Central America, 1821-1871
168 pages, 6 x 9
Paperback
Release Date:30 Apr 1995
ISBN:9780817307653
Central America, 1821-1871
Liberalism before Liberal Reform
University of Alabama Press
Two interrelated essays dealing with the economic, social, and political changes that took place in Central America
Central America and its ill-fated federation (1824-1839) are often viewed as the archetype of the “anarchy” of early independent Spanish America. This book consists of two interralted essays dealing with the economic, social, and political changes that took place in Central America, changes that let to both Liberal regime consolidation and export agricultural development after the middle of the last century. The authors provide a challenging reinterpretation of Central American history and the most detailed analysis available in English of this most heterogeneous and obscure of societies. It avoids the dichotomous (Costa Rica versus the rest of Central America) and the centralist (Guatemala as the standard or model) treatments dominant in the existing literature and is required reading for anyone with an interest in 19th century Latin America.
Central America and its ill-fated federation (1824-1839) are often viewed as the archetype of the “anarchy” of early independent Spanish America. This book consists of two interralted essays dealing with the economic, social, and political changes that took place in Central America, changes that let to both Liberal regime consolidation and export agricultural development after the middle of the last century. The authors provide a challenging reinterpretation of Central American history and the most detailed analysis available in English of this most heterogeneous and obscure of societies. It avoids the dichotomous (Costa Rica versus the rest of Central America) and the centralist (Guatemala as the standard or model) treatments dominant in the existing literature and is required reading for anyone with an interest in 19th century Latin America.
'In sum, Gudmundson and Lindo-Fuentes offer a valuable work of synthesis and interpretation. They provide a valuable summing up, in a clear and concise fashion, of the 'state of the art' in contemporary research on mid-nineteenth-century Central America. Central America, 1821-1871 is a welcome addition to the literature, strongly recommended for specialists in nineteenth-century Latin America, and essential reading for students of Central American history.'
—H-Net
While Central America has subsided somewhat as the focus of U.S. attention in the 1990s, the area continues to be studied on its own merits. In this volume the authors have taken a fresh look at the 19th century mixture of politics and economics and provided provocative insights into the vital interaction of political ideology and economic reality in Central America. This book brings together current research and new perspectives in a most persuasive fashion.'
—Lawrence A. Clayton, editor of The De Soto Chronicles Vol 1 2
Lowell Gudmundson is Professor of Latin American Studies at Mount Holyoke College. Hector Lindo-Fuentes is Associate Professor of History at Fordham University.
