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Independence from Columbia
On November 3, 1903 Panama successfully seceded from Columbia. Accepted a deal with the United States and began construction of the Panama canal. -
Panama Canal Completed
Construction of Panama Canal is completed in 1914. -
General Torrijos overthrows the president
General Omar Torrijos Herrera, the National Guard chief, overthrows the elected president and imposes a dictatorship (1968-81). -
General Torrijos dies
Torrijos dies in plane crash. -
Noriega becomes head of national guard
Former intelligence chief and one-time US Central Intelligence Agency informant Manuel Noriega becomes head of the National Guard, builds up the size of the force, which he renames the Panama Defense Forces, and greatly increases its power over Panama's political and economic life. -
Noriega is charged with drug smuggling
88 US charges Noriega with drug smuggling; Noriega declares state of emergency in the wake of a failed coup. -
Noriega is replaced with Guillermo
Opposition wins parliamentary elections, but Noriega declares results invalid. Noriega declares "state of war" in the face of increased threats by Washington. US invades Panama, ousts Noriega and replaces him with Guillermo Endara. -
Noriega is found guilty
US court finds Noriega guilty of drug offences and sentences him to 40 years imprisonment, to be served in a US prison. -
Panama elects their first woman president
Mireya Moscoso becomes Panama's first woman president. -
Us reign over panama canal ends on December
Panama takes full control of the Panama Canal, ending nearly a century of American jurisdiction over one of the world's most strategic waterways.
