FARC

The origins of FARC date back to La Violencia which was a civil war that ravaged the country for ten years between 1948-1958 this was due to the divide of liberal and conservative ideologies which led to violent conflict. After this war many radical groups began to emerge and build support. In 1961 Manuel Marulanda Velez a leader in Colombia’s Communist Party declared Marquetalia region independent from colombia. This force the Colombian government to attempt to regain control of the region. Then  In 1964, 48 armed members (later would form the founding of FARC) of Colombia Communist Party including Velez held a village in the Marquetalia and engaged in a battle with U.S backed Colombian troops. Originally after FARC’s creation the left wing Leninist/ Marxist ideology and struggle against Colombia’s wealthy class, gained the support of rural peasants and farmers.