Should the king refuse the position, the law provided for a member of the House of Bourbon to accede to the New Spain throne. 5 pages, 2376 words. Costa Rica has avoided much of the violence that has plagued Central America. Moreover, he encouraged coffee cultivation by providing free land grants to farmers. Costa Rica as part of the Kingdom of Guatemala became independent of Spain when the captaingeneral of Guatemala proclaimed independence. Juan Mora Fernandez, elected the nation's first chief of state in 1824, initiated the construction of roads and ports and established a judicial system. In 1978, coffee prices dropped, and its revenues declined. The indigeno… In 1821, Costa Rica and several other Central American provinces declared their independence from Spain. An Overview of Costa Rica’s History 1500–1838. Mi Patria, Fascículo #5, "Acta de la Independencia de Costa Rica", José Antonio Lacayo de Briones y Palacios, Greater Nicoya Culture - Precolumbian culture of Costa Rica and Nicaragua Nicoya, "A Brief History of Costa Rica: Colonial Times", "YFU Costa Rica - Democracy in Costa Rica", History of the Republic of Costa Rica from "Costa Rica Handbook" by Christopher Baker, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Costa_Rica&oldid=992539727, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles with disputed statements from January 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Gudmundson, Lowell. Pre-Spanish Times Before the arrival of the Spanish, and for some time afterwards, the area compromising Costa Rica was home to various tribes of Mesoamericans, although in other areas, Andean and Caribean influences were shown that other parts of Costa Rica were inhabited by culturally distinct Amerindians. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (. Before he and other Europeans came around, the original inhabitants had never developed urbanized civilizations, leaving them susceptible to foreign environmental factors. 1365 Words 6 Pages. The golden bands that the region's Carib Indians wore as earrings and nose rings inspired the crew to name the country Costa Rica, meaning Rich Coast. It was here all along and Costa Rica discovered Europeans in 1502! [7], During most of the colonial period, Costa Rica was the southernmost province of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, which was nominally part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (i.e., Mexico). Costa Rica is facing problems of underemployment, foreign and internal debt, and a trade deficiency.[3]. History of Costa Rica. In 1949, four … Also, he encouraged coffee cultivation by providing free land  grants  to farmers. History of Costa Rica – Minor C. Keith Henry Meiggs built the railroads of Chile and Peru and he started in 1870 the railroads in Costa Rica, with his nephews Minor, Michael and Henry Cooper Keith as his representatives. The oldest evidence of human occupation in Costa Rica is associated with the arrival of groups of hunter-gatherers about 10,000 to 7,000 years BC, with ancient archaeological evidence (stone tool making) located in the Turrialba Valley, at sites called Guardiria and Florence, with matching quarry and workshop areas with presence of type clovis spearheads and South American inspired arrows. Other articles where History of Costa Rica is discussed: Costa Rica: History: In 1502 Christopher Columbus’s fourth Atlantic voyage brought him to the shores of Costa Rica, where he remained for 18 days refitting his ships. Moreover, he encouraged coffee cultivation by providing free land grants to farmers. Costa Rica joined the other Central American Intendancies in a joint declaration of independence from Spain, the 1821 Act of Independence. Well, that may please Spanish historians, but it is not actually what happened in this episode of Costa Ricahistory. Juan Mora Fernandez, elected the nation's first chief of state in 1824, initiated the construction of roads and ports and established a judicial system. Limon was quickly abandoned in favor of the Central Valley, however, partially due to the heat and humidity. In the years soon after European encounter, many of the people died due to infectious diseases, such as measles and smallpox, which were endemic among the Europeans but to which they had no immunity. "Pre-Columbian agriculture, fire, and Spanish contact: a 4200-year record from Laguna Los Mangos, Costa Rica. After landing in Nicaragua, he proclaimed himself as president of Nicaragua and re-instated slavery, which had been abolished. His progressive administration expanded their public education. When Columbus … Brief History of Costa Rica: Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot in Costa Rica. Since the late nineteenth century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its republican development. A new constitution was adopted and elections have