In 1821 of the Costa Rica History, Costa Rica and other provinces in the Central America declared their independence from Spain. 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. 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… In the mid 16th century the Spanish gradually conquered Costa Rica. "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. Costa Rica was part of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1813, before gaining full independence in 1821. Filed Under: Term Papers. Economic and social reforms since 1948 have enabled the country to remain stable. In 1824 the capital was moved to San José. In the process, Spaniards reduced the indigenous population to the point of extinction through disease, war, reprisals, relocation and brutal exploitation. Indeed, the 12,000-year-old settlements found in 2016 by the Reventazon River are the oldest evidence of human life … Costa Rica’s history starts with the movement of tribes southwards from North America during the last Ice Age between 13,000 and 17,000 years ago. Before he and other Europeans came around, the original inhabitants had never developed urbanized civilizations, leaving them susceptible to foreign environmental factors. Cartago remained a provincial capital of colonial Spain for nearly two and a half centuries. Costa Rica's major source of export income is technology-based. The cultivation of coffee would transform Costa Rica in the nineteenth century. Costa Ricans enjoy a high standard of living, and land ownership is widespread. Costa Rica gained its full independence in 1838, and in 1869 held its first “free and honest” election. 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 1856, Costa Rica resisted United States settlers from mounting a take-over of the government. After 1869, Costa Rica established a democratic government. Numerous subsequent Spanish expeditions followed, eventually leading to the first Spanish colony in Costa Rica, Villa Bruselas [es], founded in 1524. Sadly, … In 1948, José Figueres Ferrer led an armed uprising in the wake of a disputed presidential election. Costa rica did not receive much attention from spain because most of spain’s attention was on Guatemala and not on costa rica. Obstacles such as pirates, weather, disease from mosquitoes, and unfriendly natives prevented permanent settlements for some years. A brief history of Costa Rica: Like all the other countries in the region, Costa Rica was ‘discovered’ by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Countries in Central America have long been associated with poor economies. The United Provinces federation, not strongly united to begin with, rapidly disintegrated under the pressures of intra-provincial rivalries. A brief civil war in 1823 was won by San Jose and Costa Rica joined the confederation. In Pre-Columbian times, the native peoples in what is now Costa Rica were divided in two cultural areas due to its geographical location in the Intermediate Area, between the Mesoamerican and the Andean cultural regions. Figueres became a national hero, winning the first election under the new constitution in 1953. ", Mount, Graeme S. "Costa Rica and the Cold War, 1948–1990. Violent uprising of Indians in Talamanca region, 1709 CE. 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. A new constitution was adopted and elections have since been free and fair. An era of peaceful democracy in Costa Rica began in 1869 with elections. The Native American population stood at about 120,000 in 1569 and had fallen to 10,000 by 1611. In 1821, Costa Rica and several other Central American provinces  declared their independence from Spain. ", Jones, Geoffrey, and Andrew Spadafora. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (. 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. At this time, only a few families owned sizable properties. [8] a Spanish governor in 1719 described Costa Rica as "the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all America." That year, the United Provinces of Central America was formed of the five Central American Intendancies under General Manuel José Arce. As the story goes, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island located by Limon in 1502, and “discovered” Costa Rica. Oxen and oxcarts were essential for transporting goods, such as … Christopher Columbus arrived and settled in Costa Rica in the year 1522. Moreover, he encouraged coffee cultivation by providing free land grants to farmers. When Columbus … "Pre-Columbian agriculture, fire, and Spanish contact: a 4200-year record from Laguna Los Mangos, Costa Rica. Well, that may please Spanish historians, but it is not actually what happened in this episode of Costa Ricahistory. Traditional agriculture, particularly coffee and bananas, continues to be an important part of Costa Rica's exports. This prevented the establishment of large haciendas. In 1563 the city of Cartago became the first permanent settlement in … 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. In the close presidential election of 1948, Rafael Calderon fraudulently claimed victory over Otilio Ulate. 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. Figueres was instrumental in training and equipping the so-called "Caribbean Legion," whose stated aim was to establish true democracy first in Costa Rica, then in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, at the time ruled by dictators Anastasio Somoza and Rafael Trujillo respectively. 