History of Costa Rica

The first indigenous peoples of Costa Rica were hunters and gatherers, and when the Spanish conquerors arrived, Costa Rica was divided in two distinct cultural areas due to its geographical location in the Intermediate Area, between Mesoamerican and the Andean cultures, with influences of both cultures.

Christopher Columbus first dropped anchor in Costa Rica in 1503 at Isla Uvita. His forces overcame the indigenous people. He incorporated the territory into the Captaincy General of Guatemala as a province of New Spain in 1524. For the next 300 years, Costa Rica was a colony of Spain. As a result, Costa Rica's culture has been greatly influenced by the culture of Spain. During this period, Costa Rica remained sparsely developed and impoverished.

Following the Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821), Costa Rica became part of the First Mexican Empire in 1821. In 1823, Costa Rica joined the Federal Republic of Central America, but degrading relations with the other states caused it to secede in 1838. But following its independence, its economy struggled due to a lack of connections with European suppliers. In 1856, Costa Rica, along with several other Central American countries, joined the Filibuster War to prevent William Walker from mounting a take-over of the Nicaraguan government.

After 1869, Costa Rica established a democratic government.

In 1885 Bernardo Soto Alfaro joins to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Mexico to the Barrios' War of Reunification against the Guatemala of Justo Rufino Barrios and Honduras.

After the 1948 General elections started the Costa Rican Civil War between the Ejército de Liberación Nacional led by José Figueres Ferrer, and the Costa Rican government led by Rafael Calderón Guardia. The War ended with 2000 deaths for both sides and government is overthrow. Figueres became the president for 18 months until the restauration of the Otilio Ulate's presidency.

After the Costa Rican Civil War in 1948, the government drafted a new constitution, guaranteeing universal suffrage and the dismantling of the military. Today, Costa Rica is a democracy that relies on technology and eco-tourism for its economy. Although poverty has declined since the turn of the 21st century, economic problems still exist. Costa Rica is facing problems of underemployment, foreign and internal debt, and a trade deficiency.

In 1955, the Calderonistas tried to overthrow the José Figueres Ferrer Government in a failed invasion with the help of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic.This was an important military campaign for the country