How did the 1837 cholera outbreak contribute to political unrest in Guatemala?

The 1837 cholera outbreak acted as a major catalyst for political instability in Guatemala, exacerbating existing tensions between the ruling Liberals and the Conservative opposition.

The Liberal government, led by Governor Mariano Gálvez, had implemented various reforms—including anticlericalism, judicial changes, and new taxes—that were already unpopular with many segments of the population. When the cholera epidemic struck, the clergy seized the opportunity to blame the crisis on the "godless" Liberal administration.12

This panic and religious resentment fueled peasant revolts, which were organized and led by the mestizo rebel leader Rafael Carrera. The uprising successfully toppled Gálvez and sharply divided the Liberal faction, allowing Conservatives to regain control. This period of unrest ultimately led to the collapse of the United Provinces of Central America, as Carrera established himself as the military arbiter of Guatemala and effectively ended the federal experiment.2134