Panama History: Key Events and Independence Timeline
Panama: A Historical Timeline
1492: Christopher Columbus arrives in America.
16th Century: The Ottoman Empire reaches its peak.
1501: Rodrigo de Bastidas explores the shores of the Isthmus of Panama.
1510: Foundation of Santa Maria la Antigua del Darien.
1513: Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovers the South Sea (Pacific Ocean).
1519: Panama City is founded.
1530: The first cimarron palisade is established.
1543: The heliocentric theory is published.
1597: Portobelo is founded.
1641: The Netherlands seizes the commercial enclave.
1662: French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal dies.
1671: Pirate Henry Morgan destroys Old Panama City.
1673: Panama City is refounded at a new location.
1705: The atmospheric steam engine is invented.
1720: The encomienda system is abolished in America.
1739: Admiral Edward Vernon attacks Portobelo.
1749: Foundation of the University of St. Francis Xavier.
1751: Final disposition of the Royal Audience of Panama.
Early Independence Movements
Following the deposition of King Ferdinand VII, government meetings were convened, attended by José Ortiz and Juan José Joaquín Cabarcas from Panama. They requested a change from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy to benefit the interests of the Panamanian Creole population and the Americas.
With British assistance, Napoleon’s troops were expelled from Spain. This led to:
- New Ideologies: Enlightenment ideas, including the concept of state sovereignty residing in the people, not the king, and limiting the monarch’s powers.
- Trade Monopoly: The Spanish crown’s monopoly greatly limited economic growth possibilities in the provinces, aiming to control American wealth.
- Economic Backwardness: Spanish policies resulted in a considerable lag in the colonies’ economies, hindering their potential despite rich natural and human resources.
- Political Discontent: Creoles desired equal consideration with peninsular Spaniards, seeking participation in government and administration.
Latin American Independence Declarations
Key dates in the independence movements of various Latin American countries:
- August 10, 1809: Ecuador (Colombia)
- July 20, 1810: Colombia
- September 18, 1810: Chile
- May 14, 1811: Paraguay
- July 5, 1811: Venezuela
- November 6, 1813: Mexico
- July 9, 1816: Argentina
- July 28, 1821: Peru
- September 15, 1821: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
- November 28, 1821: Panama
- August 6, 1825: Bolivia
- August 27, 1825: Uruguay
- February 27, 1844: Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo)
- February 24, 1895: Cuba
The Act of Independence of the Villa de Los Santos
The town of Los Santos proclaimed its desire to break away from Spain, stating its desire to live under the republican system that continues throughout Colombia. It emphasized that the town becomes a free city and reiterated the need to notify other towns. The town is considered the first in the isthmus to declare independence.
Signed by: Julio Chavez, Jose Antonio Moreno, Jose Maria Rivers, Jose Antonio Salty.
First Articles of Independence
The first article establishes the independence and political regime that the isthmus will follow. These articles provide guidelines to order:
- Support soldiers for independence.
- Provide medical care to the wounded.
- Appoint a head of government (Don Jose Fabrega).
- Deliver the Chagres port and Portobelo to the new government.
The last article emphasizes the need to avoid confrontation with other cities of the isthmus.
Signed by: Jose de Fabrega, Jose Higginio, Juan Jose Martinez, Carlos d Icaza.
First Attempt at Independence (1819)
Date: April 1819
Protagonists: Gregor MacGregor, Jose Elias Lopez Tagle.
Summary: General MacGregor takes Portobelo on April 10th and organizes a civilian Republican government led by Tagle and Jose Joaquin Lopez Vargas.
Outcome: Alejandro Hore, commissioned by Colonel Isidro de Diego, recaptures the city on April 30th.