Federal Republic of Central America

Federal Republic of Central America República Federal de Centro América
1823–1839/1841
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Dios, Unión, Libertad" "God, Union, Liberty"
Anthem: "La Granadera" "The Grenadier"
An orthographic projection of the world with the Federal Republic of Central America in green and its uncontrolled territorial claims in light green
Capital	Guatemala City (until 1834) Sonsonate (1834) San Salvador (from 1834)
Common languages	Spanish and various indigenous languages
Religion	Catholicism
Demonym(s)	Central American
Government	Federal presidential republic
President
• 1825–1828	Manuel José Arce (first)
• 1829, 1830–1834, 1835–1839	Francisco Morazán (last)
Legislature	Federal Congress[a]
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Historical era	Spanish American wars of independence
• Independence from the Spanish Empire	15 September 1821
• Independence from the First Mexican Empire	1 July 1823
• Constitution adopted	22 November 1824
• Dissolution	17 April 1839
• El Salvador declares its independence	30 January 1841
Area
• Total	200,000 sq mi (520,000 km2)
Population
• 1824	1,287,491
• 1836	1,900,000
Currency	Central American real
Preceded by Succeeded by First Mexican Empire Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Los Altos Nicaragua

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The Federal Republic of Central America (Spanish: República Federal de Centro América), initially known as the United Provinces of Central America (Provincias Unidas del Centro de América), was a sovereign state in Central America that existed between 1823 and 1839/1841. The republic was composed of five states (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), and a Federal District from 1835 to 1839. Guatemala City was its capital city until 1834, when the seat of government was relocated to San Salvador. The Federal Republic of Central America was bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south by Gran Colombia and on its eastern coastline by the Mosquito Coast and British Honduras, both claimed by the federal republic.

After Central America (then known as the Captaincy General of Guatemala) declared its independence from the Spanish Empire in September 1821, it was annexed by the First Mexican Empire in January 1822 before regaining its independence and forming a federal republic in 1823. The Federal Republic of Central America adopted its constitution, based on that of the federal government of the United States, in November 1824. It held its first presidential election in April 1825, during which liberal politician Manuel José Arce was elected as the country's first president. Arce subsequently aligned himself with the country's conservatives due to liberal opposition to the concessions he granted conservatives to secure his election as president. The republic was politically unstable, experiencing civil wars, rebellions, and insurrections by liberals and conservatives. From 1827 to 1829, it fell into a civil war between conservatives who supported Arce and liberals who opposed him. Liberal politician Francisco Morazán led the liberals to victory, and was elected president in 1830. The republic descended into a second civil war from 1838 to 1840, by the end of which the states of Central America declared independence and the federal republic ceased to exist.

Historians have attributed the country's political instability to its federal system of government and its economic struggles. Agricultural exports were insufficient and the federal government was unable to repay its foreign loans, despite favorable terms. Central America's economic troubles were caused in part by the federal government inability to collect taxes and inadequate interstate infrastructure.

Central American politicians, writers, and intellectuals have called for the reunification of Central America since the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America. There have been several attempts by the republic's successor states during the 19th and 20th centuries to reunify Central America through diplomatic and military means, but none succeeded in uniting all five former members for more than one year. All five former members of the Federal Republic of Central America are members of the Central American Integration System (SICA), an economic and political organization that promotes regional development.

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