And Central America Joined the Party
In September of 1821, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua–then known collectively as the Captaincy of Guatemala–caught fuego for freedom and forged ahead towards being their own united nations. Regional leaders like Nicaraguan Miguel Larreynaga and Guatemala’s Brigadier Gainza drafted an Act of Independence that was approved by Spain. In 1822, the men voted to join de Iturbide’s First Mexican Empire as the United Provinces of Central America.
Not everyone was pumped about moving to another empire though.
El Salvador favored total autonomy and resisted, but the collective fell before a single bullet was fired. In March of 1823, Iturbide was out. A few months and another Declaration of Independence later, the Federal Republic of Central America was born. Once again, conflicts among leaders led to revolt. Dudes like Honduran Francisco Morazan fought to keep the regions united, but Guatemalan Rafael Carrera and the rest of the opposition fought harder. The Federation collapsed in 1838.