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| 7. Ecuador |
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| Following the disintegration of Gran Colombia, the old presidency of Quito became independent. Persistent regional conflicts were caused by the sharp contrast between the coast, with its cacao export economy, and the highlands, where a traditional aristocracy sought to preserve its political dominance and to maintain Indian peasants' servile status. | 1 |
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| 1830, May 13 |
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| The Republic of Ecuador was created with Juan Flores (1801–1864), a Venezuelan officer, as president (1830–35). Guayaquil's opposition to separation from Colombia was overcome. Flores became the leader of the conservative element: the military, large landholders, and the clergy. Following a civil war between liberals and conservatives, a compromise was reached in 1834, allowing the two groups to alternate in power. | 2 |
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| 1835–39 |
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| Liberal leader Vicente Rocafuerte became president. The new constitution separated civil and military authority. | 3 |
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| 1839–43 |
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| Flores succeeded Rocafuerte. A congress convened in 1843 made Flores perpetual president. A poll tax led to riots in urban centers with liberal support. Whites were exempted from the poll tax. | 4 |
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| 1845, March 6 |
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| The liberals forced Flores to resign. A new constitution granted suffrage to all adult males. | 5 |
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| 1846–60 |
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| Liberal Vicente Roca became president (1846–50). Diego Noboa y Astete assumed the presidency (1851), but was forced out and replaced by Gen. José María Urbina (1851–56). A national assembly promulgated a new constitution abolishing slavery, with compensation for owners. Freedom to pursue education and to organize Masonic lodges was proclaimed, offending the church and the conservatives. Francisco Robles (1856–59) was elected president through popular suffrage. GABRIEL GARCÍA MORENO (1821–75) emerged as the leader of the conservatives, who opposed abolition of Indian tribute. The Congress voted to move the capital from Quito to Riobamba, causing a regional split. A triumvirate headed by García Moreno took control of part of the country. Peru blockaded Guayaquil to protest cession of disputed lands to a British company. Robles conceded territories to Peru in exchange for Peru's support, a measure so unpopular that it precipitated his demise. | 6 |
| In 1850, Ecuador had 1 million people; 80 percent lived in the highlands. | 7 |
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| 1861–75 |
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| The dictatorship of Gabriel García Moreno. García Moreno was formally elected president by a national convention. He allied himself with the church to organize society on a hierarchical and authoritarian structure. He signed a Concordat with the papacy, giving wide powers to the church (Sept. 26, 1862). The constitution of 1869 made Catholicism a condition of citizenship. Indians paid a school tax and were drafted for military service and public works, but repeatedly rebelled against these exactions. In 1871, Fernando Daquilema led a great Indian uprising in Chimborazo against forced labor for road work. García Moreno ordered harsh repression. His liberal opponents suffered exile and executions. The leading liberal conspirator was ELOY ALFARO, a coastal landlord. In 1875, a young military man assassinated García Moreno. | 8 |
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| 1875–95 |
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| A period of confrontation between liberals and conservatives. The constitution of 1861 was restored, while women of Quito demonstrated on behalf of the church. Gen. Ignacio Veintimilla took power (1878–82). His attempt to establish himself as dictator unleashed a civil war in 1882. José María Caamaño, a Catholic liberal, became president (1883–88). He supported the church and repressed more radical liberals. Antonio Flores Jijón was his successor (1888–92). In 1892, Luis Cordero became president, but was forced to resign by liberals who carried out a revolution led by Eloy Alfaro. | 9 |
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| 1895–1912 |
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| Era of liberal predominance. Administrations of Eloy Alfaro (1895–1901; 1907–11) and Leonidas Plaza Gutiérrez (1901–5). Church influence was curtailed; church lands were nationalized. Civil registry and marriage, religious freedom, and lay education were established. Construction of the Quito-Guayaquil railway (1900–8). Rivalry between Alfaro and Plaza developed. Alfaro rebelled in 1911 and was imprisoned in Quito, where a mob led by churchmen assassinated him and burned his body. | 10 |
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| 1912–16 |
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| Plaza's second term (1912–16) consolidated oligarchical dominance. Migration by highland peasants to the coastal plantations and cities intensified. In 1900, Ecuador had 1,400,000 inhabitants, with a majority on the coast. Labor movement became more active in Guayaquil. (See Ecuador) | 11 |
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