A Compendium of Latin American History, 2022

 A Compendium of Latin American History, 2022

Chapter 15 - The Fall of Gran Colombia (1819 - 1829)

Pax Franca

“America is ungovernable; those who served the revolution have plowed the sea.”

Simon Bolivar

Gran Colombia  - a project of hope - a project of dreams. What started as the dream of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar, ended with his assassination by Jose Maria Cordova’s forces (as only recently unearthed by archaealogical research) while he fled to Panama. Gran Colombia’s fall was truly tragic - beginning as the Ocana Convention began in the wake of the failed La Cosiata by Paez, Gran Colombia became immediately beset by obligations to foreign powers as their internal politics began collapsing. 

In Ecuador, leaders worked to improve defences around Ecuador in defence against Peru. Ecuador remained largely stable if political - resolving minor skirmishes and resolving privateering problems. Juan Illingrot and his development bank (the BDG) was highly contributory in developing the economy of Ecuador to an extent unimaginable before the BDG begun. In a more down to earth approach, some governors even decided to boost the economy by educating the locals on the methods of fishing. Even during the midst of war, the people of Ecuador still managed to host a Colombian Ball Tournament, which brought the people great happiness, despite it being short term. It is a shame what happened to Ecuador, then - its fragmentation rendered it irrelevant in a world of Great Powers, especially as French and American intervention began in 1829. Even today, what ought to be Ecuador is fragmented, many different states, each with different power. 

Meanwhile, in Nueva Grenada, a split began to develop after Antioquia, in what will forever be likely seen as a historic mistake, ceded all foreign extraction rights to the French, setting up a series of events that would break up Gran Colombia forever, as the French began taking over, eventually setting up a protectorate of their own. The state did develop in other ways, too - with the development of a competent and participatory political system. Liberals developed and tried to harm the Church, but failed. The state did succeed in developing a new type of sport - known as Colombia Ball - now an Olympics sport and one of the most popular sports in the world after crochet and rugby.  

In Venezuela, a weak country developed militarily with the aid of the United States, while itself reducing its participatory nature in Gran Colombia. While Venezuelan nationalism, the hallmark of the birthplace of Latin American independence, was strong and persistent, it eventually failed to make a mark. As the French launched a violent coup in Nueva Grenada, naming it French Nueva Grenada and eventually Nouvelle Grenade, the Venezuelans received support from the United States, who sought to enforce the Monroe Doctrine to keep Europe from interfering in the Americas. However, in a series of decisive battles, the Venezuelans lost to the French-backed Colombians, who eventually succeeded in reuniting Peru, Venezuela, Nueva Grenada and Ecuador to form French Gran Colombia, which would eventually become La Grande Colombie. 

The people of La Grande Colombie would only eventually have their say in 1982, when La Grande Colombie won independence (as Colombie, Venezuele, Peru and the constituent states of Ecuador) after a prolonged independence movement. America had lost influence in this region of the world - and had focused its strengths on the Asia-Pacific instead. The French influence on this part of the world is unmistakable today - with inhabitants largely speaking French and adopting French norms. What could have been if the leader of a small province did not give the French exclusive extraction rights….

Here ends the story of La Grande Colombie. We bookend this with a poem (translated) written by an old farmer during the Last War. 

At the beginning of April,

the sun shifted too low,

The forests cease to grow

My son’s six feet below

Ephemeral vanishing,

My heart stays panicking,

For all I can see is

Me, the world and insanity

At the beginning of May,

I geared up for war

My daughter, the homemaker

Lost another one of her foal

Incredibly,

My heart still beats strongly,

But for politics and bickering,

It might not be alone,

In conclusion, 

We must have never been destined

Life’s botched and then you die

That’s why some get high

On that coca plant

My sadness evaporates alone

My happiness tears down my cheek,

Desperate and forlorn

A new man leads us forever,

But never one of our own

For we lost thousands

So another might claim the throne

Victory is ours

And sadness is undeserved,

Why, one might ask,

When it is our man on the throne?

