Profiles Index

The Thousand Days' War
The Thousand Days' War, a Civil War fought in Colombia from 1899-1902, devastated the nation and brought about the secession of Panama as an independent nation.

Biography of Antonio Guzmán Blanco
Antonio Guzmán Blanco was President of Venezuela from 1870 to 1888. A fairly benign dictator, he is remembered for overseeing a period of stability and growth, even though his personal corruption and vanity were legendary. He was eventually deposed in absentia while on a vacation to France.

Argentina: The May Revolution
As Napoleon's armies stormed across Spain, leaders in Buenos Aires decided that they could no longer rely on the Spanish crown to protect them. Taking matters into their own hands, they declared a temporary independence, which would become permanent in 1816.