Amatitlán Department facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Escuintla
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Department
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| Country |  Guatemala |
| Department | Amatitlán |
| Capital | Amatitlán |
| District | 1839 |
| Department | 1866 |
| Abolished | 1935 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Departmental |
| Population | |
| • Ethnicities | Ladino |
| • Religions | Roman Catholicism Evangelicalism |
| Time zone | -6 |
| ISO 3166 code | GT-ES |
The Amatitlán Department was an important part of Guatemala's history. It started as an independent district in 1839. Later, in 1866, it became a full department. However, it was eventually removed in 1935. Its towns were then divided between the Guatemala and Escuintla departments.
The department included several modern towns. These were Amatitlán, Villa Nueva, Palín, Villa Canales, and San Miguel Petapa.
Contents
History of Amatitlán
Early Religious Settlements
After the Spanish arrived, they wanted to teach the native people the Catholic faith. They set up special communities called "Indian doctrines" or "reductions." These were places where friars, who were religious teachers, lived and taught.
The original idea was for these friars to teach the natives. Then, the communities would become regular towns, like those in Spain. People would pay taxes to the church. But this plan did not quite work out.
The friars had special rights to convert natives. This meant they answered only to their own religious leaders, not to the Spanish government. So, these "doctrines" grew and stayed under the control of the friars for a long time. They became like independent towns.
Friars would live in a main monastery. From there, they would travel to smaller nearby settlements. These smaller places were called "annexes" or "visit towns."
In 1754, a big change happened. The Spanish king made new rules called the Bourbon reforms. Because of these rules, the religious orders had to give up their control over these "doctrines." The towns then came under the control of regular church leaders.
Amatitlán Becomes a Department
After Central America became independent, new districts were formed. On November 6, 1839, Governor Mariano Rivera Paz created the independent district of Amatitlán. This new district included the towns of Amatitlán, San Cristóbal Palín, and Villa Nueva.
The decree that created it said:
- The city of Amatitlán, San Cristóbal Palín, Villa Nueva, San Miguel and Santa Inés Petapa, and all nearby places would form an independent district.
- This district would have its own leader, called a Lieutenant Corregidor.
- There would also be a local court to handle legal matters.
Later, on May 8, 1866, President Vicente Cerna y Cerna changed the district. He made it a full department, calling it the Amatitlán Department.
Changes to Municipalities
Over time, some towns within the department changed. On June 3, 1912, Pueblo Viejo became a new municipality.
Then, on August 21, 1915, its name was changed to "San Joaquín Villa Canales." This was done to honor Joaquina Cabrera, the mother of President Manuel Estrada Cabrera. She had passed away in 1908, but people still wanted to honor her. The name "San Joaquín" was added even though it was not approved by the Catholic Church.
After President Estrada Cabrera was removed from power in 1920, the new president, Carlos Herrera y Luna, made a change. On May 3, 1920, he ordered that all names related to the former president and his family be removed from places. So, the municipality became known simply as "Villa Canales."
The Department is Abolished
The Amatitlán Department did not last forever. On April 29, 1935, President Jorge Ubico issued a decree. This decree officially abolished, or ended, the Amatitlán Department. Its towns were then divided and became part of other departments.
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de Amatitlán para niños
Images for kids
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Map showing Order of Preachers convents and their areas in Guatemala during the Spanish colony.
