The government of the republic that is today known as Colombia. In 1819, Bogota became the capital city of a confederation of the following states: today's Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Following the demise of the confederation, it remained the capital of Colombia only.
Castile:
The former name used for the European country of Spain.
Conquistador:
Spanish soldiers and adventurers of the 16th century who conquered the Caribbean, Latin America, the Philippines and southern areas of the United States.
Expansionism:
The act of increasing the amount of a state's territory or area of control.
Freedom of the City of London:
The most distinguished award the City of London offers its citizens or anyone who has brought great benefit to the city. The award offers privileges such as exemption from certain taxes and from arrest for certain misdemeanors. Freedom of the City is confirmed with the presentation of a handsome key which symbolically opens the gates - long since disappeared - to the city walls. Those so elevated are offered membership in the Guild of Freemen of the City of London.
Isthmus:
A narrow piece of land connecting two larger land masses. The two most noted are the Isthmus of Panama, connecting North and South America, and the Isthmus of Suez, connecting Africa and Asia.
Latin America:
Most frequently refers to the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries south of the United States. Sometimes the Caribbean islands and the French-speaking areas of Haiti, Guiana and the West Indies are included.
Legion of Honor:
The Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur is the highest ranking order and decoration in France. It was created by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802, as a general military and civil decoration. Anyone, regardless of class or religion, can be admitted to the order if they swear to uphold liberty and equality.
Le Matin:
A conservative French newspaper that commanded a wide circulation at the beginning of the 20th century.
Minister Plenipotentiary:
A person invested with the full power of independent action in a government.
Napoleon:
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was ruler of France and its dependent territories from 1804-15. In 1804 he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I in the presence of the pope in Paris.
New World:
North and South America regarded collectively in relation to Europe.
Papacy:
The central government of the Roman Catholic Church with executive, judicial, and legislative policy exercised by the pope, also known as the bishop of Rome. The papal system developed over the centuries until the first Vatican Council of 1870 confirmed the supreme authority of the pope on matters of morals and faith.
Skulduggery:
Corrupt or dishonest behavior.
Spanish - American War of 1898:
The war that broke out as a result of conflict between the United States and Spain over the latter's colonial rule in Cuba. American victory in the short war resulted in the rapid decline of the Spanish colonial empire and announced America's new status as a world power. The concluding Peace of Paris renounced Spanish claims to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the US for $20 million.
Spooner Amendment:
An amendment of Congress to the 1901 Army Appropriations Act that called for President William McKinley to replace military rule in the Philippines with civilian government.
Star of India:
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India was a British order of Knighthood instituted by Queen Victoria in 1861 as a means of recognizing service to India and the loyalty of its princely rulers. As no appointments have been made since 1947, the order is effectively obsolete.
Titular Sovereignty:
Sovereignty over a piece of territory in name only.
War of the Thousand Days:
Also known as `Guerra de los Mil Dias' (1899-1903). Columbian civil war between Liberals, represented by coffee growers, and the Conservative government. Fighting broke out when government policies caused a serious rise in inflation that led to further suffering by coffee growers, already hard hit by a drastic decline in world coffee prices. The war fed Panamanian desires for independence from Colombia.
