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Panama The Spillover from Colombia's Civil Strife
During the last half of the nineteenth century, violent clashes
between the supporters of the Liberal and Conservative parties in
Colombia left the isthmus' affairs in constant turmoil. Local selfgovernment for the department of Panama was extended when the
Liberals were in power and withdrawn when the Conservatives
prevailed. The Catholic Church was disestablished under the
Liberals and reestablished under the Conservatives. The fortunes of
local partisans rose and fell abruptly and often violently.
According to one estimate, the period witnessed forty
administrations of the Panamanian department, fifty riots and
rebellions, five attempted secessions, and thirteen interventions
by the United States, acting under the provisions of the BidlackMallarino Treaty. Partisan clashes and foreign intervention
exacerbated racial antagonisms and economic problems and
intensified grievances against the central government of Colombia.
Between 1863 and 1886, the isthmus had twenty-six presidents.
Coups d'état, rebellions, and violence were almost continuous,
staged by troops of the central government, by local citizens
against centrally imposed edicts, and by factions out of power. The
chaotic conditions that had prevailed under the federalist
constitution of 1863 culminated in the 1884 election of Rafael
Nuñez as president of Colombia, supported by a coalition of
moderate Liberals and Conservatives. Nuñez called all factions to
participate in a new constituent assembly, but his request was met
by an armed revolt of the radical Liberals.
Early in 1885, a revolt headed by a radical Liberal general and
centered in Panama City developed into a three-way fight. Colón was
virtually destroyed. United States forces landed at the request of
the Colombian government but were too late to save the city.
Millions of dollars in claims were submitted by companies and
citizens of the United States, France, and Britain, but Colombia
successfully pleaded its lack of responsibility.
Additional United States naval forces occupied both Colón and
Panama City and guarded the railroad to ensure uninterrupted
transit until Colombian forces landed to protect the railroad. The
new constitution of 1886 established the Republic of Colombia as a
unitary state; departments were distinctly subordinate to the
central government, and Panama was singled out as subject to the
direct authority of the government. The United States consul
general reported that three-quarters of the Panamanians wanted
independence from Colombia and would revolt if they could get arms
and be sure of freedom from United States intervention.
Panama was drawn into Colombia's War of a Thousand Days (1899-
1902) by rebellious radical Liberals who had taken refuge in
Nicaragua. Like the rest of Colombia, opinion in Panama was
divided, and revolts in the southwest had hardly been suppressed
when Liberals from Nicaragua invaded the Pacific coastal region and
nearly succeeded in taking Panama City in mid-1900. The fortunes of
war varied, and although a local armistice gave supporters of the
Colombian government temporary security in the Panama-Colón region,
the rebels were in control throughout the isthmus. Meanwhile, by
early 1902 the rebels had been defeated in most of Colombia proper.
At that point, the Colombian government asked the United States to
intercede and bring about an armistice in Panama, which was
arranged aboard the U.S.S. Wisconsin in the Bay of Panama in
1902.
Throughout the period of turmoil, the United States had
retained its interest in building a canal through either Nicaragua
or Panama. An obstacle to this goal was overcome in December 1901
when the United States and Britain signed the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty. This treaty nullified the provisions of the Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty of 1850 and signified British acceptance of a canal
constructed solely by or under the auspices of the United States
with guarantees of neutrality.
Data as of December 1987
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