Carl Peters vs Jorge Eliecer Gaitan

Peters founded the Society for German Colonization in Berlin to promote German colonial expansion. The society organized expeditions to East Africa and signed treaties with local rulers, leading to the establishment of German East Africa.

Peters signed a series of treaties with local chiefs in East Africa, claiming territories for Germany. These treaties, often obtained through deception or coercion, formed the legal basis for the German East Africa colony.

Peters was appointed Reichskommissar (Imperial Commissioner) for German East Africa, giving him administrative authority over the colony. He implemented harsh policies, including forced labor and brutal suppression of rebellions.

Peters was dismissed from the German colonial service after a parliamentary inquiry revealed his brutal treatment of Africans, including executions and floggings. The scandal damaged his reputation and ended his colonial career.

Gaitán ran for president in 1946 as the candidate of the Liberal Party, but lost due to a split in the Liberal vote. His populist platform appealed to the urban poor and rural workers, making him a powerful political force.

Gaitán became the sole leader of the Liberal Party in 1947, uniting its factions. He advocated for land reform, labor rights, and social justice, gaining massive popular support and threatening the conservative establishment.

Gaitán was assassinated on April 9, 1948, in Bogotá. His death sparked the Bogotazo, a massive riot and uprising that destroyed parts of the city and led to the period of La Violencia, a decade-long civil war in Colombia.