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Hernan Cortes leads a force of conquistadors to Mexico. -
Spain had seized control of most of Central America. -
During the early 1800s, Britain claimed the area that is now Belize. -
Through much of the 1800s, Mexico was troubled by political conflict. Rival groups fought one another for power. Most of Mexico’s people remained poor. -
During the early 1800s, Britain claimed the area that is now Belize. -
a priest named Miguel Hidalgo led a rebellion in Mexico in 1810. -
After almost 300 years of Spanish rule, a priest named Miguel Hidalgo led a rebellion in Mexico in 1810. The goal of the rebellion was to win independence from Spain. Some people hoped it would also create a more nearly equal society. The Spanish captured and executed Hidalgo, but by 1821 Mexico had gained its independence. Spanish rulers, though, were replaced by wealthy Mexican landowners. Native peoples remained poor. -
In 1823 the territories of Central America united to form one government. -
By 1840, they had separated into five independent countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica -
Around 1900, Panama gained its independence from Colombia. It was helped by the United States, which wanted to build a canal there. -
The late 1900s was a time of conflict. New wealth came to the upper classes, but most people remained poor. Various groups demanded reforms. Several countries were ravaged by civil wars. Only Costa Rica and Belize remained peaceful. One of Costa Rica’s presidents, Óscar Arias Sánchez, helped bring peace to the region. -
By the early 1900s, dissatisfaction was widespread. A revolution erupted in Mexico. A revolution is a period of violent social and political change. One change was the land reform plan, which divided large estates into parcels of land that were then given to poor people to farm. National public schools were established, and a new constitution was written detailing the responsibilities of the government toward the people. Only one political party, however, held power until the 1990s.
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The United States controlled the canal until 2000. Then, by agreement, Panama took control of the canal.