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Stone tools were dated back thousands of years and linked to the first inhabitants of the island, which were various hunting and gathering people groups.
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Costa Rica had already been inhabited by natives. But, on Christopher Columbus's final journey in 1502, he landed on the shores of Costa Rica -
Costa Rica is named "la costa rica" by Christopher Columbus, meaning "the gold coast" in Spanish. -
Conquistador Gil González Dávila lands on the west coast of Costa Rica. He encountered natives living on the island with gold. He took some of their gold with violent force and sometimes it was gifted to him by village leaders. -
Costa Rica is described as the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony by a Spanish governor.
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The first coffee bean is planted in Costa Rica, and soon it surpasses all other agricultural products becoming the most popular export. -
Spain finally lost the Mexican War of Independence, and Costa Rica was granted the right to govern itself by Guatemala. -
With their newfound freedom, they can not decide how to govern their country. They form two sides, and begin to clash, starting a civil war. -
After the Federal Republic of Central America fails to function, Costa Rica withdrew and proclaimed itself a sovereign nation. -
Military dictator, General Federico Tinoco Granados, is overthrown and forced into exile.
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An armed group starts an uprising in the midst of a dispute over the winner of the election. They ultimately started a 44-day civil war that left over 2,000 people dead. -
The Democracy in Costa Rica has remained uninterrupted for over 70 years, making it the most stable country in the region.
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The victorious rebels of the uprising form a government that is military free, and hand over power to Ulate.