Central America & Mexican War of Independence
For centuries, the people of Europe were accustomed to monarchical rule while those of new world felt that there was little they could do, and they had nothing but to go along the European imperialist agenda.
However, American and French Revolutions sent powerful messages to the rest of the world. They inspired various people groups throughout the world to believe that they had the power to throw off the shackles of foreign rule and establish self-rule. This led to independence of Central America also.
Background
Modern region of Central America is made up of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Before Europeans arrived here, this territory was inhabited by various Mesoamerican Tribes such as the Aztec, Maya, Olmec etc.
By the mid-16th century, Mesoamerican tribes were in decline and they easily fell subject to Spanish colonial rule. The colony of New Spain extended throughout Mexico and Central America. At the height of its power, it even extended into what is now the northern Midwest of the United States; and was known as Kingdom of Guatemala.
Grito de Dolores
Inspired by Enlightenment thinking and the successful American and French Revolutions, many ethnic groups in New Spain began dreaming of independence from Spanish rule. The Spanish influence and stability was also. Adding to the instability throughout New Spain was the removal of Spanish King Ferdinand VII during the Peninsular War. Little by little, pockets of resistance began popping up.
The Mexican War of Independence began on September 16, 1810 when a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed the Grito de Dolores, which was basically a call to revolt against Spanish rule. Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821, after 11 years of war. The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire was ratified September 28, 1821.
Independence movements were also gaining momentum south of Mexico. In El Salvador, a revolt broke out in 1811, often called ‘The First Shout for the Independence of Central America.’ It was led by Jose Matias Delgado, who urged liberal and disgruntled Creoles to break away from Spain. Although the revolt was soon suppressed, it helped spread the independence movement.
In September 1821, as the Mexican War for Independence was winding down, a special council representing Central American groups met in Guatemala and declared independence from Spain. But they did not want to become part of the Mexican Empire either. They wanted complete independence. Central American independence from Spain officially took effect on September 15, 1821. Today this date is still celebrated as Central American Independence Day.
Independence was short-lived, however. In early 1822, the region was annexed by the newly created Mexican Empire. A year later, when Mexico became a republic, it granted self-determination to the region of Central America. In 1823, a new nation was created: the Federal Republic of Central America, also called the United Provinces of Central America. It consisted of the present-day states of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
The nation of Central America was plagued by internal divisions, and in 1838 Nicaragua left the union. Throughout the next year or two, the country dissolved, leaving behind the group of independent countries we know today. Throughout the 19th century there were various attempts to reunify the states into one country, but none of them proved to be successful.
Summary
The American and French Revolutions helped inspire the people of Central America to revolt against Spanish colonial rule. New Spain was the name of the Spanish colony covering what is now Mexico and Central America. It even extended into the United States. In 1810, the Mexican War of Independence began when Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed the Grito de Dolores, which was a call to open revolt. A revolt also broke out among Creole groups in El Salvador in 1811. This is often called ‘The First Shout for the Independence of Central America.’
On September 15, 1821, Central America officially gained independence from Spain. It did not last long, however, because the region was absorbed into the Mexican Empire the following year. In 1823, the Federal Republic of Central America was created, uniting Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica into a single nation. It broke up between 1838 and 1840, leaving in its place the countries we have today.
