SStudies 7th Grade: BEGINNING OF THE REPUBLICAN PERIOD

In 1830 the Gran Colombia was disintegrated forming the current republics of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. In particular, the Southern District was living a commercial revitalization with Peru followed by an economic crisis because of the military invasion of this country. Different reasons move Ecuador to demand independence from Colombia. On May 13th, 1830, corporations and representative families, resolved to "build a free and independent State", this end in the “Primera Asamblea Constituyente”, first Fundamental Assembly, in Riobamba.

Because of historical reasons the new Republic was renamed Quito, but there was resistance from authorities of Guayaquil and Cuenca. Then was decided to name the Republic in the same way in which the members of the French Geodesic mission called the region: Ecuador.  Until the end of the 19th century, Ecuador was a fragile nation because of the lack of internal trade relations. The regionalist trend that already existed (between coast and sierra, northern sierra and southern sierra) was the mean reason.  After the wars of independence, the economic crisis was inevitable. But Guayaquil and the coast in general had the higher economic development in the country, and therefore they also grew in population, in particular the main port.  While the nation-State of Ecuador was called "Republic", salary and social treatment not changed in relation to the colonial period. Rather, it was the perfect opportunity to have the local power together with the system of estates and landowners. The economic, social and ethnic exploitation of indigenous peoples was the force that raises the nascent Ecuador.

In addition, there was no electoral freedom due to the restricted policy of participation. Both women and non-proprietary (the majority of the population, largely indigenous) could not vote.  The political instability of Ecuador continued because of the clash of interests between the coastal oligarchies and the mountain oligarchies. For the Decade of 1850 the situation was intensified: coastal power took command and carried out several liberal reforms which included the abolition of slavery, the abolition of the indigenous tribute, and some laws in benefit to the Serrano farmworker.   However, for 1859 Ecuador approved a disastrous debt negotiation and attempted to lease the Galapagos Islands to foreigners. This provoked a general dissolution within Ecuador. In Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Loja autonomous governments were established. Bordering countries began to negotiate among themselves what territories they want to integrate, but finally the Quito aristocracy, led by Garcia Moreno, from Guayaquil, took control over the country.

http://www.quitoadventure.com/ecuador-info/history/ecuador/republic-origins-ecuador.html