Independence

People of Spanish origin, but born in Ecuador, and those of mixed lineage were against the Spanish born rulers of the country and their demand for independence grew steadily. On August 10^th, 1809, the first movement for independence occurred. For several months there was an independent government. On August 2^nd, 1810, all the people related with the August 10^th movement were killed and the Spanish regained control.

In 1822 Ecuador finally achieved its freedom thanks to the Venezuelan liberator, Simon Bolivar, who had already freed Colombia from the Spanish in 1819.

The final battle, known as the battle of Pichincha, was fought on the 24^th of May 1822. Field Marshal Sucre defeated the royalists, took Quito and Ecuador was finally liberated. Bolivar wanted to unite Colombia , Ecuador and Venezuela as the independent nation of Grand Colombia, but his efforts only lasted eight years and in 1830 Ecuador became completely independent.