United Provinces
1821-1839 		1870-1918






Costa Rica
1838-1889 		Nicaragua
1838-1870 		Honduras
1838-1876 		Guatemala
1838-1871 		El Salvador



Central America, 1839-1870



No more a federation, the Central American republics - Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica - had a number of things in common. All of them lacked political tradition, had to establish new institutions. Ecclesiastically, they were part of the ARCHDIOCESIS OF SANTIAGO DE GUATEMALA. The republics quickly adapted constitutions, which were for the most part very short-lived. The 5 republics saw the power-struggle between the CONSERVATIVES and the LIBERALS, the latter advocating separation of church and state, confiscation of church property, development of infrastructure and economy.
Political disputes were often solved with the use of force. Nicaragua and Guatemala emerged as rivals, their dictators often interfering in their neighbour's internal political affairs.
In addition to this domestic turbulence, foreign interference added. In 1848 the British reasserted their control over the MOSQUITO COAST (see under Nicaragua); the USA became interested in establishing a fast mass transportation line across the isthm and in 1855/57 and again in 1859/60, political adventurer WILLIAM WALKER attempted to conquer some of Central America. In the defiance of Walker, several Central American republics cooperated; he was executed in 1860.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		Articles from Infoplease : Central American Federation
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on November 5th 2004

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