The almost unceasing violence that attends the effort to unite Central America into one federated nation leads the leaders of the five states to abandon that effort and declare their independence as separate political entities.

El Salvador does so in January 1841.

Although their destinies will remain intertwined and they will intervene in each other's affairs routinely in the years to come, the countries of Central America will from this time function as fragmented and competitive mini-states readily exploitable by foreign powers.