COSTA RICA SPP Costa Rica Development Program Spring

COSTA RICA SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

PART 1 - HISTORY Kristin Grauer Lance Turner Chad Weinberg SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Quick Facts • Area: 51, 600 sq. km. • Population: 3, 674, 490 (July 1999 est. ) • Pop. Growth Rate: 1. 89% (1999 est. ) • GDP per Capita: $6, 700 (1998 est. ) • Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Early History • Pre-Columbian – Region of trade and cultural interchange between the predominant empires of North and South America – Indigenous Peoples: • Chibcha: From Columbia region • Chorotegas: Related to Aztecs and Mayans • Relatively small civilizations compared to others – Lack of minerals and other valuable resources contributed to its underdevelopment SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Early History (cont’d) • Developed complex social systems – Monetary system – Ritual calendar – Linguistics and writing skills • Extensive use of gold in ornamentation SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History European Discovery • 1502: First Spaniards arrive – Columbus, during his fourth voyage, names the region “Costa Rica” because of the great amount of gold worn by the Indians • Early 1500’s: Several expeditions end in failure from disease and battles with Indians – 1506: Diego de Nicuesa – 1522: Gil González Dávila SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History European Discovery (cont’d) • 1562: Colonization – Jungle harsh, many setbacks from diseases – Juan Vásquez de Coronado founds Cartago – Different than in other Spanish colonies Colonization – Small number of Indians to exploit – Treasure turned out to be scarce – Mestizo culture did not form as strongly as in other colonies SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Colonial Period • Costa Rica effectively forgotten for many years • 1717: Second colony (Heredia) founded • 1737: San Jose founded • 50, 000 inhabitants by 1800 • Wheat and tobacco among first products to be exported to Spain and other countries • Cacao plantations emerge as well as cattle ranching SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Independence • The Mexican Empire • The United Provinces of Central America • Costa Rican: An Independent Nation SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Fransisco Morazán Regime • Former President of the UPCA • Seized Power of Costa Rica in 1842 • Politically Despised • Executed in San José SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Economic Expansion of 1840 s • New Trade Routes • Pacific Ocean • British Investment • New Infrastructure SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Conflict Over Guanacaste • Seceded from Nicaragua in 1825 • Joined Costa Rica • Not-so Isolationist • Treaty of 1896 SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History General Tomás Guardia • Dictator • Economic Expansion • Minor C. Keith & the United Fruit Company • Secularization SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Democracy & Dictators • • José Joaquín Rodríguez Aldredo González Flores General Federico Tinoco Granados Otilio Ulate José Figueres Daniel Oduber Rodrigo Carazo Odio SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History Foreign Policy • Disputes with Nicaragua • Disputes with Panama • WWII SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History “Revolution” of 1948 • Elections & Candidates • Annulment & Thereafter • 1949 Constitution • National Liberation Party SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History 1960 s and 1970 s • Prosperity and Stability • Indigenous Bill (1977) • Regional Conflicts SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History 1980 s: Storm in the Isthmus • Economic Crisis & Staggering Debt • Serious Political Conflicts -US & Nicaragua -Bombing • The Arias Peace Plan -Sanchez & the Nobel Prize for Peace SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History 1990 s • Rafael Calderón Fournier • Earthquake • Refugees • Labour Relations • Elections of 1994 • Mid to Late 1990 s SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History The Future of Costa Rica • Economy • External Debt • Taxation, Inflation • Welfare State • Tourism • Population Growth SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000

Part 1 - History For More Information: • Costa Rica History: http: //photo. net/cr/moon/history. html • CIA World Factbook: www. cia. gov • State Department: www. state. gov • Costa Rican Times (in Spanish): http: //crtimes. com/newspapers. htm SPP Costa Rica Development Program, Spring 2000