The War of a Thousand Days: A Turning Point in Colombian History

The Thousand Days' War, lasting from October 17, 1899, to November 21, 1902, was considered the most devastating conflict in Colombia's history. It involved intense and constant confrontations between the Nationalist/Conservative army and the Liberal guerrillas, resulting in a country ravaged socially, economically, and politically.

The Thousand Days' War marked a transition from the violent 19th century with numerous civil wars to the conservative dominance of the 20th century, characterized by an artificial peace lasting until 1930.

Before the outbreak of the Thousand Days' War, Colombia had experienced several civil wars, including conflicts between Bolivarians and Tanderistas, as well as Liberals and Conservatives. These conflicts stemmed from differing ideologies on political power, federalism, centralism, economic models, and the role of the Catholic Church.

The Olimpo Radical period, lasting until 1886, was characterized by radical liberal governance aimed at modernizing Colombian society politically, socially, and culturally. The period ended with the death of Manuel Murillo Toro, a key political figure, and the rise of Rafael Núñez, who transitioned Colombia into a new era.

In 1886, Rafael Núñez's victory in the civil war led to the establishment of a new constitution that abolished the Federal system, transforming the United States of Colombia into the Republic of Colombia. This marked the beginning of a new era known as the Generation of 1886.

In the late 19th century, Colombia faced political turmoil with a centralized government and the Catholic Church holding significant privileges. This led to discontent among many rulers, causing economic instability and polarization within political parties.

Within political parties, conservatives were split between nationalists, who opposed any compromise with liberals, and historical conservatives, who advocated for press freedom and individual rights. Liberals were divided between those favoring political means to power and those supporting armed struggle against the government.

Conservatives leaned towards centralization and limited voting rights with privileges for the church, while liberals sought regional empowerment, universal suffrage, and separation of church and state. This ideological divide extended to economic policies, with liberals supporting a market economy and nationalists favoring protectionism.

After the victory of nationalist conservatives in 1895, a harsh persecution of liberal sympathizers ensued. Attempts by liberal factions to negotiate reforms for democratization were ignored, leading to their marginalization and eventual weakening.

The 19th-century Colombian elections were marred by allegations of fraud, favoring nationalist conservatives. Social unrest escalated due to wealth concentration, poverty among the working class, lack of labor rights, and a declining coffee market. This discontent fueled liberal support and set the stage for impending conflict.

The liberal rebellion, fueled by economic distress, primarily recruited young artisans, farmworkers, miners, mestizos, indigenous people, and Afro-Colombians. Despite their lack of literacy and military training, they joined the rebel groups in the north of Santander department, marking the prelude to the impending war.

The majority of the population in Colombia had little or no military training. In contrast, the National Army, along with its followers in central Antioquia, northern Cauca, and southern Tolima, had around 1,000 well-armed and trained soldiers due to their experience in previous civil wars. The government army had to forcibly recruit soldiers from the lower classes, as there was a known lack of respect from officers towards soldiers, often leading to their sacrifice.

The government army in Colombia had access to supplies through the port of Barranquilla, including weapons, ammunition, mules, horses, cattle, sugar cane, corn, and textiles. To finance the army, taxes on liquor, property ownership, and extraordinary contributions were imposed. Additionally, the government extended the construction concession of the Panama Canal to the French company New Panama, securing external credit for the government.

The Thousand Days' War began on October 17, 1899, with armed uprisings by liberals in Colombia. Surprisingly, conservatives suffered defeats as rebels took control of most of Santander department. The government responded by declaring martial law. A significant turning point occurred in the Battle of Los Obispos on the Magdalena River, where conservatives destroyed the rebel fleet. Despite liberal victories in Cúcuta and Peralonso, a surprise offensive in Panama led to brutal defeats for the liberals, notably in the Battle of Palonegro.

After two weeks of intense fighting near Santander, the liberals were decisively defeated in the Battle of Palonegro, with around 3,000 casualties. This defeat significantly reduced liberal ambitions, although they continued to resist. A coup in July 1900 led to the overthrow of President San Clemente, with Vice President Marroquín assuming power with the support of some conservative factions.