since been free and fair. In 1948, José Figueres Ferrer led an armed uprising in the wake of a disputed presidential election. In 1824 the capital was moved to San José. A brief review The history of Costa Rica is a triumph of peace over hostility, due to the tranquil atmosphere of this country Studies in Costa Rica confirmed that many civilizations have settled in this region for 10,000 years after the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. This prevented the establishment of large haciendas. Before the Panama Canal opened, ships from Europe had to sail around Cape Horn in order to get to the Pacific Coast. They had left the United States largely because they were not happy with their taxes supporting the growing military complex in the United States nor did they want to live in a society that profited from war. In the last twenty years, eco-tourism and technology have taken off and become top-earning industries in the country. Relations with the native people became friendly enough that they brought him a number of items of gold, possibly prompting… The first settlers had to adapt to hunting smaller animals and develop appropriate strategies to adjust to the new conditions. Although poverty has declined since the turn of the 21st century, economic problems still exist. [5], The indigenous people have influenced modern Costa Rican culture to a relatively small degree. In 1917, Federico Tinoco overthrew the elected president, Alfredo Gonzalez. The golden bands that the region's Carib Indians wore as earrings and nose rings inspired the crew to name the country Costa Rica, meaning Rich Coast. ", Shin, Gi-Wook, and Gary Hytrek. Oxen and oxcarts were essential for transporting goods, such as … "Creating Ecotourism in Costa Rica, 1970–2000. Uncovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, Costa Rica came about as a result of the Spanish Conquest. The Intendancies took the new name of States. ", Mount, Graeme S. "Costa Rica and the Cold War, 1948–1990. Juan Mora Fernandez, elected the nation’s first chief of state in 1824, initiated the construction of roads and ports and established a judicial system. The United States has worked closely with the country to address challenges in Central America and to advance shared values, such as democracy and human rights, worldwide. The Nicoya culture was the largest cacicazgo on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The country boasts a high literacy rate, a large middle class and a stable government that has functioned without an army for more than 60 years. In practice it operated as a largely autonomous entity within the Spanish Empire. The new railroad helped boost the coffee industry and the steady rise in coffee exports resulted in a wealthy upper class and a prosperous Costa Rican economy. Costa Rica's major source of export income is technology-based. I Costa Rica: Brief History on the Political System Colonization in Costa Rica goes back to at least 5000 B.C., but in comparison to great pre-Spanish civilizations of the American Continent, Costa Rican indigenous inhabitants were not numerous nor did they achieve great development. Independence from Spain was acknowledged and ratified on October 29, 1821 by the colonial authorities. "[15] The victorious junta drafted a constitution guaranteeing free elections with universal suffrage and the abolition of the military. In the close presidential election of 1948, Rafael Calderon fraudulently claimed victory over Otilio Ulate. Its population was small and it was far less important than the other Spanish colonies. Several notable company’s have opened a branch in Costa Rica including Microsoft, Motorola, Intel, and others. For the next 300 years, Costa Rica was a colony of Spain. Costa Rican history is a bit different from the history of other nearby Spanish countries. In 1843, the country established a trade route to Europe with the help of William Le Lacheur, a Guernsey merchant and shipowner. [1] The central and southern portions of the country belonged to the Isthmo-Colombian cultural area with strong Muisca influences, as these were part of territories occupied predominantly by speakers of the Chibchan languages. However it lacked gold. "With more than 2,000 dead, the 44-day Costa Rican Civil War resulting from this uprising was the bloodiest event in twentieth-century Costa Rican history. In 1856, Costa Rica resisted United States settlers from mounting a take-over of the government. This was significant in that it would unite the coffee-growing Central Valley with the Caribbean port of Limon. It was then ratified in the cities of San José on November 1, 1821, at Cartago on November 3rd, 1821, at Heredia on November 11, 1821, and Alajuela on November 25, 1821.