Public order and army in the sovereign state of Santander: 1857-1886

Abstract

During the Federal period (1857-1886) in the Sovereign State of Santander had permanent public nuisance on account of affiliation armed groups that challenged the legitimacy conservative state in the hands of the radical liberals. That threat forced them to create a standing army to defend the political project, maintaining state power, ensuring the functioning of its institutions, to control the civilian population and ensure the maintenance of public order.
The existence of the army demanded new budget items for her performance in peacetime and wartime operations were financed through borrowing, volunteers and other labor. Besides these, the government used the national, regional, departmental and local levels as a political weapon against their adversaries. The four civil war between the radicals in Santander were financed this way.