Piety, Power, and Politics: Religion and Nation Formation in Guatemala, 1821-1871

Douglass Sullivan-González examines the influence of religion on the development of nationalism in Guatemala during the period 1821–1871, focusing on the relationship between Rafael Carrera and the Guatemalan Catholic Church. He illustrates the peculiar and fascinating blend of religious fervor, popular power, and caudillo politics that inspired a multi-ethnic and multiclass alliance to defend the Guatemalan nation in the mid-nineteenth century.