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Abstract:
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The years that followed Guatemala's independence from Spain brought with them a great deal of turmoil. For the first two years of its independence Guatemala joined the Mexican Empire proclaimed by Agustíne de Iturbide. However, when that Empire fell in 1823, Guatemala joined the fully independent United Provinces of Central America. This led to further turmoil as the narrow election of Manuel José Arce to the presidency of this new confederation led to dispute and, eventually, civil war. In the aftermath, Francisco Morazán of Honduras was elected president in 1830 and led a reformation that promoted liberal ideas throughout the confederation. The document that appears here, then, represents an early moment in this reform as it calls for the Guatemalan people to embrace the tenants of liberalism as a means of preventing further bloodshed and civil war. Though this reformation would have a lasting impact on the importance of liberalism in the politics of Guatemala, it was unable to preserve the confederation. Guatemala seceded from the confederation in 1838, which led to the confederation's complete dissolution shortly thereafter. |