Miguel García Granados

Justo Rufino Barrios, together with other Guatemalan generals and dissidents, issues the "Plan for the Fatherland" in July 1871, proposing to overthrow the long entrenched Conservadora (conservative) administration; soon after, they succeed in doing so, and General García Granados is declared president and Barrios, the first Liberal caudillo, commander of the armed forces.

Born in the village of San Lorenzo, in the department of San Marcos, Gutaemala, Barrios has been known from his youth for his intellect and energy.

Going to Guatemala City to study law, ha had become a lawyer in 1862.

In 1867, revolt had broken out in western Guatemala, which many residents wish to return to its former status of an independent state as Los Altos.

Barrios had joined with the rebels in Quetzaltenango, had soon proved himself a capable military leader, and in time had gained the rank of general in the rebel army.

Miguel García-Granados plays a key part in the regime of Justo Rufino Barrios, the founder of "the army of forty-five men".

He serves as a provisional president from 1871 after the liberal victory of Guatemala City.

Born in Puerto de Santa María, Spain, García-Granados, had been brought to Central America as a young adolescent.

A member of a very wealthy family who has a profession of arms, he had visited several places at the age of twenty-three, including South America, the European continent, and the cities of New York and Philadelphia in the USA.

He had completed his schooling in London.

Known to Guatemalans as a moderate liberal, García-Granados had compromised with Rafael Carrera, and has always wanted to get along with General Vicente Cerna Sandoval, his successor.

Failing in this, and known to be sympathetic with the revolt against the government, García Granadosh had fled to exile and had been supported by Guatemalan liberals.

After going back to Guatemala, García Granados had become the leader of the revolution against  Cerna, eventually becoming known as its philosopher.

García Granados directs an invasion of Honduras, where he decrees freedom of the press and expels the Jesuits, in 1872.

Despite many difficulties, he wants to regularize the Guatemalan government by constructing a lawful regime.

Miguel García Granados had been overthrown by a revolt while Barrios was back in Quetzaltenago.

Barrios again marches on the capital and becomes the new Guatemalan president in May 1873.

Justo Rufino Barrios, as president of Guatemala from 1873, has instituted a number of reforms, including freedom of the press.

He has attacked the Catholic Church, limiting its power and confiscating its property.

Barrios has overseen substantial cleaning and rebuilding of Guatemala City, and set up a new and accountable police force.

He has brought the first telegraph lines and railroads to the Republic, established a system of public schools, and sponsored the development of the coffee industry.

In 1879, a constitution had been ratified for Guatemala (the Republic's first as an independent nation, as the old Conservador regime had ruled by decree).

In 1880, Barrios is reelected President for a six-year term.

Barrios unsuccessfully attempts to get the United States of America to mediate the disputed boundary between Guatemala and Mexico.