Ecuadorian History


Figure 1.--Ecuador has not had a tranquil national experience since independence. Students have often been involved in political changes. Here is just one example. The Jun4, 1959 press caption read, "School Boys Attack Garrison--High School and university students armed with rifles and machine guns attack the garrison at Portoviejo, Ecuador May 29. The barracks was burned down and seven were killed in the battle including the commanding officer of the garrison, Captain Galo Quevedo, whose body was dragged along the streets and partially burned. Students in guayaquil who were blamed for the rioting today aided the government in suppressing the looting and violence.

Ecuador like some other Andean republics has had a tumultuous hitory. The first thing that strikes one about Ecuador is the country's dramatic, diverse georaphy which has played an important role in the country's history. The expanding Inca Empire reached Ecuador (1460 AD). Inca Tupac-Yupanqui invaded the tribes in modern Ecuador. The Canari, the Quitu, and the Caras resisted the Inca army with some success. Pizarro using Cortez's tactics, seized Atahualpa at Cajamarca. He forced him to pay an enormous ransom in gold and silver and then killed him. A fiercely fought war commenced between the Inca and Spanish, but with more Spanish arriving, the Inca were defeated. Pizarro dispatched Benslcázar north into what is now Ecuador prevent Pedro de Alvarado from seizing the area (1533). Spain ruled Ecuador for about 300 years. It was not a separate colony, but the presidency of Quito, ruled as part of first the Viceroyalty Peru and later Colombia. Many Native Americans continued to speak Quechua and other indigenous languages. The Presidency of Quito did not have major mineral resources and thus was a minor pat of the vast Spanish colonial empire. With the Napoleonic Wars (1798-1815) in Europe, Spain was devestated and a weakened Spain gradually lost control of most of its overseas empire. Simon Bolívar, the Liberator of northern South America, decisively defeated the royalist army at Pichincha near Quito (1822). Ecuador's modern history has ptoven as tumultous as its early history. The vast majority of the new nation's wealth (primarily agricultural land) was held by a few families of European (Spanush) ancestry. They controlled large haciendas where agricultural workers of Native American ancestry worked as essential feudalserfs, known as Husaipungeros in Ecuador. Ecuador since achieving independence has had numerous elected and non-elected presidents. One source reported more than 90 changes of power. Few elected presidents served out their term of office, most lasting only about 2 years. In such chaotic circumstances, the country did not develop strong, stable institutions. And as a result, leaders have been unable to address the country's deep seaded social problems.

Native Americans

Archaeologists have found the earliest evidence of hunter gatherers along the southern coast and in the central highlands (10,000 BC). As earlier human sites have been found further south, it is likely that there was even earlier settlement. Evidence of more settled communities exist (3200 BC). Archeologists have made important pottery finds and descsribe three distinct civilizations who traded with each other and other civilizations to the south in modern Peru and east into the Amazonian basin. The earliest cities developed along the coast. These stone age people worked with metal, but did not develop metal tools and weapons. They did develop navigational skills and they traded with peoples as far north as the Maya has been reported. The expanding Inca Empire reached Ecuador (1460 AD). Inca Tupac-Yupanqui invaded the tribes in modern Ecuador. The Canari, the Quitu, and the Caras resisted the Inca army with some success.

Spanish Conquest

Francisco Pizarro, as luck would have it, hppened on the Inca Empire just at it was completing its debilitating civil war. His first landfall was on an Ecuadorian island and here he heard stories of a fabulously rich Empire in the interior. Pizarro returned and landed further south in Peru and began moving along Inca roads south toward Cajamarca in modern Peru seeking gold (1532). Pizarro led a small force of only 180 men, but they had horses and modern weapons, including steel swords and a few guns--all entirely unknown by the Inca. Pizarro using Cortez's tactics, seized Atahualpa at Cajamarca. He forced him to pay an enormous ransom in gold and silver and then killed him. A fiercely fought war commenced between the Inca and Spanish, but with more Spanish arriving, the Inca were defeated. Pizarro dispatched Benslcázar north into what is now Ecuador prevent Pedro de Alvarado from seizing the area (1533).

Presidency of Quito

Spain ruled Ecuador for about 300 years. It was not a separate colony, but the presidency of Quito, ruled as part of first the Viceroyalty Peru and later Colombia. The Spanish proceeded to Christinize the Native Americans and introduced Spanish culture and the Spanish. Many Native Americans continued to speak Quechua and other indigenous languages. The Presidency of Quito did not have major mineral resources and thus was a minor pat of the vast Spanish colonial empire.

Independence War

With the Napoleonic Wars (1798-1815) in Europe, Spain was devestated and a weakened Spain gradually lost control of most of its overseas empire. Simon Bolívar, the Liberator of northern South America, decisively defeated the royalist army at Pichincha near Quito (1822). It is perhaps the important battle fought at the highest alditude.

Gran Colombia

Bolívar attempted to united Ecuador with Colombia and Venezuela to create Gran Colombia. His vision was a united South America similar to the United States governed as a constitutional republic. Parochial interests proved too powerful and Ecuador seceded from Gran Colombia (1830). Venezuela soon seceded as well.Ecuador managed to obtain control over the Galapagos Islands (1832). <>br>

Independence

Ecuador's modern history has ptoven as tumultous as its early history. The vast majority of the new nation's wealth (primarily agricultural land) was held by a few families of European (Spanush) ancestry. They controlled large haciendas where agricultural workers of Native American ancestry worked as essential feudal serfs, known as Husaipungeros in Ecuador. The countrybhad only a small middle class of Spanish or Mestizo origins. Tensions developed between the liberal city of Guayaquil oriented toward international trade and the conservative city of Quito dominated by landowners controlling much of the fertile agricultural land. This mirrored the general split between the coast and Sierra (Andean highlabds). The deep-seated social issued involved at times transcended politics and spiraled into violence. Leaders on both sides were assassinated. The military on several occassions seized power. Ecuador since achieving independence has had numerous elected and non-elected presidents. One source reported more than 90 changes of power. Few elected presidents served out their term of office, most lasting only about 2 years. In such chaotic circumstances, the country did not develop strong, stable institutions. And as a result, leaders have been unable to address the country's deep seaded social problems.

Border Dispute with Peru

A border dispute with Peru have marred relations between the two countries.

World War II


Post-War Era

After World War II, Ecuadorian history was marked by a series of elections and presidents being deposed by civil disoder and military coups. Provision president Otto Arosemena Gómez pledged to restore constitutional rule (1966). This proved to be a difficult undertaking. Ecuador after a period of military rule was finaLLY returned to democratic rule (1979).






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Created: 1:55 PM 12/24/2007
Last updated: 6:35 AM 9/24/2012