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| 1857–61 |
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| Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was elected president. New constitution (1858) designated the republic as the Granadan Confederation. | 1 |
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| 1860–61 |
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| Mosquera, now liberal governor of Cauca, declared that state independent. Other states took similar action. A civil war ensued, and Mosquera assumed the presidency (July 18). | 2 |
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| 1863 |
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| The Constitution of Río Negro proclaimed the union of nine sovereign states as the United States of Colombia. States were permitted to keep their own armed forces. Export economies developed under regional elites. In Antioquia, peasants opened new lands to cultivate coffee on small holdings. In 1871, Colombia had 2,951,111 inhabitants. | 3 |
| Radical liberals and conservatives clashed over the church's role in education, culminating in a civil war (1876–77). Fearing further destruction and misery, the two parties resorted to conciliation. | 4 |
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| 1878, May 18 |
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| A concession for 92 years was granted to a French company to construct a canal across Panama. | 5 |
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| 1880–98 |
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| Rafael Núñez (1825–94) became president, with liberal support. The presidency of Núñez, known as the “Regenerator,” initiated a half century of conservative rule. During his second term (1884–86), a civil war broke out (1885). Núñez, with conservative help, defeated radical liberals. A new constitution (1886) established a centralized government and restored privileges to the church. A cycle of coffee expansion began (1886–96). Núñez was succeeded by Carlos Holguín (1888–92) and Miguel Antonio Caro (1892–98). | 6 |
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| 1898–1900 |
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| During the presidency of Miguel Sanclemente, liberals revolted (1899–1900). Vice president José Marroquín, an extreme conservative, deposed Sanclemente and assumed authority (1900–4). | 7 |
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| 1899–1902 |
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| War of the Thousand Days, a prolonged civil war, ended with the victory of conservatives at the cost of massive material destruction and at least 100,000 lives. The country moved to the verge of disintegration. Extremists in both parties were completely discredited. | 8 |
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| 1902–3 |
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| French canal company went bankrupt. Hay-Herrán Treaty gave U.S. canal rights and lease of territory (1902). Congress of Colombia refused to ratify the treaty. | 9 |
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| Nov. 3 |
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| Panamanian elements were supported by the U.S., which proclaimed Panama an independent state; Colombia refused to recognize it (See 1903, Jan. 22). | 10 |
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