Not a president, but important all the same!

Cartago, founded in 1562 by Juan Vasquez de Coronado was the first Spanish settlement in Costa Rica, as well as the first capital city.

Called "Muy Noble y Muy Leal" by the Spanish Parliment in 1814, Cartago does not want for ruins, diversity, or history stored within the streets and walls of the city.

Though frequent earthquakes have destroyed buildings again and again, the intensity of the Spanish culture still remains. The ruins of the Santiago Apostle Church are a sight to see, as well as la Basilica de los Angeles, not to mention the bustling mercados that are full of campañeros selling their fresh produce right off the finca.

Leòn Cortès Castro 1936-1940

Leòn Cortès did not start his career in politics. He started as a teacher. Then he just decided to go into polictics. Some of the positions he held before he became president include Governor for the province of Alajuela, director of the National Archives, and Administrator of the Pacific Electric Railway.

Of course since he was a teacher at one point, he liked punctuality, order, and discipline of public employees. This gave him some respect from the people. He did many things during his presidency including transforming the International Bank of Costa Rica, building the Savannah International Airport, building the Main Customs Puntarenas, signed the banana contract Cortès-Chittenden (which led to the construction of the ports of Quepos and Golfito). He promoted the construction of roads and highways, bridges, waterworks, and schools. He also created the weather service. Guess he was a weather man.

He died unexpectedly in 1946.

Federico Tinoco Granados 1917-1919

Federico Tinoco was not a well liked president. Nobody liked him except for his friends and family. He was a dictator who seized control of Costa Rica in 1917. He ruled for two years until the assasination of his brother scared him and he fled the country. His portate is the only one that does not hang in the hall of presidents because he was deemed unworthy to be there.

Tinoco came into power through a military coup (the only successful one in the twentieth century). He was aristrocratic and oligarchic. Upon becoming president he set up his brother, Joaquìn Tinoco as the all-powerful minister of war. Together they filled the jails.

His downfall finally came around when teachers and high school students took to the streets to protest his presidency. Within a few days his brother was dead, killed by a stranger, at the corner from his house. Scared, Tinoco and he fled the country to go live in Paris with his family and friends. He left the country in ruins.

Laura Chinchilla Miranda 2010-present

Costa Rica´s first woman president, and the sixth woman to be president of a Central American country, Laura Chinchilla has a lot going for her already. She is also a member of the PLN, like her predecesor Oscar Arias, and has smoothly transisioned into continuing both the environmental and global policies initiated by Arias´s term.

She has expressed plans to continue working with the UK to combat climate change in 2010, furthur building the sustainable and environmental mindset within Costa Rica. It is expected that she will continue with the current free-trade policies established by the previous government.

Laura´s plans include an emphasis on public safety, reform for international trade, children and youth.

The Olympians: Cleto Gonzàlez Vìquez 1906-1910 & 1928-1932 and Ricardo Jimènez Oreamuno 1910-1914, 1924-1928 &1932-1936

"The Olympians" of Costa Rica were Don Cleto and Don Ricardo who alternated presidencies from 1906-1936.

This picture is of Don Cleto. He ruled first. His political career started at an early age as the mayor of San Jose. Some of his other political jobs before he became President include Secretary of State, Chairman Soto, and Assistant Secretary. What made Cleto so amazing was the tranquility and peace that surrounds his presidency.

He was an example of respect for the law and public freedoms, he paved the streets of San Jose. He finished the railway to the Pacific, expaned the pipeline in San Jose, built the old National Library, created many different Ministries, the Labour Code, National Electricity, Attorney General, plus many more.

This is a picture of the other Olympian, Don Ricardo. Everyone loved him as well. His first term was just after the earthquake in Cartago, so a bit of a challenge coming into office, but he did an excellent job because he ended up being a three time president!!! He rebuilt Cartago and his presidencies were surrounded in tranquillity and peace.

He was a huge promoter of building roads, public buildings, bridges, and pipelines. He created the Mortgage Bank and National Bank Insurance. He finished electification of the railroad to the Pacificand promoted construction of the pier of Puntaranas. In general, he did a lot of internal work that needed to be done in the country (like Don Cleto).

Together "the Olympians" created peace and tranquillity through the Depression era.

José Figueres Olsen 1994-1998

A peaceful transition went off between the Calederón´s son and Don Pepe´s son as José Figueres Olsen took office in 1994.

His past included many travels and studies within the states, including a degree in Engineering from the United States Military Accademy, also known as West Point.

During his term the young Figueres introduced English as a second language in public schools from first grade up. He opened up a second international airport, in Guanacaste, that increased ease and flow of tourism to the northern part of the country. Not only that, but he also increased the sustainable development mindset, pushing Costa Rica to become more technologically productive and to provide an environment of wellbeing for all. Little by little, his administration worked Costa Rica into the global economy.

