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lictions。
Far to the northward； the Empire of Mexico set up by Iturbide in 1822 was doomed to a speedy fall。 〃Emperor by divine providence；〃 that ambitious adventurer inscribed on his coins； but his countrymen knew that the bayonets of his soldiers were the actual mainstay of his pretentious title。 Neither his earlier career nor the size of his following was sufficiently impressive to assure him popular support if the military prop gave way。 His lavish expenditures； furthermore； and his arbitrary replacement of the Congress by a docile body which would authorize forced loans at his command； steadily undermined his position。 Apart from the faults of Iturbide himself； the popular sentiment of a country bordering immediately upon the United States could not fail to be colored by the ideas and institutions of its great neighbor。 So； too； the example of what had been accomplished； in form at least； by their kinsmen elsewhere in America was bound to wield a potent influence on the minds of the Mexicans。 As a result； their desire for a republic grew stronger from day to day。
Iturbide； in fact； had not enjoyed his exalted rank five months when Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna； a young officer destined later to become a conspicuous figure in Mexican history； started a revolt to replace the 〃Empire〃 by a republic。 Though he failed in his object； two of Iturbide's generals joined the insurgents in demanding a restoration of the Congressan act which； as the hapless 〃Emperor〃 perceived； would amount to his dethronement。 Realizing his impotence； Iturbide summoned the Congress and announced his abdication。 But instead of recognizing this procedure； that body declared his accession itself null and void； it agreed； however； to grant him a pension if he would leave the country and reside in Italy。 With this disposition of his person Iturbide complied； but he soon wearied of exile and persuaded himself that he would not lack supporters if he tried to regain his former control in Mexico。 This venture he decided to make in complete ignorance of a decree ordering his summary execution if he dared to set foot again on Mexican soil。 He had hardly landed in July； 1824； when he was seized and shot。
Since a constituent assembly had declared itself in favor of establishing a federal form of republic patterned after that of the United States； the promulgation of a constitution followed on October 4； 1824； and Guadalupe Victoria； one of the leaders in the revolt against Iturbide； was chosen President of the United Mexican States。 Though considerable unrest prevailed toward the close of his term； the new President managed to retain his office for the allotted four years。 In most respects； however； the new order of things opened auspiciously。 In November； 1825； the surrender of the fortress of San Juan de Ulua； in the harbor of Vera Cruz； banished the last remnant of Spanish power； and two years later the suppression of plots for the restoration of Ferdinand VII； coupled with the expulsion of a large number of Spaniards； helped to restore calm。 There were those even who dared to hope that the federal system would operate as smoothly in Mexico as it had done in the United States。
But the political organization of a country so different from its northern neighbor in population； traditions； and practices； could not rest merely on a basis of imitation； even more or less modified。 The artificiality of the fabric became apparent enough as soon as ambitious individuals and groups of malcontents concerted measures to mold it into a likeness of reality。 Two main political factions soon appeared。 For the form they assumed British and American influences were responsible。 Adopting a kind of Masonic organization； the Conservatives and Centralists called themselves Escoceses （Scottish…Rite Men）； whereas the Radicals and Federalists took the name of Yorkinos （York…Rite Men）。 Whatever their respective slogans and professions of political faith； they were little more than personal followers of rival generals or politicians who yearned to occupy the presidential chair。
Upon the downfall of Iturbide； the malcontents in Central America bestirred themselves to throw off the Mexican yoke。 On July 1；1823； a Congress declared the region an independent republic under the name of the 〃United Provinces of Central America。〃 In November of the next year； following the precedent established in Mexico； and obedient also to local demand； the new republic issued a constitution； in accordance with which the five little divisions of Guatemala； Honduras； Salvador； Nicaragua； and Costa Rica were to become states of a federal union； each having the privilege of choosing its own local authorities。 Immediately Federalists and Centralists； Radicals and Conservatives； all wished； it would seem； to impose their particular viewpoint upon their fellows。 The situation was not unlike that in the Argentine Confederation。 The efforts of Guatemalathe province in which power had been concentrated under the colonial regimeto assert supremacy over its fellow states； and their refusal to respect either the federal bond or one another's rights made civil war inevitable。 The struggle which broke out among Guatemala； Salvador； and Honduras； lasted until 1829； when Francisco Morazan； at the head of the 〃Allied Army； Upholder of the Law；〃 entered the capital of the republic and assumed dictatorial power。
Of all the Hispanic nations； however； Brazil was easily the most stable。 Here the leaders； while clinging to independence； strove to avoid dangerous innovations in government。 Rather than create a political system for which the country was not prepared； they established a constitutional monarchy。 But Brazil itself was too vast and its interior too difficult of access to allow it to become all at once a unit； either in organization or in spirit。 The idea of national solidarity had as yet made scant progress。 The old rivalry which existed between the provinces of the north； dominated by Bahia or Pernambuco； and those of the south； controlled by Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo； still made itself felt。 What the Empire amounted to； therefore； was an agglomeration of provinces； held together by the personal prestige of a young monarch。
Since the mother country still held parts of northern Brazil； the Emperor entrusted the energetic Cochrane； who had performed such valiant service for Chile and Peru； with the task of expelling the foreign soldiery。 When this had been accomplished and a republican outbreak in the same region had been suppressed； the more difficult task of satisfying all parties by a constitution had to be undertaken。 There were partisans of monarchy and advocates of republicanism； men of conservative and of liberal sympathies； disagreements； also； between the Brazilians and the native Portuguese residents were frequent。 So far as possible Pedro desired to meet popular desires； and yet without imposing too many limitations on the monarchy itself。 But in the assembly called to draft the constitution the liberal members made a determined effort to introduce republican forms。 Pedro thereupon dissolved that body and in 1826 promulgated a constitution of his own。
The popularity of the Emperor thereaft