...La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, today known as Guatemala City, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala, and the most populous in Central America.

...in the Captaincy General of Guatemala, in particular, the intendancy lays the groundwork for the future independent nations of the nineteenth century.

The Captaincy General of Guatemala between 1810 and 1814 elects seven representatives to the Cádiz Cortes, in addition to forming a locally elected Provincial Deputation.

New Spain, after a protracted struggle for independence from 1810 to 1821, becomes the sovereign nation of Mexico, with the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba.

A brief period of monarchy (1821–23), called the First Mexican Empire, is followed by the founding of the Republic of Mexico, established under a federal constitution in 1824.

Legal racial categories are eliminated, abolishing the system of castas.

Slavery is not abolished at independence in 1821 or with the constitution in 1824, but will be eliminated in 1829.

A congress of Central American Criollos in Guatemala City in 1821 composes the Act of Independence of Central America to declare the region's independence from Spain, effective on September 15 of this year. (This date is still marked as independence day by most Central American nations.)

The Spanish Captain General, Gabino Gaínza, sympathizes with the rebels and it is decided that he should stay on as interim leader until a new government can be formed.

Independence is short-lived, for the conservative leaders in Guatemala welcome annexation by the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide on January 5, 1822.

Central American liberals object to this, but an army from Mexico under General Vicente Filisola occupies Guatemala City and quells dissent.

When Mexico becomes a republic the following year, it acknowledges Central America's right to determine its own destiny.

On July 1, 1823, the congress of Central America declares absolute independence from Spain, Mexico, and any other foreign nation, including North Americas, and a Republican system of government is established.
 
In 1823, the nation of Central America is formed.

Intended to be a federal republic modeled after the United States of America, it is provisionally known as "The United Provinces of Central America," while the final name according to the Constitution of 1824 is "The Federal Republic of Central America."


It is sometimes incorrectly referred in English as "The United States of Central America."

The Central American nation consists of the states of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

A congress of Central American criollos in 1821 declares their independence from Spain, effective on 15 September of this year.

This date is still marked as the independence day by most Central American nations, today's Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The Spanish Captain General, Gabino Gaínza, sympathizes with the rebels and it is decided that he should stay on as interim leader until a new government can be formed.

The Army of the Three Guarantees had entered Mexico City on September 27, and the following day the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain is proclaimed.

The newly independent Mexican Empire proposes on October 29, 1821, that Guatemala should merge with it.

Central American independence is short-lived, for the conservative leaders in Guatemala welcome annexation by the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide on January 5, 1822.

Central American liberals object to this, but an army from Mexico under General Vicente Filisola occupies Guatemala City and quells dissent.

The congress of Central America declares absolute independence from Spain, Mexico, and any other foreign nation, and a Republican system of government is established.

The Central American nation thus formed from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala on July 1, 1823, is intended to be a federal republic modeled after the United States of America.

It is provisionally known as "The United Provinces of Central America".

Honduran soldier and statesman Francisco Morazon is the architect and guiding force of the loose federation.

Guatemala City becomes the capital, and each state is to be locally autonomous.

Central American liberals have high hopes for the federal republic, which they believe will evolve into a modern, democratic nation, enriched by trade crossing through it between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.

These aspirations are reflected in the emblems of the federal republic: The flag shows a white band between two blue stripes, representing the land between two oceans.

The coat of arms shows five mountains (one for each state) between two oceans, surmounted by a Phrygian cap, the emblem of the French Revolution.

Mexico, on becoming a republic later in 1823, will acknowledge Central America's right to determine its own destiny.