Central America Under Liberal Rule, 1870–1929
Central America Under Liberal Rule, 1870–1929
- Carlos Gregorio López BernalCarlos Gregorio López BernalDepartment of History, Universidad de El Salvador
Summary
In 1871, a wave of “liberal revolutions” began in Central America. Important changes were made to strengthen national states, promote the growth of the economy, and secularize society. The speed and intensity of the reforms varied across the region, as did the results. However, in every case, there were significant advances shown through exports, public works, and architecture in major cities.
The benefits of the reforms were also unevenly distributed. Coffee growers, businessmen, and bureaucrats saw their incomes and living standards improve while peasants, indigenous people, and workers received little, and in some cases saw their living conditions deteriorate significantly. The global crisis of capitalism in 1929 demonstrated the vulnerability of the liberal model, producing an authoritarian turn in the region.
Subjects
- History of Central America
- 1889–1910
- Cultural History
- Social History
