Retro Raunch Revisit

JUL 1, 1823: The 5 Central American nations of Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica all declare independence from the First Mexican Empire which was established as a short-lived constitutional monarchy that after their war with Spain, had gained independence in Sept 1821. The 5 countries had been annexed in Jan 1822 and as Mexico underwent internal conflicts from unrest & civil war, a disintegrating Congress, and financial problems in a struggling economy, a revolt against Emporer Agustín de Iturbide saw him stepping down in Mar 1823 and exiled to Europe in May. Ruling power was passed to a provisional government that transitioned into the First Mexican Republic in Nov. The 5 Central American breakaways (initially known as the United Provinces of Central America) became the Federal Republic of Central America. Although it adopted a Constitution, the formation's status was not of complete autonomy and lasted to 1841 by which time all 5 had eventually achieved separate sovereignty. In Jul 1824, Iturbide returned to Mexico in the belief he would be welcomed as a liberator but was arrested shortly afterwards, tried as a traitor and executed by firing squad. In Oct 1824, the Republic elected its first President Guadalupe Victoria. When he left office in Mar 1829, he was the only President to complete his full term in over 30yrs. As the 1823 Empire had collapsed, Mexico's territory -- specifically with cessions to the United States (including the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma) -- would see itself considerably reduced over the next several decades.