Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

The Republic of Colombia is located in South America and was founded in the year 1819 as the republic of Gran Colombia. Gran Colombia consisted of present day Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and Venezuela. These countries were part of New Granada after the liberation. Colombia’s name was derived from the great explorer Christopher Columbus. Simón Bolivar was elected the first president of New Granada. In 1831 Gran Colombia gained its independence as a free state. In 1863 after a civil war had broken out Gran Colombia became known as the Republic of Colombia, and has remained that since. In 1903 Panama separated from Colombia and became a free and independent state, Ecuador and Venezuela also have s