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Central America, 1821-1871

Central America, 1821-1871

Liberalism before Liberal Reform

by Lowell Gudmundson and Hector Lindo-Fuentes

168 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.79 in

Paperback
9780817307653
Published: April 1995

$29.95

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eBook
9780817389369
Published: April 2015

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Two interrelated essays dealing with the economic, social, and political changes that took place in Central America

Central America and its ill-fated federation (1824-1839) are often viewed as the archetype of the “anarchy” of early independent Spanish America. This book consists of two interralted essays dealing with the economic, social, and political changes that took place in Central America, changes that let to both Liberal regime consolidation and export agricultural development after the middle of the last century. The authors provide a challenging reinterpretation of Central American history and the most detailed analysis available in English of this most heterogeneous and obscure of societies. It avoids the dichotomous (Costa Rica versus the rest of Central America) and the centralist (Guatemala as the standard or model) treatments dominant in the existing literature and is required reading for anyone with an interest in 19th century Latin America.

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Notes

1. The Economy of Central America: Contents From Bourbon Reforms to Liberal Reforms / Héctor Lindo-Fuentes

The Colonial Heritage

From Traditional to Export Agriculture

Export Agriculture and Trade

Conclusion

Notes

2. Society and Politics in Central America, 1821-1871 / Lowell Gudmundson

The Conservative Interlude and Liberal Challenge

From Corn and Cattle to Coffee: Land Tenure Policies

The Church Question: Mortmain and Life's Blood

Secularization and the Clerical Counteroffensive

Society Transformed: Economic and Demographic Bases

Society Redefined: Race Mixture and Ethnic Identity

Conclusion

Notes

Suggestions for Further Reading

Index

Lowell Gudmundson is Professor of Latin American Studies at Mount Holyoke College. Hector Lindo-Fuentes is Associate Professor of History at Fordham University.

"In sum, Gudmundson and Lindo-Fuentes offer a valuable work of synthesis and interpretation. They provide a valuable summing up, in a clear and concise fashion, of the 'state of the art' in contemporary research on mid-nineteenth-century Central America. Central America, 1821-1871 is a welcome addition to the literature, strongly recommended for specialists in nineteenth-century Latin America, and essential reading for students of Central American history."
—H-Net

"While Central America has subsided somewhat as the focus of U.S. attention in the 1990s, the area continues to be studied on its own merits. In this volume the authors have taken a fresh look at the 19th century mixture of politics and economics and provided provocative insights into the vital interaction of political ideology and economic reality in Central America. This book brings together current research and new perspectives in a most persuasive fashion."
—Lawrence A. Clayton, editor of The De Soto Chronicles Vol 1 2

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Central America, 1821-1871

Liberalism before Liberal Reform

Central America, 1821-1871

Liberalism before Liberal Reform

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