October revolution Guatemalan Revolution

1 october revolution

1.1 june 1944 general strike
1.2 interim presidency of ponce vaides
1.3 election of arévalo

october revolution
june 1944 general strike

the onset of world war ii increased economic unrest in guatemala. ubico responded cracking down more fiercely on form of protest or dissent. in 1944, popular revolt broke out in neighboring el salvador, briefly toppled dictator maximiliano hernández martínez. however, returned power, leading flood of exiled el salvadorian revolutionaries moving guatemala. coincided series of protests @ university in guatemala city. ubico responded suspending constitution on 22 june 1944. protesters, point included many middle-class members in addition students , workers, called general strike, , presented ultimatum ubico next day, demanding reinstatement of constitution. presented him petition signed 311 of prominent guatemalan citizens. ubico sent police disrupt protests firing on them, , declared martial law. clashes between protesters , military continued week, during revolt gained momentum. @ end of june, ubico submitted resignation national assembly, leading huge celebrations in streets.

the resignation of ubico did not restore democracy. ubico appointed 3 generals, federico ponce vaides, eduardo villagrán ariza, , buenaventura pineda, junta lead provisional government. few days later, ponce vaides persuaded congress appoint him interim president. ponce pledged hold free elections soon, while @ same time suppressing protests. press freedom suspended, arbitrary detentions continued, , memorial services slain revolutionaries prohibited. however, protests had grown point government not stamp them out, , rural areas began organizing against dictatorship. government began using police intimidate indigenous population keep junta in power through forthcoming election. resulted in growing support armed revolution among sections of populace. now, army disillusioned junta, , progressives within had begun plot coup.

interim presidency of ponce vaides

on 1 october 1944, alejandro cordova, editor of el imparcial, main opposition newspaper, assassinated. led military coup plotters reaching out leaders of protests, in attempt turn coup popular uprising. ponce vaides announced elections, pro-democracy forces denounced them fraud, citing attempts rig them. ponce vaides sought stabilize regime playing on inter-racial tension within guatemalan population. vocal support revolution had come ladinos, or people of mixed racial or spanish descent. ponce vaides sought exploit fear of indians paying thousands of indigenous peasants march in guatemala city in support, , promising them land if supported liberal party ubico had begun front dictatorship.

by mid-october, several different plans overthrow junta had been set in motion various factions of pro-democracy movement, including teachers, students, , progressive factions of army. on 19 october, government learned of 1 of these conspiracies. same day, small group of army officers launched coup, led francisco javier arana , jacobo Árbenz guzmán. although coup had been plotted Árbenz , major aldana sandoval, sandoval had prevailed upon arana join them; however, sandoval himself did not participate in coup attempt, , described having lost nerve. joined next day other factions of army , civilian population. initially, battle went against revolutionaries, after appeal support ranks swelled unionists , students, , subdued police , army factions loyal ponce vaides. on october 20, next day, ponce vaides surrendered unconditionally.

jacobo Árbenz, francisco arana, , jorge toriello, oversaw transition civilian government after october revolution

ponce vaides allowed leave country safely, ubico himself. military junta replaced three-person junta consisting of Árbenz, arana, , upper-class youth named jorge toriello, had played significant role in protests. although arana had come military conspiracy relatively late, defection had brought powerful guardia de honor (honor guard) on revolutionaries, , crucial role rewarded place on junta. junta promised free , open elections presidency , congress, constituent assembly.

the resignation of ponce vaides , creation of junta has been considered scholars beginning of guatemalan revolution. however, revolutionary junta did not threaten interests of landed elite. 2 days after ponce vaides resignation, violent protest erupted @ patzicía, small indian hamlet. junta responded swift brutality, silencing protest. dead civilians included women , children.

election of arévalo

juan josé arévalo bermejo born middle-class family in 1904. became primary school teacher brief while, , earned scholarship university in argentina, earned doctorate in philosophy of education. returned guatemala in 1934, , sought position in ministry of education. however, denied position wished for, , felt uncomfortable under dictatorship of ubico. left country , held faculty position in argentina until 1944, when returned guatemala. in july 1944 renovación nacional, teachers party, had been formed, , arévalo named candidate. in unexpected surge of support, candidacy endorsed many of leading organizations among protesters, including student federation. lack of connection dictatorship , academic background both worked in favor among students , teachers. @ same time, fact had chosen go exile in conservative argentina rather revolutionary mexico reassured landowners worried socialist or communist reform.

the subsequent elections took place in december 1944, , broadly considered free , fair, although literate men given vote. unlike in similar historical situations, none of junta members stood election. arévalo s closest challenger adrián recinos, campaign included number of individuals identified ubico regime. ballots tallied on 19 december 1944, , arévalo won in landslide, receiving more 4 times many ballots other candidates combined.