Rise To Power
In the 1830s Rafael Carrera pledged a vendetta against Central American president Francisco Morazán and the Federal government after undisciplined Federal soldiers killed some of his relatives. By 1837, rural masses expressed numerous grievances against the liberal government. Inexperienced in republican politics, the liberal leaders didn't foresee the power of popular resistance and refused to change course. A cholera epidemic added to the frustration over grievances, led to panic, and helped Carrera rally the peasants into a continuous military resistance. Strongly supported by the Church, Carrera became de facto ruler on much of Guatemala and led a large uprising of Indians in eastern and southern Guatemala. The movement was strongly conservative and eager to restore many of the colonial institutions and traditions that the liberals had abandoned. Morazán repeatedly chased Carrera's forces out of cities and towns, but Carrera's followers would retake places as soon as Morazán's army left. For almost a decade, he was content being a military commander and enjoyed the respect of his followers.
Read more about this topic: Rafael Carrera
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