|
Abstract:
|
This document demonstrates the turmoil that followed in the wake of Guatemala's independence from Spain. In 1801, Antonio González Mollinedo y Saravia became governor of Spanish-controlled Guatemala, only to see Spain become overrun by Napoleon Bonaparte's French forces. Meanwhile, liberal ideas had been spreading throughout Guatemala for over a decade. Though Mollinedo opposed the French and supported the reestablishment of Spanish rule, the French occupation of Spain allowed the liberalist movement to gain considerable power. When Mollinedo died on a military campaign in Mexico in 1811 his successor, José de Bustamante y Guerra, had to immediately deal with revolt and general public dissent. The people of Guatemala had become eager for a liberal government free of the Spanish monarchy, which eventually led to the liberal revolution of 1820 (Calvert 61) . This revolution forced the presiding governor, Gabino Gainza, to finally support Guatemala's independence, which was declared on September 15th, 1821, with Gainza himself heading the provisional government. The document presented here was written by Gainza, and shows his support for a liberal government independent of Spanish rule - a position that is contrary to his initial stance in favor of Spain. |