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. The Costa Rican farmers hadthe more important concern of raising crops to occupy their attention. The Mexican Empire was the official name given to this monarchical regime from 1821 to 1823. Here we have a brief history of Costa Rica and Los Sueños. ", This page was last edited on 5 December 2020, at 20:19. Moreover, he encouraged coffee cultivation by providing free land grants to farmers. As a result, Costa Rica's culture has been greatly influenced by the culture of Spain. However on 18 September 1502 Christopher Columbus sighted Costa Rica. It was in 1502 during his last trip to the Americas. Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. [5], The indigenous people have influenced modern Costa Rican culture to a relatively small degree. [11][disputed – discuss]. The Republicans won and the capital was moved from Cartago to San José. In 1978, coffee prices dropped, and its revenues declined. The small landowners' relative poverty, the lack of a large indigenous labor force, the population's ethnic and linguistic homogeneity, and Costa Rica's isolation from the Spanish colonial centers in Mexico and the Andes, all contributed to the development of an autonomous and individualistic agrarian society. By request of Parliament, the president of the regency, Agustín de Iturbide, was proclaimed emperor of New Spain, which was renamed Mexico. In 1821, Costa Rica and several other Central American provinces  declared  their independence from Spain. [11] The genocidal enslavement of the indigenous societies of Nicoya on the Pacific North coast was the conquest's first stage. Following the Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821), Costa Rica became part of the independent Mexican Empire in 1821. The dispute precipitated a six-week civil war, resulting in over 2000 deaths. Uncovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, Costa Rica came about as a result of the Spanish Conquest. The oxcart and boyeros (oxcart drivers) hold a special place in Costa Rican history and culture. Following full independence in 1838, Costa Rica had no regular trade routes established to export their coffee to European markets. The indigeno… Microsoft, Motorola, Intel and other technology-related firms have established operations in Costa Rica. They were skilled in the art of ceramics, metal work,weaving, and stone carvings. His progressive administration expanded public education and encouraged the cultivation of coffee with land grants for growers. In practice it operated as a largely autonomous entity within the Spanish Empire. 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. In 1502, Christopher Columbus arrived at Limon being lost. Once the Viceroy was defeated in the capital city—today Mexico City—in 1821, the news of independence was sent to all the territories of New Spain, including the Intendencies of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala. 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). Several notable company’s have opened a branch in Costa Rica including Microsoft, Motorola, Intel, and others. ", Shin, Gi-Wook, and Gary Hytrek. Costa Rican forces followed the filibusters into Rivas, Nicaragua, where in a final battle, William Walker and his forces were finally pushed back. Soon after Mexico declared independence GeneralIrtubide was declared emperor of Me… He is today remembered as a national hero.[14]. The country went from being "an economic development success story" to entering a severe socio-economic crisis. Costa Rica is facing problems of underemployment, foreign and internal debt, and a trade deficiency.[3]. Before the Panama Canal opened, ships from Europe had to sail around Cape Horn in order to get to the Pacific Coast. Within these soaring mountains and dense mystical rain forests lived small non unified groups of Indians with diverse language and culture. Costa Rica’s Civil War . Should the king refuse the position, the law provided for a member of the House of Bourbon to accede to the New Spain throne. Its economy struggled due to lack of connections with European suppliers. [10] The failure to build a colonial society based on indigenous and slave labor led to a peasant economy in the 1700s. The first settlers had to adapt to hunting smaller animals and develop appropriate strategies to adjust to the new conditions. The first attempts to settle Costa Rica were difficult. 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. 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. Costa Rica joined the other Central American Intendancies in a joint declaration of independence from Spain, the 1821 Act of Independence. We manage everything from your arrival to your departure and ensure your vacation is the most rewarding ... Top Six Extra Things to Pack on Your Next Trip Abroad, Ten Things to do on the beach in Manuel Antonio, High speeds, high waves, high in the air over Manuel Antonio, In-shore fishing off the coast of Manuel Antonio, Protecting the kinkajous in Manuel Antonio, The Top 5 Reasons I love living in Tamarindo, Naturalized Costa Rican Citizenship by Marriage. Juan Mora Fernandez was elected the country's first head of state in 1824. It was founded in 1951 by a group of the Religious Society of Friends (also known as Quakers) who came from Fairhope, Alabama to Costa Rica in search of land that could support farming. Since then Costa Rica has been one of the few democracies to operate without a standing army. 