French Gran Colombia,

American Gran Colombia

All I want is my house, my son and my daughter

And a little farm on the water,

And build a new route to America if they’ll have you,

For I’d need to be none the wiser

Death of Bolivar

  

El Libertador is dead!

Yesterday evening as we were all going to sleep our most beloved leader has been assassinated in his own house. The assassins lit up fires to cover up their traces and used complex stratagems to get rid of the security. It probable that even without such evil machinations, no one would be able to apprehend the culprits given the chaos that our country is experiencing. All honourable citizens will lament this tragic loss and hopefully, after our times of trouble are behind us, we will be able to think about our great leader with love.  

Disaster strikes Gran Colombia!

  _________________________________________________________________________________~ ::: La Gaceta de ::: ~

: ~ : C O L O M B I A ( ? ) : ~ :

~ 3rd March, 1829 ~ Publication #100

_________________________________________________________________________________

Disaster strikes Gran Colombia!

In a swift turn, the nation of Gran Colombia has found itself decapitated on all fronts after almost the entire nation broke apart from Gran Colombia within the space of a few days. Ecuador's provinces have all independently seceded from Gran Colombia, as the central government has collapsed, although the provinces are still cordial and meet together. The central government only operates in Panama and Boyaca, and the whereabouts of Bolivar are unknown. The remainder of Gran Colombia, reduced to nearly a single province, has had its leader choose to sit with the neutral Ecuadorians as they maintain a stance of aggressive neutrality. 

The French have staged a coup in Nueva Grenada, and installed Juan Marie Cordova as the Head of State of a French protectorate in Nueva Grenada, entitled "French Nueva Grenada". The French have a significant military presence in the region that, along the earlier strength of Nueva Grenada, far outstrips that of American-funded Venezuela as of last notice. The French have very openly stated their desire of reuniting Gran Colombia as French Gran Colombia under the stewardship of the loyal Juan Marie Cordova, who will be personally guarded by French soldiers at all times. The French have also established a military alliance with Peru. This has worried the Americans, who have reportedly offered Venezuela all the help they want to defend against the expected incoming invasion by the French. 

Pamphlet urging to take a stance against the French

 ~ : LA CIVILAZION : ~

~ 10 January 1829  ::: ~ ::: Publicación #2 ~

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Pamphlet

The following pamphlet is printed on request of Antonio Salazar Obando

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My fellow Colombians,

We have struggled for the past decade for independence from European colonialism. Our countrymen spilled rivers of our blood in the name of liberty, equality, and independence, yet some now see it fit to invite another European despot to march his troops into our cities and exploit the people of Gran Colombia. Not only are they inviting another monarchy onto our soil, but an empire which is currently stretching its tentacles around the world, grabbing land, subjugating peoples, and robbing wealth wherever they can. As a patriot, a believer in liberty, and a supporter of all the people of this great country, I cannot sit idly by whilst traitors get in bed with these imperialists and dictators, selling Colombia to line their own pockets with gold. We must say no to any French attempts to strengthen their position in our country and be ready to fight for our freedom and independence once again. If the French want Colombia, they will have to climb a mountain of patriots’ bodies and swim a river of heroic blood, we will not give in to them.

Antonio Salazar Obando

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Newspaper article: Christian party gaining traction

 ~ : LA CIVILAZION : ~

~ 10 January 1829  ::: ~ ::: Publicación #2 ~

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Christian party gaining traction

In the past months critique of the church has been incredibly vocal. Liberal politicians have demanded for a separation of church and state, the secularization of education and even the abolition of the church. Many already saw the money and land that a disowning of the church would cause in their pockets and created extensive spending plans. 

Now for the first time we a seeing a change in the narrative. The founding of the Christian party Partido Democrata Cristiano has been met with great support in the population. The new party that wants to increase education through the church is reshaping the Narrative by putting a liberal spin on the traditionally conservative Church. 

