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Independence from Spain
Independence of Panama from Spain was accomplished through a bloodless revolt between 10 November 1821 and 28 November 1821. Seizing the opportunity, when the Spanish governor left Panama to march on rebellious Ecuadorians, José de Fábrega led a push for independence. Rebels in the small town of Villa de Los Santos made the first declaration for independence and the movement quickly spread to the capital. -
Canal Failure
The people of France tried to construct the Panama Canal, but people died of disease. Yellow fever and malaria were serious problems for the construction effort. People did not want to get a disease, so many people refused to help. -
Independence from Columbia
The separation of Panama from Colombia was formalized on 3 November 1903, with the establishment of the Republic of Panama. Due to the jungles and lack of development and the proper means of transportation and communications, the news that "Gran Colombia" had disintegrated did not reach Panama soon enough, causing the Isthmus to end up attached to the then formed, Republic of Colombia. -
Panama Canal Zone
Panama sells the canal zone to the U.S. for $10 million. The U.S. then constructed the canal, and the canal is very useful. Panama now owns the canal zone. -
Panama Canal
Following the failure of a French construction team in the 1880s, the United States commenced building a canal across a 50-mile stretch of the Panama isthmus in 1904. Opened in 1914, oversight of the world-famous Panama Canal was transferred from the U.S. to Panama in 1999. -
José Remón Cantera death
José Remón Cantera was shot to death on April 11, 1955. Originally, Lipstein was arrested for the murder. He was released and Mirò confessed to the crime. -
Death of Omar Torrijos
Omar Torrijos died in a plane crash. Panama did not have a good rader system yet, so the plane was not found until days after the crash. His death caused mourning in the whole country. -
Noriega Imprisonment
On December 20, 1989, President George H.W. Bush launched Operation Just Cause to execute an arrest warrant against Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, once a close U.S. ally, on charges of drug trafficking. Noriega was caught, and was sentenced to many years in prison. -
First female president
Moscoso took office on September 1, 1999. Because she was divorced when she assumed the presidency, her older sister Ruby Moscoso de Young served as her First Lady. -
Canal Ownership
The Panama Canal was under U.S. control until December 31, 1999. When the next year started, Panama gained full control of the canal.
