historical events of Guatemala

Guatemalan Independence
On September 14, 1821, the Brigadier and Subinspector of Troops, Don
Gabino Gainza, called the so-called Historical Session that would take
place in the National Palace of Guatemala at 8:00 in the morning of the
next day. The National Palace was located in what we know today as
Centenario Park.
Introduction of coffee in Guatemala
In 1773, the first coffee plants arrived in Guatemala, as a result of an
initiative developed by Jesuit priests. In the mid-18th century, for the
first time, coffee was consumed in public in Guatemala, when celebrating
the elevation of the Cathedral to Metropolitan status. Before that date, its consumption
as a drink had not been widespread, although it was sometimes used as medicine.
Revolution of 1994
In 1944, Guatemala experienced one of the greatest times in modern
history. The fall of Jorge Ubico was the product of an awareness that had
its roots in the ideological struggle caused by the Second World War. The
War that was being lived in Guatemala through the propaganda media of
the allies and that was heard through the broadcasts of the BBC in
London, the Voice of Víctor de San José in Costa Rica and the XEW news
that transmitted, were all oriented in favor of democracies.
Annexation to Mexico (1822)
Since November, Commander Agustín Iturbide invited Guatemala to annex with
Mexico. Despite the disagreement between the factions that were in favor of
the annexation and those who were not, on January 5, 1822, the act that
annexed us to the Mexican Empire was signed.
Federal Republic of Central America (1824)
The Federal Republic of Central America emerged from the Constituent
Assembly of the United Provinces of Central America, on November 22, 1824.
This federation was guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Central
America and had Guatemala City as its capital until 1834. This federation was
made up of Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In 1838,
a sixth state, Los Altos with capital in Quetzaltenango.
Liberal Reform (1871)
General Justo Rufino Barrios together with Miguel García Granados promoted
the so-called Liberal Reform of 1871. Changes were introduced in the economic
sphere, in particular the separation between Church and State. During this time
coffee was positioned as an important crop in Guatemala and extensive land
expropriation was employed.

Presence of the United Fruit Company (UFCO) (1901)

During the government of Manuel Estrada Cabrera (1989 to 1920), the United
Fruit Company became one of the main economic forces in the country, through
large concessions made by the Estrada Cabrera government.
Internal Armed Conflict (1960)
It was the civil war that occurred between 1960 and 1996, in which the
Guatemalan Army confronted the guerrillas. This war lasted 36 years and it is
estimated that at least 250 thousand people died or disappeared. This
confrontation culminated in the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996.

Establishment of the democratic system (1985)

After a series of military governments and scenarios of political instability, the
democratic system was established in Guatemala and materialized with the
Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala in 1985.

Introduction of the railway in Guatemala

The history of the railroad in Guatemala begins in 1880 when the construction
of the San José-Guatemala section begins, which concludes on September 15,
1884 when it comes into operation. It was driven by liberal reform and the
needs of the nascent coffee industry. During this period, the first concessions
(privatizations) in the country's history were granted, with the aim of attracting
foreign investment to “modernize” the infrastructure for agricultural exports,
“due to
the material and economic incapacity of the State to do so”