The Church, seemingly desperate for any type of political support in a time where most were already dreaming about seeing it in ruins, is fully endorsing the party and has included promotion of it in many services all over the country. This is strengthening the position of the Church substantially.

Campaign against Juan Illingrot, pamphlet sealed herein

Dear People of Ecuador,

I, Senor Jose Joaquin Eufrasio De Olmedo y Maruri along with Vincente Rocafuerte y Jose Hilario Lopez of Jaen, Manabi and Cuenca, would like to reassure you that we will not allow Senor Juan Illingrot, a protestant, to convolute and twist our sacred religion and a certain political leanings into something unnatural to benefit solely himself. Our economy is young and we would not benefit from a free market economy at all. How are we to pursue this with such a lack of primary education? France invades Venezuela yet the navy in his ports remains wholly inefficient and insufficient. Considering his money this would perhaps only seem like a positive thing for him, but he does not think of the people who do not share his privilege. He does not understand the people, the diversity of our region, the culture.

We have always likened him as our own despite his Protestant beliefs but this has gone too far. As a Catholic country, you have also shown your godly duties and tolerated this behaviour, veiled by his wealth and foreign background. He has demonstrated a supreme double-nature, in both visiting the Catholic church, whilst pushing his twisted Protestant nature.
We believe it is time for you to know the kind of man he really is. For a long time we have known each other, governing side by side. As men we share secrets, as politicians we keep them. But now it is common knowledge, and gossip, of his sinful activities as a married man who has been having affairs, most notably with his secretary.  We three have toiled and suffered in the guilt of keeping these disgraceful secrets in the name of neutrality and for the benefit of Guayaquil, of Ecuador. But it appears that these benefits are turning slowly all towards him.

We have a very strong feeling that the governor of Guayaquil has lost the connection with the ordinary people and cares only about his own wealth and greed, and it is time for him to be humbled.

Your humble servants always,



Y THE HEADS OF CUENCA Y MANABÍ

Newspaper article on the independence party

 

~ | El Constitucional | ~

| 15 January 1829 |

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                                     Independence movement in Venezuela

After the recent conflict in Venezuela surrounding General Paez, it is now the turn of Santiago Marino, Commandante General of the Maturin department to foment trouble by creating a new party supporting Venezuelan independence. The new party has established itself in Caracas with brand new headquarters but it is present throughout the country with many more regional offices. The funding of the whole project stems from Marino, who is dead set in spreading his ideas to the population through pamphlets. 

The party has the goal of creating an independent technocratic state, without ideological ties to any existing party in our country, The leader of the party will be elected every five years, with the position currently being occupied by Marino. 

It appears that Marino met with delegates from the United States, although no official declaration has been made by the United States’ government.

This party threatens our unity and invites foreigners into our country. We must stand united to resolve the crisis.

Op-Ed goes viral in Gran Colombia

Le Journal d' Antioque de la Republique de Colombie 

08 Jan 1828

Written by: Huan Maria Cordyceps

We, in this glorious nation, are now crumbling at the hands of American propaganda, where we believe American newspapers, where we trust the word of American merchants who do not hire our people, who do not work for our benefit. Independent journalism in Colombia exists to dispute these baseless allegations by the US, it is evident from the pattern of the US, that they are portraying the helpful French, who propelled Antioquia into prosperity, as warmongering imperialists, only to implement their own will in the country and use this to launch an invasion of the nation. One needs to not look further than their statements of support for Venezuelan independence, open your eyes Colombians. We must look to Antioquia as the future of this nation, and not let this American propaganda deter our prosperity. The emergence of the highly successful Loyalist movement in the region of Antioquia is testament enough to the fact that the people there have faced an uplift, socially and economically, and therefore it is high time we abandon the notion of the Americans trying to help us, they only want to divide and conquer.