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. A Brief History Of Costa Rica; A Brief History Of Costa Rica. Johanson, Erik N., Sally P. Horn, and Chad S. Lane. Brief History of Costa Rica. [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. Limon was quickly abandoned in favor of the Central Valley, however, partially due to the heat and humidity. 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. Human 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. Costa Rica's economy went under a transformation in 1978. "Creating Ecotourism in Costa Rica, 1970–2000. In 1821, Costa Rica and several other Central American provinces declared their independence from Spain. In 1917, Federico Tinoco overthrew the elected president, Alfredo Gonzalez. In 1917–19, Federico Tinoco Granados ruled as a dictator. Costa Ricans (Spanish: Costarricenses), also called Ticos, are a group of people from a multiethnic Spanish-speaking nation in Central America called Costa Rica.Costa Ricans are predominantly castizos (halfway between white and mestizo), whites and mestizo, but their country is considered a multiethnic society, which means that it is home to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. While large-scale colonization was rampant in other Central American countries, few Spanish colonists claimed lands in Costa Rica due to the lack of mineral wealth (gold and silver) and an abundant Indian population to work the land. They had created a sophisticated society. This trade ultimately opened doors to European influences as doctors, artisans and naturalists from Europe immigrated to Costa Rica in the 1850’s. 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. Costa Rican history is a bit different from the history of other nearby Spanish countries. An Overview of Costa Rica’s History 1500–1838. Before he and other Europeans came around, the original inhabitants had never developed urbanized civilizations, leaving them susceptible to foreign environmental factors. In 1821, Costa Rica and several other Central American provinces declared their independence from Spain. It was here all along and Costa Rica discovered Europeans in 1502! However it lacked gold. Uncovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, Costa Rica came about as a result of the Spanish Conquest. Furthermore the indigenous population was devastated by European diseases to which they h… Even the Governor had to farm his own crops and tend to his own garden due to his poverty. After landing in Nicaragua, he proclaimed himself as president of Nicaragua and re-instated slavery, which had been abolished. This was significant in that it would unite the coffee-growing Central Valley with the Caribbean port of Limon. The cultivation of coffee would transform Costa … His progressive administration expanded their public education. For all these reasons Costa Rica was by and large unappreciated and overlooked by the Spanish Crown and left to develop on its own. Independence from Spain was acknowledged and ratified on October 29, 1821 by the colonial authorities. Throughout its history Costa rica was treated like this because costa … Today, Costa Rica relies and has excelled on its technology and eco-tourism. This led the country into further debt.[17]. Costa Rica already existed. The oxcart was one of the main modes of transport between 1850 and 1935. [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. As you will see, this is a difference that continues all the way to modern times. In 1823, a revolution in Mexico ousted Emperor Agustín de Iturbide. Lack of infrastructure caused problems in transportation: the coffee-growing areas were mainly in the Central Valley and had access only to the port of Puntarenas on the Pacific coast. [6], The colonial period began when Christopher Columbus reached the eastern coast of Costa Rica on his fourth voyage on September 18, 1502. Jose Ferrer, a supporter of Ulate, assumed presidency for 18 months before deferring to Ulate. Led by Commander in Chief of the Army of Costa Rica, President Juan Rafael Mora Porras, the filibusters were defeated and forced out of the country. It is a Spanish speaking country that is today one of the most sought after tourist destinations. 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. Once a largely agricultural country, Costa Rica has transformed to relying on technology industry and services, and eco-tourism. [11], During the time of conquest, as many as twenty distinct indigenous societies, numbering in the hundreds of thousands and speaking many different languages, inhabited the area. The first evidence of human settlement in Costa Rica comes from around 10,000BC (12,000 years ago). Today, Costa Rica is a democracy that relies on technology and eco-tourism for its economy. Brief history of Costa Rica: COSTA RICA’S FIRST PEOPLE. As most of the native population had perished, the settlers worked the land themselves and became small land owners. These countries have been plagued by crime, corruption and war for decades if not centuries. In the early 19th century, Napoleon's occupation of Spain led to the outbreak of revolts all across Spanish America. With the arrival of new settlers came along diseases which wiped out almost all the native population of the country. 