Figure 1.--The history of many Latin American countries has been strongly affected by specific commodities. Costa Rica owes its name to the gold Columbus saw the Native Americans wearing. The subsequent history of Costa Rica was strongly incluenced by coffee and bananas.

Costa Rica is both a democratic and peaceful country--a rare island of stbility in the turbulent modern history of Central America. Costa Rica was at the time Columbus reached it inhabited by several different Native American with a population of about 0.4 million people. He sailed along the coast on his fourth and last voyage (1502). The Spanish conquest began two decaded later (1524). Settlement proceeded slowly. The country was a backwater in the Soanish Empire. Costa Rica achieved its independence at the same time as Mexico (1821). Some Costa Ricans wanted to join Mexico and for ahort time Costa Rica united with its larger neighbor to the north. Agustín de Iturbide who achieved independence for Mexico attempted to turn it into a monarchy. Costa Rica established an independent republic (1848) and has remained so except for a military dictatorship established by Tomás Guardia (1870-82). Somewhat apart from the general Latin American pattern, the Guardia period was one of progressive reform. The country gradually developed one of the most democratic traditions in Latin America. This was confirmed after a brief civil war after World War II (1948). Óscar Arias Sánchez became president (1986) and played an important role in ending the Nicaraguan and Salvadoran Civil Wars. osta Rica has not even had an army since 1949.

Native Americans

Archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation dateing back more than 10,000 years in Costa Rica. One unique find was thousands of spherical granite balls (bolas ) found along the western (Pacific) coast. They were made in various sizes from that of a cricket ball to a substantial car. Ot is still unclear what the purpose was. The most substantial is a large city complex with elaborate aqueducts found near San Jose. Archeologists have found impressive gold and jade work at a site in the in the southwest (about 1,000 AD). Some archeologists working in the Central Higlands and Nicoya peninsula report finds that suggest contact with the the Mexican Olmec and Nahuatl peoples.

European Discovery and Conquest

Columbus discovered Costa Rica on his fourth and final voyage (1502). Local Carib Native Americans paddeled out to him in their dugout canoes. Gil Gonzalez Davila later referred to the region as Costa Rica (Rich Coast) because of the gold bands the Caribs wore in their noses. At the time of the Spanish discivery and subsequent conquest, there were four Native American tribal groups, some quite small. The Caribs who Columbus encounteted dominated the eastern or Caribbean coast. The Borucas, Chibchas, and Diquis inhabited the outhwest. There may have been a Native population of 0.4 million. The Costa Rican tribes were not the large, sophisticated tribes the Spanish encountrted in Mexico. The conquest became two decades after Columbus' discovery (1524). As the Spanish began to colonize the area, the Native Americans fled or persished as a result of contact with European diseases, especiall smallpox. As a result, few Costa Ricans are of Native American ancestry. Unable to enslave the Native Americans, the Spanish began importing African slaves.

Colonial Era

Costa Rica was a backwater of the Spanish Empire. Without major gold or silver resources, Coasta Rica hld litte interest to the Conquistadores. As a result, settlement occurred at a slow pace. The first major settlement was Cartago founded by Juan Vasquez de Coronado (1562).

Revolution (1821-23)

The Napoleonic War weakened Spain which graually lost its colonies in South America. The revolt against Spain began later in Central America than in South America. Mexico rebelled against Spain (1810), but the rebels made little progress. It looked like Spain would hold on to Mexico this discoraging a movement toward independencevin Central America. The Mexicans did finally achieve independence (1821). At this time Central America also moved toward independence. Some Costa Ricans wanted to join Mexico and for a time Costa Rica was part of Mexico. Agustín de Iturbide who achieved independence for Mexico attempted to establish a monarchy. This resulted, however, in a civil war (1823). The four major cities were split. San Jose and Alajuela suported an independent republic. Heredia and Cartago supported Mexico which was moving toward a monarchy. The republicans prevailed.

Early Independence Period

Juan Mora Fernandez was the new Reoublic's first elected leader (1824). He ininitiated a land reform program and other progressive measures. Costa Rica's principal crop became coffee. A group of important coffee growers referred to as barons became influential. A republic was declared (1848). The coffee barons overthrew President Jose Maria Castro. He was succeeded by Juan Rafael Mora.

William Walker (1850s)

William Walker was a southerner who after the discovery of gold traveled to California (1849). Arriving too lare to find gold, he took up journalism. Like many Southerners, he was obsessed with creating new slave states because of the growing power and influence of the North and increasing abolitionist sentiment. After fighting some duels, he conceived of a grand project of privately conquering regions of Latin America, where he would create additional slave states which would be ruled by white English speaking Americans. These expeditions became known as filibustering or freebooting. His first effort was to seize Baja California and Sonora. He did seize La Paz, but did not have a large enough force to take Sonora. He returned to California where he was arrested by Federal authorities. Filibustering was, however, a popular undertaking and the jury acquited him. Walker then initisted new adventures in Nicaragua and Panama where he had some initial success. From Nicaragua he attempted to seize other Central American countrie, including Costa Rica. President Mora recruited a force of volunteers who drove Walker out of the country. Walker's problem was that his expeditions were a private undertaking. The U.S. Goverment oposed his expeditions making it difficult to recruit and euip a larger force. His last effort was in Homduras. There he ran afoul of the BRitish Royal Navy who had less patience than the American Government. TheBritish turned him over to Honduran authorities. He was then sumarily executed by a firing squad.

General Tomas Guardia (1870-82)

General Tomas Guardia and the Army seized control of the government (1870). Unlike military dictators elsewhere in Latin Smerica, he implemented important progressive reforms in education, military policy, and taxation.

Civil War (1948)

A civil war erupted in Coadta Rica after World War II. Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon and the United Social Christian Party refused to step down after losing an election (1948). Jose Maria (Don Pepe) Figueres Ferrer returned from exile and headed an armed insurection that forced Calderon from power. He became one of Costa Rica's most important leaders. He headed the Founding Junta of the Second Republic of Costa Rica. The Junta inituated a reform program including a civil rights program. Women and blacks were given the vote. Other steps included banning the Communist Party, nationalizing banks, and establishing presidential term limits. Ferrer became Costa Rica's most popular political figure and firmly established a tradition of democratic government in the country at aime when the region was still diminated by military and other authoritative regimes.

Oscar Arias Sanchez

Another importnt Costa Rican president was Oscar Arias Sanchez. The Cuban supported Sandinista effort to establish a Communist dictatorship in Nicaragua resulted in a Cicil War with the American supported Contras. Both the Sandanistas and the Contras established bases in northern Costa Rica and the war threatened to destabilize the refion. President Arias was elected with a mandate to end this situation. There was also a civil war in El Salvador. Arias was able to broker a peace accord signed by all five Central American presidents. President Arias was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize recognizing his efforts (1987). The end of the fighting in Nicaragua and El Salvador has brought relative stability to Nicaragua and the rest of Central America.

Created: 4:56 AM 1/5/2008
Last updated: 4:56 AM 1/5/2008