Cabinet report on naval revival

 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA

               The circulation of this letter has been strictly limited.

            It is issued for the personal use of………………………………

TOP SECRET                                  Copy No. ……

C. (04) 135

1st JANUARY, 1829.

CABINET

REVIVAL OF THE NAVY

Memorandum by the

Minister of Finance

After a private meeting with Simon Bolivar, the Central Government wishes to have a summary of the present situation regarding the state of the Colombian Navy.

Background to recent events

2. In a decree of December 7, 1826, Bolívar decommissioned the Naval school, abolished the Ministry of the Navy, and slashed the budget for all navy and marine affairs by more than half. This was due to financial constraints.

Classification of Ships

2.        The Colombian navy is comprised of a variety of vessels, ranging in size as well as manoeuvrability. A general categorisation of the ships are outlined before:

a.                A ship of the line, or man-of-war, the biggest and most heavy ship that currently sails on the oceans of the world. With a number of cannons ranging from 60 to 140, reinforced hulls, three masts and between two and three decks, and with crews numbering in the hundreds, usually around 700 men, it is a formidable fighting machine that carries an entire army’s firepower. These vessels are used for direct naval combat, usually fighting in lines facing each other.

b.                A secondary class of vessels is the frigate. Although smaller than a ship of the line in theory, frigates remained formidable ships. They were faster than their more heavily armed counterpart but still generally had two decks and at least three masts, their hull was however not reinforced like the ship of the line. While useful in direct battle, frigates were usually used for escort missions.

c.                 Smaller ships like corvettes, brigantines and schooners were also used in battle in different missions. The corvette is a 20-cannon vessel, with around a hundred crew, in larger formations, it was used as a messenger between ships of the line or as a forward scouting unit. When operating on its own, corvettes were capable of raiding commerce, but lacked the capability to face larger vessels or threaten port cities. Brigantines and schooners were very similar, both were small vessels used for raiding, they lacked the manpower and firepower to be properly efficient when facing larger ships, but they could easily threaten commerce with raiding operations, as they would easily outpace any commercial ship.

d.                 Gunboats are very small ships, usually with a single artillery piece, while extremely fragile, they would be used in large numbers to threaten both larger vessels and fortifications.

3.       The current state of the Colombian navy is composed of a ship of the line, a frigate, six corvettes, five brigantines, 10 schooners, and 13 gunboats.

4. The navy is split into two main fleets:

• The Atlantic Fleet, composed of 1 ship of the line, 3 corvettes, 3 brigantines, 5 schooners, and 7 gunboats are currently docked in the Puerto Baranquilla, Santa Marta province, Magdalena department in Venezuela.
• The Pacific Fleet, composed of 1 frigate, 3 corvettes, 2 brigantines, 5 schooners, and 6 gunboats.

5. After a comprehensive review of the navy, none of them are in a operable state and combat readiness. It will take


Plans for future operations
6.     Bolivar has announced his desire for the revival of the Colombian navy to increase the Republic's security and commercial interests, against European meddling in the Americas, as well as the Peruvian threat.


7.        As outlined by the 1828 Economic Report, current naval expenditures are as followed.

Venezuela: 398269

New Granada: 622296

Ecuador: 224026

Total: 1,244,593

It will cost an additional 550,000 pesos to bring the Pacific Fleet to a state of combat readiness.
It will cost an additional 600,000 pesos to bring the Atlantic Fleet to a state of combat readiness.


8.         Moreover, in regard to port facilities, measures should be taken to increase the production efficiency of arsenals (for guns, anchors, and all metallic items), docks, rope manufactures (extremely important), and sawmills (although there is enough wood for timbers in the country).


9.         There is a very small number of trained officers (8), with no school to train more people due to financial constraints. The officer curriculum should be updated to reflect the latest developments in naval doctrine, note the Battle of Trafalgar 1805.

J.M.C.R

1st January, 1829.

