Republic of Central America
Encyclopedia
The Greater Republic of Central America was a short-lived union between Honduras
, Nicaragua
, and El Salvador
, lasting from 1896 to 1898. It was an attempt to revive the failed Federal Republic of Central America
earlier in the century.
The three countries agreed to establish a union with the signing of the Treaty of Amapala on 20 June, 1895. On 15 September, 1896, after the countries had all ratified the treaty individually, the union was formally confirmed. The republic was rechristened the "United States of Central America" when its constitution came into effect on 1 November, 1898. The capital was to be located at the Honduran town of Amapala
on the Gulf of Fonseca
. The union was dissolved after General Tomás Regalado seized power in El Salvador on 21 November.
Before its dissolution, the Greater Republic established diplomatic relationships with the United States
. Guatemala
and Costa Rica
both considered joining the union, but neither ultimately did.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, and El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, lasting from 1896 to 1898. It was an attempt to revive the failed Federal Republic of Central America
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America, known as the United Provinces of Central America in its first year of creation, was a sovereign state in Central America, which consisted of the territories of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala of New Spain...
earlier in the century.
The three countries agreed to establish a union with the signing of the Treaty of Amapala on 20 June, 1895. On 15 September, 1896, after the countries had all ratified the treaty individually, the union was formally confirmed. The republic was rechristened the "United States of Central America" when its constitution came into effect on 1 November, 1898. The capital was to be located at the Honduran town of Amapala
Amapala
Amapala is a municipality in the Honduran department of Valle. It is formed by El Tigre Island and its satellite islets and rocks in the Gulf of Fonseca. It has an area of 75.2 km² and a population of 2,482 as of the census of 2001...
on the Gulf of Fonseca
Gulf of Fonseca
The Gulf of Fonseca , part of the Pacific Ocean, is a gulf in Central America, bordering El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.-History:Fonseca Bay was discovered in 1522 by Gil Gonzalez de Avila, and named by him after his patron, Archbishop Juan Fonseca, the implacable enemy of Columbus.In 1849, E. G...
. The union was dissolved after General Tomás Regalado seized power in El Salvador on 21 November.
Before its dissolution, the Greater Republic established diplomatic relationships with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
both considered joining the union, but neither ultimately did.