Panama, the north of the current department of
Chocó, and the Costa Rican southern Pacific (from
Punta Burica to the
Golfo Dulce). In 1824, by means of the Law of Territorial Division of the Republic of Colombia
es.html" ;"title=":es:Ley de División Territorial de la República de Colombia">es">:es:Ley de División Territorial de la República de Colombia">es the department was subdivided into provinces. According to the laws of Gran Colombia, the civil government of the department was headed by an intendant and the military authority was represented by the General Commander of the department.
According to the provisions of the Law of Division of Colombia of June 25, 1824, the department consisted of two provinces and 10 cantons:
*
Province of Panama. Capital:
Panama City
Panama City ( es, Ciudad de Panamá, links=no; ), also known as Panama (or Panamá in Spanish), is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is locat ...
. In 1822 it consisted of six cantons: Panama,
Portobelo, Darien del Sur,
Nata
Nata could refer to:
__NOTOC__ Places
* Nata, Botswana, a village in Central District of Botswana
* Nata, Cyprus, a small village near Paphos, Cyprus
* Natá, Coclé, a town and corregimiento in Natá District, Coclé Province, Panama
* Natá Dist ...
and Los Santos. In 1824 the province of Panama included the cantons of Panama, Portobelo,
Yaviza Yaviza is a town and corregimiento in Pinogana District, Darién Province, Panama with a population of 4,441 as of 2010.
Location
The town marks the southeastern end of the northern half of the Pan-American Highway, at the north end of the Dari ...
(formerly Darien del Sur), Nata, Los Santos and Chorrera.
*
Province of Veraguas. Capital:
Santiago de Veraguas
Santiago de Veraguas () is the capital of the province of Veraguas, in the Republic of Panama, and the district or municipality of the same name. Located in the countryside next to the Pan American Highway. Bounded on the north by San Francisco Di ...
. In 1822 it consisted of two cantons: Santiago and
Alanje.
In 1824 the province of Veraguas was made up of the cantons of Santiago, Alanje, La Mesa and Gaimí (head of Remedios).
References
See also
*
History of Panama
The history of Panama includes the history of the Isthmus of Panama prior to European colonization.
Before the arrival of Europeans, Panama was widely settled by Chibchan, Chocoan, and Cueva peoples. There is no accurate knowledge of the size ...
*
History of the Panama Canal
The idea of the Panama Canal dates back to 1513, when Vasco Núñez de Balboa first crossed the isthmus of Panama. The narrow land bridge between North and South America was a fine location to dig a water passage between the Atlantic and Pacific ...
*
Panama–Colombia separation
Departments of Gran Colombia
Former departments of Colombia
History of Panama
1824 establishments in Gran Colombia
1903 disestablishments in Colombia
1903 establishments in Panama
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