Costa Rican Civil War 1948
There are many significant events that have happened in the history of Costa Rica. One of these significant historical event was the 1948 Civil War, which was the bloodiest event in 20th-century Costa Rican history. It lasted for 44 days and approximately 2,000 people are believed to have died. This became one of the most important event in the history of Costa Rica.
This conflict was caused by the vote of Costa Rican legislature, dominated by pro-government representatives in the election held in February 1948. The Costa Rican legislature declared the election results invalid due to the fact that the opposite candidate had won the election by fraud. This caused a rebel army under commander Jose Figueres to stand against the government. In a short time the president quickly defeated. After the war Figueres ruled for a year and half as head of a provisional government, which abandoned the military and oversaw the election of constitutional assembly in December which led to a new 1949 constitution. This was the first significant political violence that Costa Rica has experienced.
During that time Picado administration resorted several times to the use of military force in order to keep the peace, which led to the street violence. This made a sully image of military in people’s minds and this is one of the reasons why Costa Rica does not have a military today. Instead they only use police guards. As the violence grew, the supports of opposition candidate began to carry guns, and the police begun to threaten the use of firearms rather than just beating demonstrators.
The disgust toward the government’s violent against the opposition candidate led to the Hueiga de Brazos Caidos, a strike that stalled commerce in Costa Rica for seven days. Pro-Calderon and communist demonstrators began to sack those businesses that participated in the strike, and Picado was forced to respond to the strike with force. By the end of the strike, police and military forces patrolled the streets, and San Jose appeared as if under a state of siege.
Calderon himself was the ruling party’s candidate for the election of 1948 and there were widespread fears that the government would intervene his triumph against his main opponent. As a result, Picado’s government for the first time in Costa Rican history placed the election under the control of an independent Electoral Tribunal.
Citation:
1. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2017, from Costa Rica and the 1948 Revolution – El Espíritu del 48. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://elespiritudel48.org/costa-rica-and-the-1948-revolution/
2. (no title). (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/45020.html
By: Ali Ramazani
There are many significant events that have happened in the history of Costa Rica. One of these significant historical event was the 1948 Civil War, which was the bloodiest event in 20th-century Costa Rican history. It lasted for 44 days and approximately 2,000 people are believed to have died. This became one of the most important event in the history of Costa Rica.
This conflict was caused by the vote of Costa Rican legislature, dominated by pro-government representatives in the election held in February 1948. The Costa Rican legislature declared the election results invalid due to the fact that the opposite candidate had won the election by fraud. This caused a rebel army under commander Jose Figueres to stand against the government. In a short time the president quickly defeated. After the war Figueres ruled for a year and half as head of a provisional government, which abandoned the military and oversaw the election of constitutional assembly in December which led to a new 1949 constitution. This was the first significant political violence that Costa Rica has experienced.
During that time Picado administration resorted several times to the use of military force in order to keep the peace, which led to the street violence. This made a sully image of military in people’s minds and this is one of the reasons why Costa Rica does not have a military today. Instead they only use police guards. As the violence grew, the supports of opposition candidate began to carry guns, and the police begun to threaten the use of firearms rather than just beating demonstrators.
The disgust toward the government’s violent against the opposition candidate led to the Hueiga de Brazos Caidos, a strike that stalled commerce in Costa Rica for seven days. Pro-Calderon and communist demonstrators began to sack those businesses that participated in the strike, and Picado was forced to respond to the strike with force. By the end of the strike, police and military forces patrolled the streets, and San Jose appeared as if under a state of siege.
Calderon himself was the ruling party’s candidate for the election of 1948 and there were widespread fears that the government would intervene his triumph against his main opponent. As a result, Picado’s government for the first time in Costa Rican history placed the election under the control of an independent Electoral Tribunal.
Citation:
1. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2017, from Costa Rica and the 1948 Revolution – El Espíritu del 48. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://elespiritudel48.org/costa-rica-and-the-1948-revolution/
2. (no title). (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/45020.html
By: Ali Ramazani