Thousand Days' War begins in Colombia; Liberal rebels under Rafael Uribe Uribe rise against President Sanclemente (October 1899)

Background. Tensions ran high after the presidential election of 1898, rooted in the longstanding ideological tug-of-war between federalism and centralism among Colombia's liberals, conservatives, and nationalists following the Constitution of 1886 and the Regeneración. On 17 October 1899, members of the Liberal Party in the Department of Santander announced official insurrection against the national government. The intended date for the beginning of the civil war was 20 October 1899, though hostilities did not begin until 11 November, when liberal factions attempted to take over Bucaramanga.

Outbreak of Hostilities. The Thousand Days' War was a civil war fought in Colombia, at first between the Liberal Party and the government led by the National Party. Rafael Uribe Uribe, who had gained significant prominence in the Liberal Party through his printings, participated in the uprising of 20 October 1899 which triggered the war. Official insurrection was announced in the Department of Santander, and active warfare began in earnest with the Battle of Bucaramanga on 11 November.