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Distribution: –

Cabinet members de la República

Senior civil and military officials in the Republic of Colombia

French Confidential Report Leaked

 CONFIDENTIAL REPORT: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ANTIOQUIA

1 Jan 1829

ONLY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO FRENCH CITIZENS

1. This report serves to inform French citizens as to the investment opportunities available in Antioquia. It will have details on the various projects French companies and the French state is involved in within the province of Antioquia. At this stage, it is worth noting that the French government has exclusive foreign rights over all the resources in Antioquia, and therefore has a monopoly on all extractive activity.

2. It is worth noting that there is a very favourable political environment for our investments. The government of Antioquia, under one Juan Marie Cordova, is very favourable to French presence and is working closely with the French to ensure joint prosperity between the French and his people. The security situation is also quite safe, as there are close to 500 advisors of the French military in Antioquia to keep the peace and enforce the monopoly by removing foreigners who aren’t French. There is a strong expatriate community. 

3. Some of the most beautiful orchids in the world are grown in Antioquia. French companies have set up roughly 800 square kilometres of land to grow these orchids. You can buy into these projects and contribute to financing so that more land can be developed. You are also contributing to the improvement of the lives of the locals, who are happy that French presence has given them more wage stability and higher technological capacity. 

4. We have also set up some gold extraction facilities across relevant deposits in the province. However, these are desperately in need of financing for success. If they do not receive financing, they may have to shut down.

5. Lastly, we are building some transport infrastructure in the form of paths and long-range roads that will allow us to transport equipment across the region. We would obviously charge a reasonable fee for use of the equipment and infrastructure.

6. The French government has indicated that there may be a willingness to work with other provinces and Governors in Nueva Grenada, while also ensuring the sovereignty of those provinces. They have indicated in private that if other provinces approach them with the same arrangement as they have with Antioquia, they will accept. 

7. The French government has noted in private that one concern is the anti-French nature of the Venezuelans, who have also been approached publicly by the United States. To that extent, the indication has been that the French are willing to pursue security action within the Venezuela to protect the security interests of the state. 

Christian Democratic Party

 

~ Los Tiempos De Guayaquil ~

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1 Jan, 1829

Ocaña Recognises Ecuador’s Heroism

FOR GOD AND COLOMBIA 

Esteemed Citizens,  

The liberal party, with all of its admirable rhetoric regarding freedom, has shown through its policy of continued attacks on our mother church that it cannot be trusted with our vote. Meanwhile the conservative party has simply remained silent and failed to defend our Christian values, all while attempting to roll back our hard won freedoms. The Partido Democrata Cristiano stands for Christian liberalism, assuring freedom without destroying our values and institutions. 

Our main policies are: 

• An end to the disgusting policy of slavery 
• Support for the church to continue its vital work in education and healthcare 
• Freedom of press and speech 
• Increasing primary education 
• A free market economy 
• National unity under God and Colombia, rather than secessionism 
• Reverence for our national hero, Simon Bolivar 
• Jobs and opportunity for the ordinary people 
• Peace if possible, war is necessary   

If I, Juan Illingrot, a protestant myself, can see that the Roman Catholic church plays a crucial part in our country, who must these liberals be who call for its destructions? Athiests? The Partido Democrata Cristiano stands for liberalism within our great country, rather than secessionism, and for God, rather than selfish individual interest. As a result our party motto is “Para Dios, Colombia, y Libertad”   

The initial President of the Party will be Juan Illingrot, with elections for President and Vice President to be held one year from now. Membership may be bough for 10 pesos, or you may be sponsored by your local church if you cannot afford this.

