Final answer:
Colombia's original name after its independence from Spain was the Republic of New Granada. It was part of a larger nation called Gran Colombia before eventually being named the Republic of Colombia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original name of Colombia was the Republic of New Granada. This name was in effect following the nation's independence from Spain. The Republic of New Granada was established after an 1821 assembly in Cúcuta, where representatives from the former territories of the Viceroyalty of New Granada decided to unite Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama into a single nation known as Gran Colombia. Eventually, Gran Colombia dissolved, and New Granada continued as a separate nation until it was later renamed the Republic of Colombia.
During the independence period, Simón Bolívar, a key figure in Latin American history, played a significant role in the region, including serving as President of Gran Colombia and establishing a congress in Angostura. His vision for Latin America included hopes of a federal union or at least a common economic market for all the newly-independent nations. However, after Gran Colombia dissolved, the region that became modern Colombia went through various changes, including a name evolution, political turmoil, and civil conflicts, such as La Violencia.