Costa Rican Civil War

The Costa Rican Civil War, the bloodiest event in 20th century Costa Rican history.

lasts for 44 days (from March 12 to April 24, 1948), during which approximately 2,000 people are believed to have died.

The conflict is precipitated by the vote of the Costa Rican Legislature, dominated by pro-government representatives, to annul the results of the presidential election of 1948, alleging that the triumph of opposition candidate Otilio Ulate had been achieved by fraud.

This causes a rebel army under commander José Figueres to rise up against the government of President Teodoro Picado, which it quickly defeats.

After the war, Figueres rules for a year and a half as head of a provisional government junta which abolishes the military and oversees the election of the Assembly that produces the new Costa Rican Constitution of 1949.

The junta then steps down and hands power to Ulate.

Costa Rica has not experienced any significant political violence since then.

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