Central America: First Cry of Independence

The economic crisis in Guatemala (meaning at the time all of Central America), was due more to political problems in Spain. These were compounded when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain with his troops, sent into exile to King Charles IV and his son Ferdinand VII and placed on the throne to his brother Joseph Bonaparte (whom the Spanish called, Pepe Botella, according to them its love liquor).

Spanish patriots quickly organized, organizing Regional Board, after a Central Committee with representatives from all parts of Spain and then in the colonies. So that Spain had then two governments, Bonaparte and the Central Board ruling on behalf of Ferdinand VII.

In the colonies were searched for different solutions. In the Viceroyalty of Villa de La Plata (Argentina), Captaincy General of Venezuela, Viceroyalty of New Granada (Colombia) and the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico), was organized together to govern on behalf of the King. In the Captaincy General of Guatemala (Central America) and the Viceroyalty of Peru, the colonial authorities continued in control. Guatemala proclaimed its allegiance to the Central Board and continued sending "patriotic contribution" (from 1808 were sent to Spain for more than 1 million pesos). But instead they tried to exert greater influence and demanded representation in the Central Board, sought to diminish the power of mainland authorities through the activity of the municipalities.

The Central Board held elections for Parliament and every part of the Kingdom of Guatemala sent a delegate to them which met in Cadiz. The delegate from the Municipality of San Salvador was the Priest José Ignacio Avila, who requested the establishment of a separate bishopric of Guatemala.

But there were patriots who wanted more autonomy. The Municipality of San Salvador, who had accused more havoc with the economic crisis, was the first to rebel openly in 1811.

A group of natives began to meet in San Salvador in the house of Aguilar brothers (Nicolas, Vicente and Manuel). The meetings were also attended conspiracy: José Matías Delgado and Manuel José Arce Bernardo, Juan Manuel Rodriguez and Pedro Pablo Castillo.

However, the Captain General José de Bustamante had spies all over the Kingdom that they were aware of the conspiracy, so the Captain General of San Salvador drew funds from the Royal Treasury and the Consulate of Commerce. The spies discovered holding correspondence with the Aguilar brothers Nicaraguan patriots, which ended in the arrest of Don Manuel Aguilar in Guatemala.

On 04 November came the mail to San Salvador to report on the arrest warrant, precipitating events. The next day (05) was a day of "regular council" and people gathered in the square. The crowd was so hostile that the mayor, Don Antonio Gutierrez Ulloa, who was forced to resign and Manuel José Arce proclaimed "there is no king, no taxes, no obedience but should be paid to mayors."

The people of San Salvador were the first to the Captaincy General of Guatemala (Central America) to ask for independence. Elected a new council is chaired by Don Bernardo Arce and was appointed mayor counter as interim minister. But the desire for greater autonomy, it was still difficult to accept the idea of ​​breaking all ties with Spain, so that the new governing council swore in the name of King Ferdinand VII, who was considered the legitimate King of Spain and not Joseph Bonaparte .

But the situation was not yet suitable for an independence movement and not all parties of the Administration supported the motion. The movement of the November 5, premature and without the support of other parts of the Kingdom, FAILURE.

Source: Ministry of Education, History of El Salvador, Volume I, San Salvador, 1994, 249 pages, pag. 170-182.