The author offers an overview of the isthmus of Panama from its independence of Spain (1821) and its union to Gran Colombia. He evokes Panamanian autonomism and federalism since those years. He mentions the opposition between conservatism and liberalim in Gran Colombia comparing Simon Bolivar’s project with Francisco de Paula Santander political program. He emphasizes the importance of the Congress of Panama (1826) and the different secessionist attemps from 1826 to 1840. Finally, he adds reflections about Panamanian transitism and its multiple international threats remembering the lessons of JustoArosemena’s national theory.