Fun Fact! He was the first modern president to refrain from spending during the election cycle, and therefore for the first time the incoming government did not have to increase taxes in order to cover previous spending.

Rafael Calderón Fournier 1990-1994

Rafael Calderón Fournier is a representative of the PUSC, the Christian Unity Party, and the son of former Costa Rican president Rafael Calderón Guardia.

Through luck of the draw, they young Calderón came into office during a time filled with concern about a rapidly declining economy, growing mistrust of the government, and issues of overall social unrest.

During his campaign he recognized the need to drastically improve the social situation within Costa Rica, more specifically the growing level of poverty within the cities and towns in the central valley. Unfortunately when he took office, budget cuts kept him from being able to follow through on promises of subsidies and welfare.

The saving grace for the time being became tourism. Calderón promoted free trade, or so he said, and was able to stave of complete destruction of the Costa Rican working class.

Oscar Arias Sánchez 1986-1990, 2006-2010

One might say that winning the Nobel Peace Prize provides credit enough to Oscar Arias and the time he spent leading Costa Rica, but in reality there is so much more.

Oscar Arias is well remembered for his environmental and educational stand. He encouraged the development of teaching techology and the sciences in schools, and reformed the educational system, replacing standardized tests at the end of primary and secondary school.

He helped to aliviate Costa Rica´s debt, and managed to control and even reduce inflation. He worked to provide jobs and increase housing construction. These in turn would benefit the poor and middle class, and reduce poverty as well.

Tomàs Guardia Gutièrrez 1870-1876 & 1877-1882

Today Costa Rica is not a military state. It has no military. Although, it does have military in it´s history under one leader, Tomás Guardia. This man became president of Costa Rica after a military coup that got ride of Jesus Jimenez Zamora. His leadership skills were similar to Carrillo's, dictatorial. Guardia used his dictatorial powers to punish enemies and promote the nation's progress (just like Carrillo!!!).

He will be remembered for many things including his high taxes, the revenues of which he spent on education, public health, and transportation. He actually went and got a loan from England to build his Atlantic Railroad, which was the start of Costa Rica's foreign debt. Minor Cooper Keith (the guy who married Josè Marìa Castro's daughter).

Other Achievements Include:

• abolishing the death penalty


• the 1871 Constitution


• establishing a prison island, San Lucas


• constructing the railroad to the Atlantic


• founded the Union Bank (today it's the Bank of Costa Rica)


• started the export of bananas


• and increased the number of schools

From his achievements one can tell that Guardia was a very military oriented leader.

José Figueres Ferrer 1948-1949, 53-58, 70-74

José Figueres Ferrer, affectionately known as Don Pepe, also made leaps and bounds during his presidency. He started his first term following his success in the civil war against Dr. Calderón.

During his first term he managed to abolish the army, earn voting rights for women and blacks, nationalize the banking system, and guarantee public education for all Costa Ricans. Each of these movements drastically effected the way Costa Rica would function for the future, and no doubt for the better.

His second term he didn´t slow down a bit, creating the Partido Liberación Nacional, one of the most successful political parties in Costa Rican history.

Rafael Calderón Guardia 1940-1944

Rafael Calderón Guardia was a doer in every sense of the word. He rose to his position with the help of the powerful coffee barons just like many of

his predecessors, but when he took office his intentions surfaced.

He fought hard for the poor and the working class, setting up the Social Security Fund in Costa Rica, as well as bringing a Labor Code into effect. Minimum wages were set, as well as fair working hours that many ticos are well known for strictly abiding by.

Calderón did not neglect a thing. Making sure that Costa Rican education continued to have a strong presence in the culture, he established la Universidad de Costa Rica in San Jose in 1941. He also helped to develop the universal healthcare system in place today.

Juan Rafael Mora Porras 1849-1859

This president ruled for 10 years. He had a nickname- Don Juanito. He started his presidency as the replacement of Jose Maria Castro after the coffee barons pushed Jose out. Mora was a big coffee planter so the coffee barons thought he would make a great replacement. Mora wanted to be more legit than that so he rigged elections in favor for himself. Somehow, that makes him more legit. . .

Most likely, Mora would not have had a second term, but then, along came William Walker. Walker wanted to conquer Costa Rica and was proslavery, so Mora raised an army to fight off Walker. This worked, but his success against Walker was short lived because then cholera came and killed off about a tenth of the population. Mora liked to play favorism and that earned him some enemies. He also created the National Bank and his family monopolized the coffee industry, so making more enemies for himself. He was finally exiled out of the country in 1859 when he tried to rig the elections again to give himself a third term. He died when he returned from his exile in El Salvador to try and retake the country. He had taken Puntarenas but was later shoot and arrested 1860.

