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Country Information:
https://www.cia.gov/
Background:
What is now Ecuador formed part of
the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish
conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the
Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The
territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their
independence by 1819 and formed a federation
known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in
1830, the traditional name was changed in favor
of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904
and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series
of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war
with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in
1999. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of
civilian governance in 2004, the period has been
marred by political instability. Protests in
Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster of
Ecuador's last three democratically elected
Presidents.
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