Panama

panama history

By brandonfolts
  • Dec 29, 1519

    Spanish Vice-royalty

    Spanish Vice-royalty
    1519 - Panama becomes Spanish Vice-royalty of New Andalucia (later New Granada).
  • Apr 2, 1520

    Rodrigo de Bastidas

    Rodrigo de Bastidas
    1502 - Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas visits Panama, which was home to Cuna, Choco, Guaymi and other indigenous peoples

  • Panama becomes independent of Spain,

    Panama becomes independent of Spain,
    1821 - Panama becomes independent of Spain, but joins the confederacy of Gran Colombia, which also comprises Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

  • Panama becomes part of Colombia.

    Panama becomes part of Colombia.
    1830 - Panama becomes part of Colombia following the collapse of Gran Colombia.

  • Panama signs treaty with US

    Panama signs treaty with US
    1846 - Panama signs treaty with US allowing it to build a railway across the isthmus

  • France tries to make a canal but it fails

    France tries to make a canal but it fails
    1880s - France attempts to build a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but fails due to financial difficulties and the death of more than 20,000 workers from tropical diseases.

  • Panama splits from Colombia

    Panama splits from Colombia
    1903 - Panama splits from Colombia and becomes fully independent. US buys rights to build Panama Canal and is given control of the Canal Zone in perpetuity.

  • Panama Canal completed

    Panama Canal completed
    1914 - Panama Canal completed

  • Panama ceases to be a US protectorate.

    Panama ceases to be a US protectorate.
    1939 - Panama ceases to be a US protectorate.

  • General Omar Torrijos Herrera

    General Omar Torrijos Herrera
    1968-81 - General Omar Torrijos Herrera, the National Guard chief, overthrows the elected president and imposes a dictatorship.