General Pinilla's coup d'etat and presidency (jan 1, 1953 – jan 1, 1957)

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Multiple years into La Violencia, conservative coronel Gustavo Rojas Pinilla led a successful military coup against the current conservative president Laureano Gomez, who had grown increasingly unpopular with other members of the conservative party as well as the general public. After taking control of the government, Rojas Pinilla held the position of military dictator until 1954, when he consolidated his power, becoming Colombian president without holding elections. Despite the extremely undemocratic nature of his rise to power, Rojas Pinilla’s presidency played an important role in de-escalating the brutal partisan violence of La Violencia. He promised amnesty for guerrilleros and political prisoners, and helped put in place some substantial social progress in the country, from improving freedom of press and giving women the right to vote, however his presidency would eventually face more and more controversy, as accusations of Pinilla not upholding his promises of freedom of speech, as well as having to deal with a complicated economic situation would eventually lead to Pinilla stepping down from his position as president

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