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. Costa Rica as part of the Kingdom of Guatemala became independent of Spain when the captaingeneral of Guatemala proclaimed independence. History of Costa Rica. costa Rica history is different in that costa rica did not enjoy the same development as other countries that surround costa rica. 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. [16] The nation has held 16 successive presidential elections, all peaceful, the latest being in 2018. In 1979, the price of oil, a main imported item, increased sharply and rapidly, plunging the country into crisis. Sadly, … 5 pages, 2376 words. "Black into white in nineteenth century Spanish America: Afro‐American assimilation in Argentina and Costa Rica.". For the next 300 years, Costa Rica was a colony of Spain. The project was funded by a tax over each bag of coffee exported and all the lumber around the railroad. They were organized in family-based bands of about 20 to 30 members. Its population was small and it was far less important than the other Spanish colonies. 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. Costa Rica still has a large agricultural sector including coffee, banana, pineapple and sugar exports. Costa Rica relied on the exportation of bananas and coffee. 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. However, it was not always so. The Intendancies took the new name of States. Here we have a brief history of Costa Rica and Los Sueños. Since the late nineteenth century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its republican development. In 1843, the country established a trade route to Europe with the help of William Le Lacheur, a Guernsey merchant and shipowner. 1365 Words 6 Pages. This began a trend that continued until today. Although poverty has declined since the turn of the 21st century, economic problems still exist. On October 13, 1821 the documents arrived at Cartago, and an emergency meeting was called upon by Governor Juan Manuel de Cañas [es]. Costa Rica History Review. Today most Central American countries are still in a state of turmoil with the exception of Costa Rica. 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. [2][4] The Diquis culture flourished from 700 CE to 1530 CE and were well known for their crafts in metal and stonework. [13] He intended to expand into Costa Rica and after he entered that territory, the country declared war against his forces. [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 was part of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1813, before gaining full independence in 1821. A Brief History of Costa Rica. One of the first and best ecotourism destinations in the world was founded in the early 1950's by 44 Friends from the U.S.A who were seeking a … In the last twenty years, eco-tourism and technology have taken off and become top-earning industries in the country. After 1869, Costa Rica established a democratic government. 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]. © 1996-2020 costarica.com, Inc. All rights reserved. A Brief History Of Costa Rica. Moreover, he encouraged coffee cultivation by providing free land grants to farmers. The people of this era were nomadic. "[15] The victorious junta drafted a constitution guaranteeing free elections with universal suffrage and the abolition of the military. To support the coffee trade, an oxcart path was built from the fertile Central Valley, where most of the coffee was being grown, to the Caribbean coast for direct export to Europe. [11] The Spanish conquest of Costa Rica lasted more than half a century after it started 1510. 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. An era of peaceful democracy in Costa Rica began in 1899 with elections considered the first truly free and honest ones in the country's history. An Overview of Costa Rica’s History 1500–1838. A group was declared (Junta de Legados), which created the temporary Junta Superior Gubernativa de Costa Rica [es]. [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. In 1856, Costa Rica resisted United States settlers from mounting a take-over of the government. The Nicoya culture was the largest cacicazgo on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. In 1949, four … 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. Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. 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. It was a poor, isolated, and sparsely inhabited region within the Spanish Empire. They hunted and fished, and lived off the land by cultivating corn and yucca. [3], After the Costa Rican Civil War in 1948, the government drafted a new constitution, guaranteeing universal suffrage and the dismantling of the military. Their usual prey animals were called megafauna, such as giant armadillos and sloths, mastodons, etc. Soon after, his forces overcame the indigenous people. As Costa Rica began to develop, these few families rich in land soon became some of the wealthiest in the country. In 1824, they initiated the construction of ports and roads and established a judicial system. In 1502 when Christopher Columbus landed in Puerto Limon, less than 20 indigenous tribes occupied the lands which are now Costa Rica. Relations with the native people became friendly enough that they brought him a number of items of gold, possibly prompting… Costa Rica has avoided much of the violence that has plagued Central America. Hall, Carolyn, Héctor Pérez Brignoli, and John V. Cotter. 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