The history of the Republic of New Granada was marked by competing economic and political interests and rocked by violent conflicts and civil wars.

One of the prime features of the political climate of the Republic was the position of the Roman Catholic Church and the level of autonomy for the federal states.

In 1851, a Civil war took place, which was triggered by the Liberal reforms of President José Hilario López, which provided for the emancipation of slaves, the expulsion of the Jesuits, the granting of freedom of the press and the abolition of the death penalty.

As a reaction, Conservative and pro-slavery groups from Cauca and Antioquia departments, led by Julio Arboleda, Manuel Ibánez and Eusebio Borrero, revolted against liberal president José Hilario López, in an attempt to prevent emancipation of disenfranchised groups and abolition of slavery, in addition to a number of religious issues.

An uprising by General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera sparked a new three-year civil war in 1860.