What caused the conflict between Liberals and Conservatives in the United Provinces of Central America?

The conflict between Liberals and Conservatives in the United Provinces of Central America was rooted in fundamental disagreements over governance, the role of the church, and social policy.

While the federation’s constitution established a federal republic with local autonomy, deep ideological divisions emerged. The Liberals, who gained control in 1830 under Francisco Morazán, pursued a reformist agenda that included:1

• Anticlericalism: The disestablishment of the Roman Catholic Church and the passage of laws to reduce its traditional privileges.1
• Economic Reform: Measures aimed at promoting trade, industry, and foreign immigration.21
• Judicial and Social Change: Efforts toward judicial reform and land grants, which often conflicted with traditional interests.2

These policies alienated the Conservative elite and the clergy, who viewed the Liberals as "godless". Tensions reached a breaking point in 1837 following a cholera epidemic, which the clergy blamed on Liberal policies. This sparked peasant revolts led by Rafael Carrera, a Conservative-backed leader who successfully toppled the Liberal government in Guatemala. These internal divisions and the subsequent rise of regional strongmen ultimately led to the collapse of the federation.123