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n – Honduras
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nHenwas a man of ideas and a man of action.
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nFrancisconMorazan (who was born on this day in 1792, in what is now Honduras)nwanted Central America to be one large nation. And, for a while, withnefforts by Morazan and others, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras,nNicaragua, and El Salvador united to create the Central AmericannFederation
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nMorazannput into law important liberties such as freedom of press, freedom ofnspeech, and freedom of religion. n
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nHenlimited the power of the Catholic church. Before Morazan, the onlynway to get married was through the church. Also, everyone hadnto pay tithe (money) to the Catholic church, by law. If Morazannhadn’t made these changes, there would have been no true freedom ofnreligion.
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nHenpromoted education. He introduced trial by jury.
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nHenwanted unity and held progressive ideals.
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nMorazannrose to power through military action as well as through speeches andnpopular vote. His reforms made him some powerful enemies. Annuneducated swineherd-turned-highwayman named Rafael Carrera foughtnhis way into power with the help of priests, who played tricks tonconvince people that miracles had showed Carrera to be a protectivenangel from heaven. Carrera rallied his troops with the cries, “Longnlive religion! Death to foreigners!” n
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nThenfragile federation was ripped apart into five separate—and oftennwarring—nations, and Morazan was exiled. Later, he was asked toncome back and help Central America fight off the British. Still, thenin-fighting between the nations ended with an attack against andnarrest of Morazan, and in 1842 he was executed.
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nMorazannis honored on money, stamps, names of cities and streets and parks,nand in other ways. Plays and books have been written about him, andnthere are statues and busts of him in Central America and also Spain,nSouth America, and the U.S. In Honduras, today’s holiday celebratesnhis birthday. (It is also called “Day of the Soldier.”)
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| Early residents of Honduras included the Maya. |
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nLearnnmore about Honduras at Mayan Kids and the National Geographicnwebsite.
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