Article On Statement of Freedom of Religion

   ~ : LA NUEVA GRANADA : ~

~ 30 September 1828  ::: ~ ::: Publicación #26 ~

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Statement published by the Cabinet 

Last week the New Granada Cabinet has published the following statement: 

Honorable citizens of Colombia, 

the cabinet of New Granada would like to reiterate based on our newfound ideals of prosperity and peace, our comittment to ensuring freedom of religion in the country. People must be allowed to respect and follow their own religion,while honoring the values and faith of each other. Our nation is moving ahead towards accepting new ideas beyond liberalism and conservatism, beyond centralism and federalism, and thus freedom of religion is something that goes hand in hand with this change. 

Signed by, 

The entire cabinet of New Granada.

Still, the Liberal/ Conservative divide remains stronger than ever. Liberals feel like the government fails to hear their concerns and demands. While there is relief and approval about the statement of religious freedom, the question of the state of the church remains. How will the government answer the demands of disowning the church.

Expenditures and Recommendations

  Date: 30 Sept, 1828

Economic Report

Section 2: Expenditure and Recommendations

Expenditure Table for 1827: Expenditure Explanation Allocation Amount Military expenditures Military hospitals, sieges, weapons, soldier sustenance, war equipment, military salaries V: 979110 NG: 1529860 E: 550749 3,059, 721 Cost of diplomatic agents in foreign lands V: 59167 NG: 92449 E: 33281 184,899 Civil salaries V: 159360 NG: 249000 E: 89640 498,000 Salaries of the govt executive V: 556806 NG: 870010 E: 313203 1,740,020 Education Universities V: 46602 NG: 870010 E: 26213 145,632 Education Primary + secondary 45,639 Interest V: 116551 NG: 182111 E: 65559 364,222 supporting congress (all costs) V: 31424 NG: 49100 E: 17676 98,200 Navy expenditures (cut by half because fleets are morph balled in port) V: 398269 NG: 622296 E: 224026 1,244,593 Payment owed to creditors of the Patria Boba disputed between who owes what 5,097,389 ecclesiastical mortgages censos 1,400,536 Owed to Panama 656,847 Owed to Guayaquil 100,000 Payment owed to past military veterans and personnel 116,890 total debt including all other loans and interest V: 4,720,741 NG: 7,376,159 E: 2,655,417 14,752,318 Note on Revenue: Actual revenue is less than predicted revenue because the tax collection process is very inefficient. Very few workers are willing to take the job of tax collector, because tax collection is hard. What is hardest is pinning down the total income and asset value of taxpayers, and getting taxpayers to pay calculated tax amounts. Solving corruption, tax evasion and employing tax collection workers should be the government's priority.  Expenditure The given numbers show how much each cabinet owes to pay for the running of government. A decision needs to be made about how these expenditures will be split between the different government units. The governments need to balance the books, otherwise the government will need to shut down. It is not clear which cabinet will pay what, because of the new constitution.  Financial Committee’s recommendations: The financial committee’s expert opinion is that the government should be seriously warned of a looming debt crisis. Our expenditure far exceeds our revenues, and these are financed by loans. However, this debt will turn into a crisis very soon into the future. In order to prevent this devastating financial crisis, there are, according to the financial committee, four main ways forward. We highly recommend that a combination of these solutions should be enacted immediately to save the Colombian economy.  Increasing Income Taxes This will increase our revenue, and hence solve the debt crisis. Some of the wealthiest aristocrats currently face low taxation rates. However, increasing taxes on them, or in general, is likely to make local citizens angry. So, if the convention decides to increase income taxes, you must think about how publically acceptable such a solution will be.  Take out funding from the church Church expenditures form a large part of current expenditures. Cutting these expenses will help to soften the blow of the financial crisis greatly. However, this solution, again, may not be politically acceptable by everyone.  Cut Military Expenditures Military expenditures form the largest bulk of revenues, and the cabinet needs to find a way to cut these out if it wants any possibility of avoiding a crisis. The best way to do this would be for the centre and the regions to work together.  Destroy Navy The Navy is also a huge drain on the economy, and it is questionable the extent to which it adds value to the Republic of Colombia. To avoid the crisis, cutting down Navy expenditures may also help.