Juan Manuel Gálvez facts for kids

Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón (born June 10, 1887 – died August 20, 1972) was a very important leader in Honduras. He served as the President of Honduras from January 1, 1949, to December 5, 1954. His election was a big deal because it brought an end to 16 years of strict rule by a previous president, Tiburcio Carías Andino. Gálvez was a member of the National Party of Honduras.

Leading Honduras: Gálvez's Presidency

When Juan Manuel Gálvez became president, many people were surprised. He showed more independence than expected. He continued some good plans from the previous leader, like building more roads and helping coffee farmers sell their crops. By 1953, almost a quarter of the government's money was used for building roads.

He also kept the country's money in good shape. He worked to reduce the money Honduras owed to other countries. He even paid off the last of the old debts to Britain. Big fruit companies, like the United Fruit Company, continued to get special deals from his government. For example, the United Fruit Company signed a very good 25-year agreement in 1949.

New Changes and Improvements

Gálvez brought many important changes to Honduras. He focused more on education, giving it a bigger part of the national budget. This meant more money for schools and learning.

His government also passed a law for income tax. This meant people had to pay a small part of their earnings to the government. Even though it wasn't always strictly enforced, it was a new step for the country.

More Freedom for People

One of the biggest changes was in politics. People gained more freedom to speak their minds. Newspapers could report more freely. Different political groups, like the Liberal Party, were allowed to organize again. Even workers were allowed to form groups to protect their rights.

New laws were made to help workers. These laws set up an eight-hour workday. They also made sure workers got paid holidays. Employers became responsible for injuries that happened at work. There were also rules to protect women and children who were working.

Challenges During His Time

The last few months of Gálvez's presidency were very challenging. In May 1954, many workers went on strike. This included people working in mines, breweries, and textile factories. Workers at big companies like the Coca Cola Company, the Standard Fruit Company, and the United Fruit Company also stopped working.

Resolving Worker Strikes

On May 21, 1954, the Standard Fruit Company and its 11,000 striking workers reached an agreement. This was a big moment for Honduras, as it was the first time a private company made a deal like this with its workers.

However, things got tougher at the United Fruit Company. The number of striking workers there grew from 25,000 to about 100,000. President Gálvez became worried. On May 23, 1954, he asked the U.S. Government to prepare its U.S. Marine Corps to come to Honduras if the situation got out of control. The U.S. Navy even moved two warships close to the Gulf of Honduras.

Eventually, after a long struggle, the United Fruit Company and its 100,000 striking workers reached an agreement on July 9, 1954. Public opinion was strongly on the side of the workers.

Natural Disasters and Their Impact

Gálvez's problems didn't end there. From September 26 to 30, 1954, a big storm called Tropical Storm Gilda hit Honduras. It sadly killed 29 people and left about 3,000 people without homes. The storm also damaged many banana farms. Because of this, the United Fruit Company fired 10,000 of its workers. President Gálvez had to ask the U.S. Government for help again, and they agreed to send aid.

End of His Presidency

Despite all these difficulties, President Gálvez kept his promise for free elections. The 1954 Honduran general election took place on October 10, 1954, as planned.

However, Gálvez was dealing with a heart problem and was getting treatment abroad. On December 5, 1954, his Vice President, Julio Lozano Díaz, took over as president. This happened after the October 1954 election caused a political problem in Honduras. There was a disagreement within Gálvez's own National Party of Honduras.

Even after leaving office, Juan Manuel Gálvez lived for another 18 years. He passed away in Honduras on August 20, 1972.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Manuel Gálvez para niños