This is the only state that chose to be part of Mexico

The territory of Mexico throughout its history has been modified countless times, and not only by ceding territory to the nations of which we are neighbors, but also by annexing parts that are currently states of our republic. The uniqueness of how Chiapas became part of Mexico is that this geopolitical move was a decision of its people.

During the colonial era, Chiapas was part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, which administered the territory that included the current territories of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, for the Spanish crown.

When the Independence of New Spain arrived, in 1821, five of the provinces of this captaincy general (Guatemala, San Salvador, Comayagua or Honduras and the province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica) together with Chiapas proclaimed their independence from the Spanish Monarchy, so they were briefly part of the first Mexican Empire, headed by Agustín de Iturbide.

When Iturbide abdicated the throne in 1823, Chiapas was left adrift, and along with the other five provinces that had left the captaincy, the United Provinces of Central America were founded. However, the people of Chiapas considered that, having been incorporated into the Mexican empire under the Treaty of Córdoba and the Plan of Iguala, they were once again detached from Mexico and from all other authority.

At that time, there were tensions and conflicts between Mexico and the United Provinces over the membership of Chiapas. The conservative forces in Chiapas wanted to remain in the Central American federation, while the liberals of Chiapas sought union with Mexico. In 1842, after the dissolution of the United Provinces, an uprising led by the liberals of Chiapas took place, which allowed the official admission of Chiapas as a state of the Mexican republic.

The internal disputes were resolved with the dissolution of the Provisional Supreme Board of Chiapas, and the issue of the territory’s ownership was resolved peacefully and democratically, as a plebiscite was held on September 12, 1824, where the majority voted in favor of incorporation into Mexico.

Finally, Chiapas joined Mexico on September 14, 1824 through an Act of Proclamation.

However, the definitive integration was consolidated in 1848 when Mexican troops defeated the last pockets of conservative resistance that wanted to separate from Mexico. From then on, Chiapas was fully incorporated into Mexican national territory.

Chiapas celebrated 200 years of its annexation to Mexico

Last Saturday, September 14, the state government of Chiapas commemorated the 200th anniversary of its annexation to Mexico. At the official ceremony, which took place in Palenque, where President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo were present, the current governor of the state, Rutilio Escandón Cadenas, stressed that the conflicts in Chiapas were not resolved with weapons, as was common in the post-colonial era.

“In this celebration of the bicentennial of the federation of Chiapas, it should be noted that at that time, between the years 1821 and 1824, controversies and conflicts were resolved through weapons. And in Chiapas it was not like that, the decision of the union pact was resolved with a consultation with the people; the plebiscite was a peaceful and civilized process where they voted for the union” indicated Governor Escandón.

The politician also highlighted that Chiapas contributed to Mexico a multicultural mosaic of customs, as well as natural resources such as the jungle, forests, sea, lakes and large rivers that have since changed the geopolitical face of our great nation, our beloved Mexico.

“Two centuries after being Mexican, we have evolved socially and politically. We fight every day for respect for democracy, for the defense of human rights and the political rights of women. Chiapas today reaffirms its firm conviction to build a better future for future generations,” he emphasized.

Source: infobae