The Kingdom of Guatemala established in 1609 served as a proxy kingdom for the Spanish and encompassed current day countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Mexican state of Chiapas. Religion being a critical part of the culture was constantly enforced and integrated as seen in the earlier 16th century as refusal often led to cruel severe punishment or death. It was the incorporation of Catholicism that led to the church playing an important role in the administration and the development of the region as the dieses that were created gained regional control over administration during the Bourbon Reforms of the 18th century that were meant to tighten control on administration and reestablish dominance over Spanish colonial territories. This unfortunately deemed negative results…show more content… Unfortunately many of the Bourbon Reforms came too late as the Peninsula war served as the tipping point for many Latin American countries as the deposition of the Spanish King caused an immediate humiliation and marking the end for the Spanish Empire. As Napoleon dethroned Ferdinand and replaced him with his brother it spawned a chain of secession starting with Mexico in 1810 and leading to the Kingdom of Guatemala declaring its independence from Spain in September 15th, 1821. The Act of Independence of Central America would later have the former Kingdom join the Mexican Empire. Unfortunately the unification was short lived as inner turmoil within Mexico ensued as AgustÃn de Iturbide, the current Monarch of Mexico at the time, was unable to remain in control (1823) causing Central America to separate into their respected
