Invermin mines
Honduras Antimony mine Tom Cross
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Independence and the nineteenth century
Honduras became independent from Spain in 1821 and was for a time under the Mexican Empire. After 1838 it was an independent republic and held regular
elections.
Comayagua was the capital of Honduras until 1880, when it was transferred to Tegucigalpa.
In the decades of 1840 and 1850 Honduras participated in several failed attempts to restore Central American unity, such as the Confederation of Central
America (1842–1845), the covenant of Guatemala (1842), the Diet of Sonsonate ( 1846), the Diet of Nacaome (1847) and National Representation in Central
America (1849–1852).
Although Honduras eventually adopted the name Republic of Honduras, the unionist ideal never waned, and Honduras was one of the Central American
countries that pushed hardest for the policy of regional unity.
Since independence, nearly 300 small internal rebellions and civil wars have occurred in the country, including some changes of government.
Liberal policies favoring international trade and investment began in the 1870s, and soon foreign interests became involved first in shipping, especially
tropical fruit (most notably bananas) from the north coast, and then in railway building. In 1888, a projected railroad line from the Caribbean coast to the
capital, Tegucigalpa, ran out of money when it reached San Pedro Sula, resulting in its growth into the nation's main industrial center and second largest city.
International influence in the 20th century
In the late nineteenth century United States-based infrastructure and fruit growing companies were granted substantial land and exemptions to develop the
northern regions. As a result, thousands of workers came to the north coast to work in the banana plantations and the other industries that grew up around
the export industry. The banana exporting companies, dominated by Cuyamel Fruit Company (until 1930), United Fruit Company, and Standard Fruit
Company, built an enclave economy in northern Honduras, controlling infrastructure and creating self-sufficient, tax exempt sectors that contributed relatively
little to economic growth. In addition to drawing many Central American workers to the north, the fruit companies also encouraged immigration of workers
from the English-speaking Caribbean, notably Jamaica and Belize, who introduced an African descended, English speaking and largely Protestant
population into the country, though many left after changes in the immigration law in 1939.[15]
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Honduras joined the Allied Nations on 8 December 1941. Along with twenty-five other governments, Honduras signed
the Declaration by United Nations on 1 January 1942.
Constitutional crises in the 1940s led to reforms in the 1950s, and as a result of one such reform, workers were given permission to organize, which led to a
general strike in 1954 that paralyzed the northern part of the country for more than two months, but which led to more general reforms.
In 1969, Honduras and El Salvador fought what would become known as the Football War.[16] There had been border tensions between the two countries
after Oswaldo López Arellano, a former president of Honduras, blamed the deteriorating economy on the large number of immigrants from El Salvador. From
that point on, the relationship between the two countries grew acrimonious and reached a low when El Salvador met Honduras for a three-round football
elimination match as a preliminary to the World Cup. Tensions escalated, and on 14 March 1969, the Salvadoran army launched an attack on the Honduras
army. The Organization of American States negotiated a cease-fire, which took effect on 20 July and brought about a withdrawal of Salvadoran troops in early
August.[16] Contributing factors to the conflict were a boundary dispute and the presence of thousands of Salvadorans living in Honduras illegally. After the
week-long football war, as many as 130,000 Salvadoran immigrants were expelled.[17] El Salvador had agreed on a truce to settle the boundary issue, but
Honduras later paid war damage costs for expelled refugees.[16]
Hurricane Fifi caused severe damage while skimming the northern coast of Honduras on 18 and 19 September 1974. Melgar Castro (1975–78) and Paz
Garcia (1978–82) largely built the current physical infrastructure and telecommunications system of Honduras.[18]
In 1979, the country returned to civilian rule. A constituent assembly was popularly elected in April 1980 and general elections were held in November 1981. A
new constitution was approved in 1982 and the PLH government of Roberto Suazo assumed power. Roberto Suazo won the elections with a promise to carry
out an ambitious program of economic and social development in Honduras in order to tackle the country's recession. President Roberto Suazo Cordoba
launched ambitious social and economic development projects, sponsored by American development aid. Honduras became host to the largest Peace
Corps mission in the world, and nongovernmental and international voluntary agencies proliferated.[18]
During the early 1980s, the United States established a continuing military presence in Honduras with the purpose of supporting the Contra guerillas fighting
the Nicaraguan government and also developed an air strip and a modern port in Honduras. Though spared the bloody civil wars wracking its neighbors, the
Honduran army quietly waged a campaign against Marxist-Leninist militias such as Cinchoneros Popular Liberation Movement, notorious for kidnappings
and bombings,[19] and many non-militants. The operation included a CIA-backed campaign of extrajudicial killings by government-backed units, most notably
Battalion 316.[20]
Beach at Roatán.
In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused such massive and widespread destruction that former Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores claimed that fifty years of
progress in the country were reversed. Mitch obliterated about 70% of the crops and an estimated 70–80% of the transportation infrastructure, including nearly
all bridges and secondary roads. Across the country, 33,000 houses were destroyed, an additional 50,000 damaged, some 5,000 people killed, 12,000
injured – for a total loss estimated at $3 billion USD.[21]
21st century
The 2008 Honduran floods were severe and around half the country's roads were damaged or destroyed as a result.[22]
Honduras became independent from Spain in 1821 and was for a time under the Mexican Empire. After 1838 it was an independent republic and held regular
elections.
