In the latter part of the 18th century, Columbia, along with current-day Ecuador and Venezuela, was referred to as New Granada and was under Spanish rule. A professional class of native Creoles in the region grew to prosperity and tried to overthrow Spanish officials, eventually declaring independence. Spain recaptured the country in 1815, but the rebellious independent spirit of the nation did not die.
The Thousand Days War in Colombia took place from 1899 to 1902. The civil war resulted in the loss of Panama and more than 100,000 deaths. Panama became the independent republic of Panama, recognized officially by Colombia in 1914.
In the 1980s, drug traffickers in Colombia were responsible for more than 80 percent of the cocaine trade in the world. Plan Colombia, a militarized anti-drug effort sponsored by the United States, was released in 2000, but drew much criticism and failed to stem drug trafficking in the nation.
