Federal Republic of Central America

Nicaragua, 1823–1841. Draft, not yet reviewed

It was a sovereign state in Central America that existed between 1823 and 1839/1841. It was composed of five states: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. It adopted a constitution, based on that of the federal government of the United States, in November 1824. A second civil war from 1838 to 1840 ended with the states of Central America declaring independence and the federal republic ceasing to exist.

Seat of power: Guatemala City

Rulers

Juan Vicente Villacorta Díaz

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1823–1824

He was a member of the triumvirates that governed the Federal Republic of Central America between July 1823 and March 1824. He also served as head of state of El Salvador from 1824 to 1826.

Portrait of Juan Vicente Villacorta Díaz: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Manuel José Arce

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1825–1828

He was the first president of the Federal Republic of Central America, serving from 1825 to 1829. He aligned himself with the conservatives after liberals opposed the concessions he granted conservatives to secure his election as president. In 1826 he unconstitutionally dissolved the Congress, and this led to civil war.

Portrait of Manuel José Arce: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Mariano Beltranena y Llano

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1828–1829

He was interim president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 13 April 1829 to 14 June 1829. Before that he was vice president, after José Cecilio del Valle resigned from that office.

Portrait of Mariano Beltranena y Llano: Rafael Betranena, Public domain, file

Francisco Morazán

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1829–1839

He was president of the Federal Republic of Central America on three occasions between 1829 and 1839. He enacted liberal reforms, including freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. He also limited church power by making marriage secular and abolishing government-aided tithing.

Portrait of Francisco Morazán: Aquiles Bigot, Public domain, file

José Francisco Barrundia

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1829–1830

From June 26, 1829 to September 16, 1830 he was interim president. He was a strong supporter of Francisco Morazán.

Portrait of José Francisco Barrundia: PiedraSanta, CC BY-SA 3.0, file

José Gregorio Salazar

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1834–1835

He was acting president from September 16, 1834 to February 14, 1835, in between two administrations of Francisco Morazán. He was vice president of the Central American Federation in 1834 when President Morazán temporarily relinquished his duties to take the field to fight rebels.

Portrait of José Gregorio Salazar: sanchiz, Public domain, file

Diego Vigil y Cocaña

President of the Federal Republic of Central America, 1839–1840

He was the last president of the Federal Republic of Central America, during its disintegration. He was related to Francisco Morazán and was among his closest fellow combatants.

Portrait of Diego Vigil y Cocaña: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, file

Culture

The constitution was inspired by the federal government of the United States, the United States Declaration of Independence, and the Spanish Constitution of 1812.
Slavery was abolished on 17 April 1824 by federal decree.
Guatemala City was the capital until 1834, when the seat of government was relocated to San Salvador.
Historians have attributed the country's political instability to its federal system of government and its economic struggles.

Picture

The republic was composed of five states and a Federal District from 1835 to 1839.

Image: Huhsunqu, CC BY-SA 2.5, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.