Second Presidency
In 1850, a Constituent Assembly published Guatemala's first constitution and named Carrera its president. In 1852, he restored relations between Guatemala with Rome. In 1854, he was declared "supreme and perpetual leader of the nation" for life with the power to choose his successor. He was in that position until he died on April 14, 1865. While he pursued some measures to set up a foundation for economic prosperity to please the conservative landowners, military challenges at home and in a three-year war with Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua dominated his presidency. His rivalry with Gerardo Barrios, President of El Salvador, resulted in open war in 1863. At Coatepeque the Guatemalans suffered a severe defeat, which was followed by a truce. Honduras now joined with El Salvador, and Nicaragua and Costa Rica with Guatemala. The contest was finally settled in favor of Carrera, who besieged and occupied San Salvador and made himself dominant also in Honduras and Nicaragua. He continued to act in concert with the Clerical Party, and tried to maintain friendly relations with the European governments. Before his death, Carrera nominated a general, Vicente Cerna Sandoval, as his successor.
Read more about this topic: Rafael Carrera
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