[12]. Costa Rica’s Civil War . On 5 April 1823 the Battle of Ochomogo was fought between forces from Cartago who wanted to join the Mexican Empire and those who preferred to remain independent. There were many ideas on what to do upon gaining independence, such as joining Mexico, joining Guatemala or Nueva Granada (today Colombia). Costa Ricans enjoy a high standard of living, and land ownership is widespread. Juan Mora Fernandez was elected the country's first head of state in 1824. Filed Under: Term Papers. Throughout its history Costa rica was treated like this because costa … In 1563 the city of Cartago became the first permanent settlement in … Costa rica did not receive much attention from spain because most of spain’s attention was on Guatemala and not on costa rica. Brief History Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica in 1502, gave it the name "Rich Coast" Independence was granted in Costa Rica on September 15,1821 Coffee beans brought its weath It is developing rapidly -population is 4.8 million Its army was abolished in 1948 4 Major indigenous tribes: Caribs, Borucas, Terrabas, Chorotegas Culture Official language: Spanish… Today most Central American countries are still in a state of turmoil with the exception of Costa Rica. Brief History of Costa Rica Back before Columbus discovered the “New World,“ what was to become Costa Rica was very different from its neighboring regions. Today, Costa Rica is a democracy that relies on technology and eco-tourism for its economy. A brief civil war in 1823 was won by San Jose and Costa Rica joined the confederation. Following the Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821), Costa Rica became part of the independent Mexican Empire in 1821. [11] The Spanish conquest of Costa Rica lasted more than half a century after it started 1510. Ferdinand VII did not recognize the colony's independence and said that Spain would not allow any other European prince to take the throne of New Spain. It is a Spanish speaking country that is today one of the most sought after tourist destinations. © 1996-2020 costarica.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Juan Mora Fernandez, elected the nation's first chief of state in 1824, initiated the construction of roads and ports and established a judicial system. They had created a sophisticated society. Costa Rica History Review. These became extinct about 8,000 years before the modern era. After the declaration of independence, the New Spain parliament intended to establish a commonwealth whereby the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, would also be Emperor of New Spain, but in which both countries were to be governed by separate laws and with their own legislative offices. H uman habitation can be traced back more than 10,000 years but it appears Costa Rica was sparsely populated and a relative backwater in the pre-Columbian era. In 1824, they initiated the construction of ports and roads and established a judicial system. The first evidence of human settlement in Costa Rica comes from around 10,000BC (12,000 years ago). Since then Costa Rica has been one of the few democracies to operate without a standing army. Most Costa Ricans, as well as the United States, opposed Tinoco's overthrow, and he was deposed in 1919. Jose Ferrer, a supporter of Ulate, assumed presidency for 18 months before deferring to Ulate. In 1823, a revolution in Mexico ousted Emperor Agustín de Iturbide. It was a poor, isolated, and sparsely inhabited region within the Spanish Empire. The first indigenous peoples of Costa Rica were hunters and gatherers, and when the Spanish conquerors arrived, Costa Rica was divided in two distinct cultural areas due to its geographical location in the Intermediate Area, between Mesoamerican and the Andean cultures, with influences of both cultures.[1][2]. [8] a Spanish governor in 1719 described Costa Rica as "the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all America." Tourism is growing at an accelerated pace, and many believe that income from this tourism may soon become the major contributor to the nation's GDP. [11] The genocidal enslavement of the indigenous societies of Nicoya on the Pacific North coast was the conquest's first stage. In 1502 when Christopher Columbus landed in Puerto Limon, less than 20 indigenous tribes occupied the lands which are now Costa Rica. Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. The Republicans won and the capital was moved from Cartago to San José. The oxcart was one of the main modes of transport between 1850 and 1935. His progressive administration expanded public education and encouraged the cultivation of coffee with land grants for growers. As Costa Rica began to develop, these few families rich in land soon became some of the wealthiest in the country. The country went from being "an economic development success story" to entering a severe socio-economic crisis. Costa Rica was part of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1813, before gaining full independence in 1821. Numerous subsequent Spanish expeditions followed, eventually leading to the first Spanish colony in Costa Rica, Villa Bruselas [es], founded in 1524. They were organized in family-based bands of about 20 to 30 members. Costa Rica is a Central American republic that is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, Caribbean Sea to the east and Pacific Ocean to the west. Cartago remained a provincial capital of colonial Spain for nearly two and a half centuries. Costa Rica relied on the exportation of bananas and coffee. Initial attempts to colonize coastal areas were unsuccessful due to the extreme heat, dense jungle and diseases such as Dengue fever and malaria. However, it was not always so. A Brief History of Costa Rica . [11][disputed – discuss]. Sadly, … [1][2], The northwest of the country, the Nicoya Peninsula, was the southernmost point of Mesoamerican cultural influence when the Spanish conquerors came in the sixteenth century. Its second phase began with fruitless attempts to consolidate a Spanish settlement on the country's Caribbean side. Local companies create and export software as well as other computer-related products. The people of this era were nomadic. An Overview of Costa Rica’s History 1500–1838. Costa Rica's economy went under a transformation in 1978. Colonists finally settled in the cooler, central highlands of Cartago in 1563. [9], Many historians say that the area suffered a lack of indigenous population available for forced labor, which meant that most of the Costa Rican settlers had to work their own land. The American Revolution, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars in Europe were shakingup most of the Spanish colonies in America but not Costa Rica. A Brief History Of Costa Rica. That’s far earlier than originally thought. Soon after, his forces overcame the indigenous people. They were skilled in the art of ceramics, metal work,weaving, and stone carvings. Costa Rica was part of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1813, before gaining full independence in 1821. Costa Rica's distance from the capital in Guatemala, its legal prohibition under Spanish law against trading with its southern neighbors in Panama, then part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (i.e., Colombia), and the lack of resources such as gold and silver, resulted in Costa Rica attracting few inhabitants. The territory of the Mexican Empire included the continental intendancies and provinces of New Spain proper (including those of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala) (See: History of Central America). However on 18 September 1502 Christopher Columbus sighted Costa Rica. The provincial capital was situated in Cartago, which is at the base of the Irazu Volcano. Before he and other Europeans came around, the original inhabitants had never developed urbanized civilizations, leaving them susceptible to foreign environmental factors. Indeed, the 12,000-year-old settlements found in 2016 by the Reventazon River are the oldest evidence of human life … Obstacles such as pirates, weather, disease from mosquitoes, and unfriendly natives prevented permanent settlements for some years. The first attempts to settle Costa Rica were difficult. A new Mexican congress voted to allow the Central American Intendancies to decide their own fate. There is little sign of major communities and none of the impressive stone architecture that characterized the more advanced civilizations of Mesoamerica to the north and the Andes to the south. The Mexican Empire was the official name given to this monarchical regime from 1821 to 1823. Hall, Carolyn, Héctor Pérez Brignoli, and John V. Cotter. This trade ultimately opened doors to European influences as doctors, artisans and naturalists from Europe immigrated to Costa Rica in the 1850’s. [6], The colonial period began when Christopher Columbus reached the eastern coast of Costa Rica on his fourth voyage on September 18, 1502. [13] He intended to expand into Costa Rica and after he entered that territory, the country declared war against his forces. Violent uprising of Indians in Talamanca region, 1709 CE. In order to help improve the economy, President Rodrigo Carazo continued to borrow money internationally. The Costa Rican farmers hadthe more important concern of raising crops to occupy their attention. [16] The nation has held 16 successive presidential elections, all peaceful, the latest being in 2018. Within these soaring mountains and dense mystical rain forests lived small non unified groups of Indians with diverse language and culture. Costa Rica already existed. By request of Parliament, the president of the regency, Agustín de Iturbide, was proclaimed emperor of New Spain, which was renamed Mexico. 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