Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guatemala repudiated the treaty on the grounds that the provisions of Article 7 were not
fulfilled, and the new constitution of 1945 declared Belize - Belice in Spanish - to be the
23rd department of Guatemala. In 1948 Guatemala made the first of several threats to
invade to “recover” the territory; Britain responded by sending cruisers and troops, the
first of many military deployments over the next four decades. In hindsight, £100,000 in
1859 would have been a comparative bargain.
The Caste Wars of Yucatán
The terrible, bloody Caste Wars of Yucatán began with a riot by Maya troops at
Valladolid in 1847. They sacked the town, killing whites, spreading terror and coming
within a hair's breadth of capturing the peninsula's capital, Mérida, and throwing off
white rule completely. From 1848, as Mexico sent troops to put down the rebellion,
thousands of Maya and mestizo refugees fled to Belize, increasing the population of
Orange Walk and Corozal districts. The superintendent in Belize encouraged them to
stay as they cleared land for sugar cane and brought much-needed farming skills.
The rebellious Cruzob Maya (taking their name from a sacred “talking cross”)
occupied a virtually independent territory in the east of Yucatán. They established their
capital at Chan Santa Cruz (“little holy cross” - they were also known as the Santa Cruz
Maya ), the modern town of Felipe Carillo Puerto, north of Belize. At this time, the
border was not clearly defined, and Belizean woodcutters came into conflict with the
Santa Cruz Maya, who attacked mahogany camps and took prisoners for ransom.
Alarm spread and eventually a compromise was reached, with the prisoners' release
secured by a ransom, and further royalties paid for the right to cut wood in Maya
territory. In fact British merchants profited by selling the Santa Cruz Maya arms, which
provoked strong protests from Mexico.
In 1851, the Icaiché Maya , who were not in rebellion, were attacked by the Santa
Cruz Maya, leading the Mexican government to propose an alliance between
themselves and the Icaiché against the Santa Cruz. Icaiché leaders requested British
help in their negotiations, and, wanting to enter Icaiché lands to log mahogany, the
Belizean timber companies were also signatories to the treaty. In the treaty of 1853 the
Icaiché were granted virtual autonomy in return for recognizing the authority of
Mexico, and the British were allowed to cut wood under licence in the Icaiché lands, in
what was to become the northwest of Belize. British woodcutters viewed the agreement
as a means to expand their territory at the expense of both the Icaiché and a weakened
Mexico.
It was now the turn of the Icaiché to demand rent from the British loggers, which was
only paid after further Maya attacks . British arms-trading with the Santa Cruz Maya
incensed the Icaiché, and the flames were fanned further after an attack by the Santa
Cruz Maya. After years of broken agreements and betrayal the Icaiché, supported by
Mexico and led by Marcos Canul , attacked mahogany camps on the Río Bravo and the
New River in 1866, and captured dozens of prisoners. The lieutenant governor
declared martial law and sent for reinforcements from Jamaica. Raids and counter-raids
continued, with Belizean villages sacked and colonial troops retaliating. Canul briefly
occupied Corozal in 1870, and after a battle at Orange Walk in 1872 Corozal became a
fortified British base. Although the violence diminished, the danger of Maya attacks
wasn't over until 1882 when the Icaiché leader, Santiago Pech, met the governor in
Belize City to recognize British jurisdiction in the northwest.
1950
1954
1961
George Price and the People's United
Party (PUP) launch a pro-independence
movement, spurred by the country's
severe economic decline
A general election is held,
with an overwhelming win
by the People's United Party
(PUP), led by George Price
Hurrican Hattie strikes
Belize, demolishing Belize
City, killing hundreds and
leaving thousands homeless
 
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