El Salvador Was Never Part of Mexico: Separate Colonial & National Paths

No, El Salvador was never part of Mexico. Their histories diverged under Spain and after independence.

Colonial Era (1524–1821)

• El Salvador: **Province of the *Captaincy General of Guatemala* (Audiencia de Guatemala)** – along with Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Chiapas. Capital: **Antigua Guatemala** (later Guatemala City).
• Mexico: **Viceroyalty of New Spain** – Capital: **Mexico City**. Included current Mexico, US Southwest, California, Texas, Philippines, Caribbean.

**Different administrative units. Different capitals. Different viceroys/captains general.**

Independence (1821)

• Sept 15, 1821: **Act of Independence of Central America** signed in **Guatemala City**. **Entire Captaincy General (incl. El Salvador) declares independence from Spain.**
• Sept 27, 1821: **Army of Three Guarantees enters Mexico City.** **Mexico (New Spain) declares independence.**

Post-Independence (1821–1839)

• El Salvador + Central America: **Briefly annexed by Mexican Empire (Iturbide) Jan–Jul 1823** – **by force, not consent**. **July 1, 1823:** Central America **secedes** from Mexico → **Federal Republic of Central America (FRCA).**
• Mexico: Becomes **First Mexican Empire (1821–23)** → **Republic (1824)**.

Sovereign El Salvador (1839–Present)

• 1839: **FRCA dissolves** (civil war). **El Salvador becomes fully sovereign republic.**
• Mexico: Recognizes CA independence 1823/1838. Never re-annexes.

Conclusion: El Salvador was a **forced, brief (6-month) annexation** by Mexico (1823) **against its will**, immediately rejected. It was **never a willing, integral part of Mexico**. Its identity was forged in the **Central American union**, not the Mexican one.