Central American Independence: History and Legacy of 1821

A key moment in the history of Central America

September 15, 1821, marks a founding date for Central America. On this day, in Guatemala City, local authorities signed the Central American Act of Independence, declaring the provinces of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua free after nearly three centuries of Spanish rule.

Unlike other regions of Latin America, Central American independence was relatively peaceful. It was the result of a consensus among local elites, influenced by a changing international context: the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the independence of Mexico, and the spread of liberal ideas throughout the world.

The causes of independence

Several factors explain this historic turning point:

- The weakening of Spain, exhausted by the Napoleonic Wars and the loss of many colonies.

- The example of neighboring movements: Haiti, Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico had already paved the way.

- Local discontent with a colonial system that favored the metropolis to the detriment of the Creole elites.

- The circulation of Enlightenment ideas, arrived through books, merchants and travelers.

The Act of Independence of 1821

The document signed in Guatemala not only proclaimed a break with Spain; it also opened the possibility of a regional union. This ambition took shape in 1823 with the creation of the United Provinces of Central America, a federation that brought together the five nations under a common project.

Although this federation dissolved a few years later, it left a lasting imprint: that of a shared Central American identity.

The legacy of independence

After 1821, each country followed its own path to national consolidation: internal debates, institution building, and the search for an identity. But all shared this common starting point. : September 15, 1821, a moment still celebrated every year.

In Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, this date is synonymous with parades, flags, and collective memory. In Europe, where a large Central American community lives, September 15th is also an opportunity to pass on the history and pride of their roots to new generations.

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