Comayagua was the capital of Honduras until 1880, when it was transferred to Tegucigalpa.
In the decades of 1840 and 1850 Honduras participated in several failed attempts to restore Central American unity, such as the Confederation of Central
America (1842–1845), the covenant of Guatemala (1842), the Diet of Sonsonate ( 1846), the Diet of Nacaome (1847) and National Representation in Central
America (1849–1852).
Although Honduras eventually adopted the name Republic of Honduras, the unionist ideal never waned, and Honduras was one of the Central American
countries that pushed hardest for the policy of regional unity.
Since independence, nearly 300 small internal rebellions and civil wars have occurred in the country, including some changes of government.
Liberal policies favoring international trade and investment began in the 1870s, and soon foreign interests became involved first in shipping, especially
tropical fruit (most notably bananas) from the north coast, and then in railway building. In 1888, a projected railroad line from the Caribbean coast to the
capital, Tegucigalpa, ran out of money when it reached San Pedro Sula, resulting in its growth into the nation's main industrial center and second largest city.
International influence in the 20th century
In the late nineteenth century United States-based infrastructure and fruit growing companies were granted substantial land and exemptions to develop the
northern regions. As a result, thousands of workers came to the north coast to work in the banana plantations and the other industries that grew up around
the export industry. The banana exporting companies, dominated by Cuyamel Fruit Company (until 1930), United Fruit Company, and Standard Fruit
Company, built an enclave economy in northern Honduras, controlling infrastructure and creating self-sufficient, tax exempt sectors that contributed relatively
little to economic growth. In addition to drawing many Central American workers to the north, the fruit companies also encouraged immigration of workers
from the English-speaking Caribbean, notably Jamaica and Belize, who introduced an African descended, English speaking and largely Protestant
population into the country, though many left after changes in the immigration law in 1939.[15]
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Honduras joined the Allied Nations on 8 December 1941. Along with twenty-five other governments, Honduras signed
the Declaration by United Nations on 1 January 1942.
Constitutional crises in the 1940s led to reforms in the 1950s, and as a result of one such reform, workers were given permission to organize, which led to a
general strike in 1954 that paralyzed the northern part of the country for more than two months, but which led to more general reforms.
In 1969, Honduras and El Salvador fought what would become known as the Football War.[16] There had been border tensions between the two countries
after Oswaldo López Arellano, a former president of Honduras, blamed the deteriorating economy on the large number of immigrants from El Salvador. From
that point on, the relationship between the two countries grew acrimonious and reached a low when El Salvador met Honduras for a three-round football
elimination match as a preliminary to the World Cup. Tensions escalated, and on 14 March 1969, the Salvadoran army launched an attack on the Honduras
army. The Organization of American States negotiated a cease-fire, which took effect on 20 July and brought about a withdrawal of Salvadoran troops in early
August.[16] Contributing factors to the conflict were a boundary dispute and the presence of thousands of Salvadorans living in Honduras illegally. After the
week-long football war, as many as 130,000 Salvadoran immigrants were expelled.[17] El Salvador had agreed on a truce to settle the boundary issue, but
Honduras later paid war damage costs for expelled refugees.[16]
Hurricane Fifi caused severe damage while skimming the northern coast of Honduras on 18 and 19 September 1974. Melgar Castro (1975–78) and Paz
Garcia (1978–82) largely built the current physical infrastructure and telecommunications system of Honduras.[18]
In 1979, the country returned to civilian rule. A constituent assembly was popularly elected in April 1980 and general elections were held in November 1981. A
new constitution was approved in 1982 and the PLH government of Roberto Suazo assumed power. Roberto Suazo won the elections with a promise to carry
out an ambitious program of economic and social development in Honduras in order to tackle the country's recession. President Roberto Suazo Cordoba
launched ambitious social and economic development projects, sponsored by American development aid. Honduras became host to the largest Peace
Corps mission in the world, and nongovernmental and international voluntary agencies proliferated.[18]
During the early 1980s, the United States established a continuing military presence in Honduras with the purpose of supporting the Contra guerillas fighting
the Nicaraguan government and also developed an air strip and a modern port in Honduras. Though spared the bloody civil wars wracking its neighbors, the
Honduran army quietly waged a campaign against Marxist-Leninist militias such as Cinchoneros Popular Liberation Movement, notorious for kidnappings
and bombings,[19] and many non-militants. The operation included a CIA-backed campaign of extrajudicial killings by government-backed units, most notably
Battalion 316.[20]
Beach at Roatán.
In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused such massive and widespread destruction that former Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores claimed that fifty years of
progress in the country were reversed. Mitch obliterated about 70% of the crops and an estimated 70–80% of the transportation infrastructure, including nearly
all bridges and secondary roads. Across the country, 33,000 houses were destroyed, an additional 50,000 damaged, some 5,000 people killed, 12,000
injured – for a total loss estimated at $3 billion USD.[21]
21st century
The 2008 Honduran floods were severe and around half the country's roads were damaged or destroyed as a result.[22]