Despite the change in leadership, the war persisted as liberals regrouped into guerrilla forces. The conflict entered its second phase, with the liberals adapting to the new political landscape. The Thousand Days' War was far from over, as both sides remained entrenched in the struggle for power and control in Colombia.

General liberal Rafael Uribe found himself in a desperate situation as he intended to continue the fight against the government forces but realized the need for external support in terms of supplies, men, and weapons. He sought help from Venezuela, which became a safe haven for many liberals who had fled Colombia.

Venezuela, under President Cipriano Castro, supported the liberal cause, leading to frequent attacks from Venezuelan territory on Colombian soil. This support provided a base for many liberals who had to escape from Colombia, with campaigns initiated from Venezuela targeting regions like Magdalena.

The Colombian government extended support to Venezuelan conservatives to overthrow President Castro, who promised to sever ties with Uribe's liberals. This support resulted in the practical defeat of the liberals, despite Uribe's refusal to accept peace proposals.

The economic impact of the guerrilla war was severe, leading to decreased exports due to labor shortages, transportation disruptions, thefts, and confiscations. The massive issuance of currency caused a depreciation of the Colombian currency in the foreign market, prompting the emergence of specialized financiers for currency speculation.

In response to the social chaos caused by the war, the government issued a decree offering amnesty and personal guarantees to rebels who surrendered by a specified date. However, few rebels surrendered, leading to continued resistance and the emergence of groups exploiting the insecurity for personal gain.

In Panama, liberal officer Benjamín Herrera formed a well-equipped and disciplined army to resist the government forces. Concentrating his troops in David and Aguadulce, Herrera strategically positioned them to impede the arrival of government troops, arms, and ammunition, leading to an inevitable defeat of the conservative army in Aguadulce.

Uribe Uribe advanced with his columns in Colombia in September 1902 to organize combat units in Magdalena. However, his efforts did not progress, leading him to surrender and effectively ending the war.

The United States also intervened in Panama, ensuring the security of the isthmus through the Mallarino-Bidlack Treaty signed on December 12, 1846. This treaty included commercial concessions and provisions for the strategic importance of Panama in maritime trade.

The Treaty of Neerlandia, signed on October 24, 1902, marked a turning point as rebels in the isthmus realized they would lack allies. This led to the acceptance of a peace proposal by Herrera, ending the conflict with provisions for troops in Panama and the entire country.

Various peace treaties were signed, including the Treaty of Neerlandia recognizing revolutionaries as belligerents and offering guarantees of peace. The Treaty of Wisconsin ensured the immediate release of prisoners of war, amnesty, and new elections to address political, financial, and canal-related issues.

The Treaty of Chinacota, signed between Ramón González Valencia and liberal representatives, welcomed remaining revolutionaries in Santander. Despite these treaties, the intervention of the United States led to the separation of Panama from Colombia in November 1903.

In 1885, the church, led by Monsignor Herrera, made a national vow for peace in Colombia. President Marroquín was asked to help build a symbolic church in Bogotá, near the Martyrs Park, to represent the nation's plea against armed conflict. This event led to the construction of a church as a national symbol of peace.

Following the civil war, Colombia faced severe economic challenges. Industries were destroyed, communication routes were disrupted, and the country had significant external and internal debts. This period necessitated substantial adjustments to initiate a sustained reconstruction process.

Estimates vary, with some authors suggesting between 80,000 to 100,000 deaths in a population of less than 4 million. Others propose a maximum of 11,000 casualties. The aftermath left a devastating impact on men, women, and children who were called to war, only to face a bleak reality post-conflict.

The aftermath of the war left a bitter legacy, with factions resuming hostilities in the 1930s, marking the end of conservative hegemony. The conflict continued with increasingly dramatic events, overshadowing the war of the thousand days, which was nearly forgotten for a long time.

Despite being overshadowed by subsequent events, the war of the thousand days is now studied extensively to comprehend its role in Colombian history. It symbolizes a Colombian identity where the taste of gunpowder intertwines with that of coffee, leaving a bitter taste and a clear realization that violence must be eradicated before it consumes humanity.