Liberal Era (Ecuador)

Republic of Ecuador
República del Ecuador
1895–1925
Flag (1900–1925)
Motto: "Dios, patria y libertad"
Anthem: Salve, Oh Patria
CapitalQuito
GovernmentLiberal presidential republic
President 
• 1895–1901
Eloy Alfaro
• 1901–1905
Leónidas Plaza
• 1905–1906
Lizardo García
• 1906–1911
Eloy Alfaro
• 1911
Carlos Freile Zaldumbide
• 1911
Emilio Estrada
• 1911-1912
Carlos Freile Zaldumbide
• 1912
Francisco Andrade Marín
• 1912
Alfredo Baquerizo
• 1912-1916
Leónidas Plaza
• 1916-1920
Alfredo Baquerizo
• 1920-1924
José Luis Tamayo
• 1924-1925
Gonzalo Córdova
Vice President 
• See list
See list (from Manuel Benigno Cueva to Alfredo Baquerizo)
LegislatureNational Congress
History 
5 June 1895
• Disestablished
9 July 1925
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Ecuador
Ecuador
Today part ofEcuador
Colombia
Peru

The Liberal Era (1895–1925) was a period during which Ecuador was governed by the Liberal Party. It began with the Liberal Revolution of 1895, led by Eloy Alfaro, who assumed office as Supreme Chief. The era ended in 1925 with the July Revolution, a military coup that removed the Liberals from power in response to a severe economic crisis.

Alfaro's administration sought to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church by reversing many of the privileges it had received during the conservative governments of President Gabriel García Moreno (1861–1875). Major reforms included the separation of church and state, the secularization of public education, and the legalization of civil marriage and divorce.

Catholic officials and their Conservative allies resisted these changes through political opposition, public denunciations, and armed uprisings.