---

---

The 19th Century

---

 

1821 — Guatemala receives independence form Spain and becomes associated with Mexican Empire

1823 — Independence from Mexico; becomes associated with United Provinces of Central America

1839 — Achieves full independence

1844 — Ruled by dictator Rafeal Carrera

1873 — Ruled by President Justo Rufino Barrios

The 20th Century

---

 

1931 — Jorge Ubico becomes President

1941 — Guatemala joins the Allied powers in World Word II against Germany and Japan

1944 — President Ubico is overthrown by civilians; Juan Jose Arevalo becomes President

1951 — Col. Jacobo Arbenz Guzman elected democratically to be President

1954 — U.S. CIA carry out Guatemalan coup d’état sending Carlos Castillo Armas to lead an uprising to overthrow President Arbenz; Castillo declared President

1960 —  Civil War begins, Military Forces vs Leftist Guerrillas

1963 — Castillo is assassinated; Col. Enrique Peralta becomes President

1966 — Civilian gain power and elect Caesar Mendez for President

1970 — Carlos Arena becomes President giving more power back to the Military

1976 — 27,000 people killed, over a million left homeless after Earthquake

1980 — Spanish Embassy Fire, 36 people dead

1981 — 11,000 people killed by death squads and soldiers of guerilla

1985 — Democratic Rule; Marco Vinicio Cerezo becomes President

1989 — Failed attempt to overthrow Cerezo

1991 — Jorge Serrano Elias becomes President

1993 — Serrano resigns; Ramiro de Leon Carpio becomes President

1996 — Peace Accords signed; 36 years of Civil War comes to an end; Alvaro Arzu becomes president

The 21st Century

---

 

2000 — Alfonso Portillo becomes President

2002 — Border agreement between Guatemala and Belize

2003 — U.S. and Guatemala establish a free trade agreement

2004 — Damages of $3.5 million goes towards the victims of the war

2005 — Guatemala’s head officer in anti-drugs is charged with drug dealing in the U.S.

 

 

The Book of Unknown Americans Homepage

Hannah Summers, 2019