So, the president declared war, telling the people of Costa Rica to “take your weapons” and fight this new threat. Understandably, the Costa Rican President, Juan Rafael Mora Porras was concerned about Walker’s presence and what it could mean. Walker wanted to control and integrate Latin American nations into the United States and establish slave hold colonies, which would supply the Southern states of America with slaves. The Filibuster War occurred when William Walker, an American mercenary and filibuster, took control of Nicaragua. In order to figure out who Juan Santamaria was and why he had such an impact on Costa Rican history, we should probably look into the Filibuster War, where he fought and died. When the Costa Rican president called upon the common people to take up arms and defend their lands, Juan enlisted in the Costa Rican army as a drummer boy. Juan likely worked on a coffee plantation, as many children born and raised in this area did. His mother, Maria, raised him alone, and Juan only had an elementary school education before starting work. While he is often portrayed as white, it’s believed that Juan was mixed race. His birth and baptismal certificates name his mother as Maria Manuela Santamaria, and his lists his father’s name as “unknown”. Even today, Alajuela has a strong farming community. We do know that he was born in the province of Alajuela, a rural agricultural part of Costa Rica, on August 29, 1831. His early years are a mystery, as nobody paid enough attention to a random kid with little-to-no prospects. Juan Santamaria, like many of our favorite heroes, came from humble origins. If that’s not enough, there’s a whole national holiday which honors him and his actions during the 1855 civil war of Costa Rica.īut who actually was the man behind the legend? Why is this seemingly humble drummer so fondly remembered as a hero to this day? Where Was Juan Santamaria From? A statue, famous paintings, literature, and even an airport bear his name and likeness. He is considered a national hero and his legacy still stands strong well over a century after his death. Juan Santamaria is a household name in Costa Rica.
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