Liberalism in Honduras

Liberalism in Honduras, as a form of Latin American liberalism, has old historical roots. Influenced by the French revolutionaries in the 1790s, the door was opened for ideas of positivism. People turned to liberal ideas: the idea of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty.

In the early years after the region achieved independence from Spain, Honduras was a constituent of the United Provinces of Central America. Frictions between liberals and conservatives undermined the federation. The liberal position was in favour of republicanism, free trade, less government and above all removal of the political and economic powers of the catholic church.

The Honduran liberal Francisco Morazán became president of the United Provinces in 1830. Morazán enacted many reforms, including freedom of speech, the press, and religion, equality of people of all classes before the law, and trial by jury. All of this was objected to by the Conservatives. The separation of Church and State, including allowing secular marriage and divorce and an end to government enforced tithing, made much of the clergy an enemy of Morazán and the Liberals. This led to a breakdown of this federation.

Independent Honduras came under control of the conservatives. It lasted until 1876 that the liberal Marco Aurelio Soto assumed the presidency. In the upcoming period liberals dominated the country and encourage foreign investment and economic growth. Soto and his successors were responsible for the reform of the powers of judiciary and church, a professionalization of the armed forces and a modernization of communications and education. In this way they paved the way for Honduras to become a state capable of taking its place in the world.

Liberals were president until 1903 with Luis Bográn (1883-1891), Ponciano Leiva Madrid (1891-1893), José Policarpo Bonilla Vásquez (1894-1899) and Terencio Esteban Sierra Romero (1899-1903). After this period liberals ruled the country between 1907 and 1911 (Miguel Rafael Dávila Cuéllar), 1920 and 1924 (Rafael López Gutiérrez and 1929 and 1933 (Vicente Mejía).

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