Panama Timeline of Events

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Panama

Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The capital is Panama City...

Timeline of Events

1519

8.15.1519

Panama City, Panama, is founded.

1670

1.18.1670

Henry Morgan captures Panama.

1821

9.7.1821

The Republic of Gran Colombia (a federation covering much of present day Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador) is established, with Simón Bolívar as the founding President and Francisco de Paula Santander as vice president. thumb declares independence.]]

11.10.1821

Cry of Independence by Rufina Alfaro at La Villa de Los Santos, Panama setting into motion a revolt which lead to Panama's independence from Spain and to it immediately becoming part of Colombia

1903

11.3.1903

With the encouragement of the United States, Panama separates from Colombia.

11.4.1903

Panama adopts its flag one day after it separated from Colombia

11.18.1903

The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty is signed by the United States and Panama, giving the United States exclusive rights over the Panama Canal Zone.

1909

1.5.1909

Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama.

1941

10.9.1941

A coup in Panama declares Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia Arango the new president.

1953

7.7.1953

Ernesto "Che" Guevara sets out on a trip through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.

1955

1.2.1955

Panamanian president Jose Antonio Remon is assassinated

1964

1.9.1964

Martyrs' Day: Several Panamanian youths try to raise the Panamanian flag on the U.S.-controlled Panama Canal Zone, leading to fighting between U.S. military and Panamanian civilians.

1977

9.7.1977

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties between Panama and the United States on the status of the Panama Canal are signed. The United States agrees to transfer control of the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.

9.7.1977

1979

10.1.1979

The United States returns sovereignty of the Panama canal to Panama.

1989

12.20.1989

United States invasion of Panama: The United States sends troops into Panama to overthrow government of Manuel Noriega.

1990

1.3.1990

Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces.

1991

9.16.1991

The trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega begins in the United States.

1992

4.9.1992

A U.S. Federal Court finds former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega guilty of drug and racketeering charges. He is sentenced to 30 years in prison.

1999

5.2.1999

Panamanian election, 1999: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama.

12.31.1999

The United States Government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

2006

10.22.2006

A Panama Canal expansion proposal is approved by 77.8% of voters in a National referendum held in Panama.