Central American liberals are optimistic for their Federation, which they believe will evolve into a modern, democratic nation, enriched by trade passing 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.

In practice, however, the federation faces insurmountable problems.

As a governor of Mexico, Vicente Filisola had occupied Guatemala City after the formation of Federal Republic of Central America and had been successful in annexing El Salvador in 1823, causing an uprising there.

In compliance with the Mexican constitution, Filisola had convened the Central American congress, which had forthwith declared its independence from Mexico.

Filisola had not been able to maintain a fighting force, and his troops gad been sent back to Mexico by the residents of Guatemala City, who paid for their transportation.

The liberal democratic project is strongly opposed by conservative factions allied with the Roman Catholic clergy and the wealthy landowners.

Transportation and communication routes between the states are extremely deficient.

The bulk of the population lacks any sense of commitment towards the broader federation, perhaps owing to their continued loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church in Spain.

The federal bureaucracy in Guatemala City has proven ineffectual, and Manuel José Arce’s four-year-old government is overthrown in 1829.

José Francisco Barrundia, former leader of the Revolutionary Party of Guatemala that had fought for independence, is appointed interim president, and

Francisco Morazán Quesada is elected President of Central America in a general election that brings the Liberal party to power in the republic.

Morazán enacts many reforms, including freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion; equality of people of all classes before the law; and trial by jury.

The Conservatives object to all this.

The separation of Church and State, including allowing secular marriage and divorce and an end to government enforced tithing, makes much of the clergy an enemy of Morazán and the Liberals.

Houston and six hundred Texans surprise Santa Anna and twelve hundred Mexican troops on the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou on the afternoon of April 21, 1836, destroy half their number, and imprison the rest, including Santa Anna.

During the battle, many Texians had shouted, "Remember the Alamo!"

Santa Anna is forced to order his troops out of Texas, ending Mexican control of the province, now known as the Republic of Texas.

General Vicente Filisola, noting the state of his tired and hungry army, marches back to Mexico, but not without protests from Urrea.

Only Santa Anna has been defeated, not the Army of Operations, and Urrea feels that the campaign should continue, but Filisola disagrees.