Achievements:

• built the Liquor Factory
• built the University of Santo Tomas
• Built the National Palace, the site for legislator
• improved roads between Cartago and Puntarenas
• strengthened coffee
• opened public lighting system
• the National Anthem was written during his presidency
• created Diocese of Costa Rica
• signed a treaty with Nicaragua that defined the border between them (Treaty Canas-Jerez)
• stimulated establishment of banks
• stimulated development of Guanacaste
• led National Campaign against Buccaneers
  

Jose Castro Madriz 1847-1849 & 1866-1868

"Mi administración no procede de luchas ni se inaugura sobre las ruinas de ningún partido. Su bandera es la nación y su objeto el bienestar de toda Costa Rica" (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Castro_Madriz)

Said the Founder of the Republic



Jose Castro doesn't just have the same last name as the current dictator of Cuba, he also was a liberal and very deep believer in enlightenment and the freedom of the press. He married former head of state, Manuel Fernandez Chacon's, daughter. Before he became president, he had several other jobs in the government including Auditor of War, Minister General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy for Homeless, Deputy Chief, and Vice President.

This man is the first president (everyone before him were all called head of states). He stopped being president when coffee barons decided to force his resignation and replaced him with his vice president Juan Rafael Mora. Wow, guess it's a good idea not to upset those coffee barons. Instead of "Cotton is King"- it's Coffee is King. During Castro's first term he made a lot of treaties and made good diplomatic relations. He was a strong promoter of education during both his terms. The only problem during his reign was the poor coffee economy which led to the barons replacing him. There were some attempts to overthrow the government before the military coup of 1868 which ended Castro's presidency.

Some of his major accomplishments while he was in power include:

• Creating a girls high school
• declaring Costa Rica as sovereign and independent republic
• creating the current flag
  
• made a national holiday!!!! I like this guy
• opened Limon to foreign trade
• made the first telegraph line going between Cartago and Puntarenas
• installed pipe's in San Jose
• supported cultural trainning and education of women
• established a national bank

Braulio Carrillo Colina 1835-1837 & 1838-1842

A man born in the province of Cartago, March 20, 1800, Braulio Carrillo Colina is remembered as a "heavy handed dictator," (Biesanz, 20). Carrillo is also considered the architect of Costa Rica. He was a head of state that favored national unity but had to exert force to stay in power. Carrillo aimed to achieve as much as possible during his term and fought with government staff in order to achieve what he wanted to.

While Carrillo is remembered as a dictator, he has some pretty interesting achievements. I don't really like his achievements- who would ever want less holidays?!?! but he was sort the kind of guy who didn't like lazy people I guess.
List of Carrillo's Achievements:
- Abolished the Ambulance Act and established the capital at San Juan de Tibas
- Reduced the number of holidays (this really is what makes him a dictator, people need/like/want holidays)
- Promoted labor and fought laziness
- Organized the national justice sector
- Made a plan to boost agriculture
- Separated Costa Rica from Central American Federal (certain people such as the next head of state really did not like this one)
- Made San Jose the capital
- Decreed by Constituent Assembly that Costa Rica assumed full sovereighnty making the nation free and independent
- Organized courts
- Promoted coffee production
- Decreed the basic law and guarantees

Carrillo's Law of Guarantees in 1841 gave more power to make reforms to the counties developement. He ended his dictatorship when he was overthrown by General Fransisco Morazan, one of the people who didn't like Costa Rica being separate from the Central American Federation. He died in El Salvador on May 15, 1845 (probably by someone who was upset about the less holidays decree). He was remembered as one of the strongest rulers who wanted to develope Costa Rica and brought order to Public Administration. So I suppose he was ok since his dictatorship came out with something that would help the country (more progress), but he was still pretty bad just because he took away some holidays.

Juan Mora Fernández 1825-1833

In 1824 Juan Mora Fernández was elected the first Head of State for Costa Rica. Prior to that he participated actively in the Costa Rican push for independence and actually signed the Declaration of Independence!

Many influential changes were made under his "administration," and a base was put in place for Costa Rica to further build not only it's government but also the essence of being a tico or tica!

Juan Mora Fernández oversaw the drafting of the Constitution, and the annexation of Guanacaste. He is warmly regarded as the father of journalism for introducing the printing press into Costa Rica. Not to mention his pivotal role in starting El Noticioso Univeral, the first ever newspaper in Costa Rica. His encouragement of agriculture would help to create the expansive coffee culture that sweeps Costa Rica today, one example being the extensive benefits provided to citizens who decided to start growing coffee. He also founded the San Juan de Dios Hospital and the public school Santo Tomás. He was overall a strong advocate for education within Costa Rica, a value that has been instilled into the culture and is still present today, as Costa Rica boasts a 96% adult literacy rate.

Overall Juan Mora Fernández is remembered for establishing the NEWSPAPER, COFFEE CULTURE, and EDUCATION.