The plain Provinces of Central America ( Provincias Unidas LED Central of América in Spanish) were a federal republic of Central America which existed between July 1823 and 1839. In 1824, the federation took the name of Federal republic of Central America ( República Federal of Centroamérica in Spanish). Its federal capital was Guatemala until in 1834 then Sonsonate (El El Salvador) during a course amount of time and finally San Salvador of 1834 with 1839.

Based on the model of the the United States of America, the plain Provinces of Central America were made up of the States of the Guatemala, of the El Salvador, the Honduras, the Nicaragua and the Costa Rica. In the years 1830, a sixth State was included: Los Violas, whose capital was Quetzaltenango, which corresponds to what is today the Western Guatemala and the Mexican State of the Chiapas.

History

This federation is resulting from the administrative Spanish colonization division. The five States constituted during the Spanish domination the general Capitainerie of Guatemala before the declaration of independence of September 15th, 1821.

With independence, the provisional government had the choice between the dislocation of the general harbor office in small States, the formation of a Federal state or the annexation with the Mexican Empire. The municipalities of the area were consulted and voted for the annexation with the Mexico. With the El Salvador, the annexation was rejected but the Mexican troops invaded the territory. With the Honduras, the municipality of Tegucigalpa refused it but was forced by the municipality close to Comayagua to accept it and there was a strong opposition to Costa Rica.

In 1823, the Mexican emperor Augustin Ier abdicated and the deputies centraméricains voted for the independence of the plain provinces of Central America “ of Spain, Mexico or all other nations ” on July 1st. Only the Chiapas remained attached to the Mexico.

The federal constituent assembly, chaired by Jose Matías Delgado, promulgated the first federal constitution on November 22nd 1824 and baptized the country 'Federal republic of Central America .

The federation knows then the long confrontations armed between preserving (in favor of the dissolution of the federation) and liberal (in favor of the federation). Between 1825 and 1830, the Nicaraguan municipalities of Granada and Leon are made a civil war. El Salvador déclar by twice its independence in 1832 and 1834 but the president Francisco Morazán invade the country and install the federal capital in this area rebels for controlling best.

Party to fight the Guatemalan Rafael Will square, Fransisco Morazán and its federal army could not avoid the declaration of independence of the Nicaragua on April 30th, 1838, then Honduras and Costa Rica in October and November of the same year. Guatemala declared its independence in 1839 and the federation was dissolved on November 19th, 1839.

Institutions and policy

The flag with the three bands was inspired by that of the Plain Provinces of Río of Plata, the two blue bands symbolized the two oceans and the white band the Central America in peace. The escutcheon in the center of the flag represented the five States by volcanos enlightened by the Phrygian cap which symbolizes freedom.

The federation was carried out by a president, a government and a federal Parliament. Each State had a Head of State and a local parliament. The political debate was shared between the liberals (federalistic, laic and promoting economic and individual freedoms) and the conservatives (separatist, catholic and promoting the interests of the land great landowners).

The federation was weakened by:

  • an opposition to the federal project carried out by the conservative, the Catholic church and the landowners
  • of the very weak transport infrastructures and communication and not facilitating the integration of the area
  • disinterest of the population
  • capacity of the federal capital limited in-outside its territory
  • of major financing problems
  • the intervention of foreign powers (fight enters Great Britain and the United States for the ways of passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic - various projects of channel - and for the control of the Caribbean)

Attempts at restoration of a centraméricaine federation

During the last two centuries, many attempts at unification of the Central America were fallen through because of a weak political will, a great opposition of the conservatives and political instability of each State:
  • In 1842 Francisco Morazán seized the power in Costa Rica and had like ambition to recreate the federation, but Costa Rican the, concerned ones not to enter a new cycle of war, stopped it and shot it.
  • Between 1842 and 1844, the Confédération of Central America was made up of Guatemala, of El Salvador, of Honduras and Nicaragua.
  • Between October and November 1852, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua formed the Fédération of Central America .
  • In 1885, the Guatemalan president Justo Rufino Barrios tried to link the area by the force but he died as a combatant the Salvadorian army.
  • Between 1886 and 1898, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua linked as a Grande Republic of Central America .
  • Between 1921 and 1922, the Second Federation of Central America was formed of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Today, the political integration and economic of the area is done gradually and according to the European model. Certain regional institutions, like a Parliament centraméricain and a regional court of justice, were created these thirty last years but the creation of a Federal state is not with the day order.

Presidents of the Federation

  • Manual Jose de Arce there Fagoaga (1825-1829),

  • Jose Francisco Barrundia there Cepeda (1829-1830),
  • Francisco Morazán Quesada (1830-1834),
  • Jose Gregorio Salazar there Castro (1834-1835),
  • Francisco Morazán Quesada (1835-1839)
  • Diego Vijil there Cocaña (1839).

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Central America - Historical Unions and Federations

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