Our series on Secessions takes us to Central America, where the Republic of Yucatan, located on the peninsula of the same name, seceded from Mexico twice in history: first in 1823, just after the independence of Mexico from Spain, second between 1841 and 1848.
Yucatan had been a Captaincy General of New Spain. As such, it enjoyed a large amount of autonomy from the central colonial power in Mexico City. When independence occurred, Yucatan first vied to become its own republic, then accepted to become part of Mexico. The struggle between federalists and centralists had a major effect on remote regions like Texas in the Northeast and Yucatan in the Southeast. The victory of centralists in the mid 1830s and the designation of provincial governors by the central government led both entities to declare themselves independent. While Texas ultimately joined the United States, Yucatan, after being given guarantees on new federal institutions, rejoined officially Mexico in 1848.
In 1863, the state of Yucatan was split into Yucatan and Campeche and, in 1902, the Caribbean coast of Yucatan became the Territory of Quintana Roo. In turn, Quintana Roo became a State in 1974.
The Republic of Yucatan
