• Guatemala is turned into a Spanish colony.

  • Guatemala becomes independent and joins the Mexican empire a year later. 

  • Guatemala becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America, which includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua

  • Guatemala gains full independence.
  • Guatemala's new president modernizes the country, develops the army, and introduces coffee growing, which becomes one of its largest exports. 

  • An earthquake struck Guatemala, killing 27,000 people and more than one million people are left homeless.

  • The civil war toll since 1980 has caused the death of 100,000 people, and another 40,000 are announced missing.

  • After 36 years, a peace agreement marks the end of the civil war.

  • Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras agree on a free-trade agreement with the United States which comes into effect in 2006. 

  • Government ratifies Central American free trade deal with the United States. 

  • Guatemala teams up with El Salvador and Honduras in a joint security force aimed at fighting gangs and cross-border crime.

  • Protestors burn the Congress building following anger at a budget that opponents say neglects poverty.

Sources:

BBC News open_in_new
Britannica open_in_new