Events - Honduras

2009, Zelaya was deposed in a coup.

2007, President Zelaya made an official visit to Cuba. This resulted in a break of relations between Honduras and the USA.

2006, Manuel Zelaya, Liberal Party, won the Presidency in a bitterly-contested election. His opponent, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, had promised to restore the death penalty for convicted gang members.

1999, The Garifuna Amerindians and the English speaking Garifuna (Black) population jointly resisted a Constitutional Amendment allowing foreigners to buy land on the Caribbean coast, which was traditionally their communal lands.

1999, Honduras cememted its return to civilian rule by appointing a non-military Defence Minister.

1998, Honduras was devastated by Hurricane Mitch.3,600 people died and US$ 3 billion damage was done.

1995, The Honduran military denied human rights abuses charges.

1988, 12,000 Contra rebels entered Honduras, having been expelled by Nicaragua.

1984, Democracy returned to Honduras.

1980, The Liberal Party won elections,but General Gustavo Alvarez retained the real power. Trades Unionists were areested, and death squads operated; the military held joint manoeuvres with the USA.

30/10/1980, Honduras and El Salvador formally settled their boundary dispute.

22/4/1975, Oswaldo López Arellano was removed from office as President of Honduras by order of the nation's high military council.

19/9/1974, Hurricane Fifi killed 8,000 in Honduras.

14/7/1969, Outbreak of the ‘Football War’ between El Salvador and Honduras; hostilities lasted until 18/7/1969, and a ceasefire was negotiated on 20/7/1969 by the Organisation of American States. In 1969 wealthy landowners controlled most of the land in El Salvador, which resulted in the migration of many poor El Salvadoran labourers into Honduras, causing social tensions there. In 1969 Honduras decided to distribute land to its own poor, thereby evicting the Salvadoran migrants. El Salvador became concerned that the returning peasants would spark demands for land reform there too, Tensions between the two countries rose during the qualifying matches for the 1970 FIFA World Cup, Salvadoran troops attacked into Honduras. The troops were withdrawn in early August 1969, but a full peace treaty was not signed between the two combatants until 30/10/1980. The border essentially remained where it had been before the war. Both sides suffered around 2,000 casualties each.

1963, A further military coup in Guatemala. Morales was deposed a second time. Colonel Osvaldo Lopez Arellano headed a new military regime; military rule lasted until 1981.

1954, President-elect Villeda Morales (Liberal Party) was deposed in a military coup. He was relected in 1957, and served until 1963.

1932, The dictatorship of General Tiburcio Carias Andino of the National Party of Honduras began. This regime lasted until 1949.

3/1/1932, Martial law was declared in Honduras to stop revolt by banana workers fired by United Fruit.

28/4/1924, The US sent troops to Honduras amidst electoral unrest.

11/2/1923, A US intervention army left Honduras.

11/2/1922. Honduras became an independent Republic.

19/7/1918, Honduras, rather belatedly, joined the Allied war effort and declared war on Germany.

11/4/1907, The surrender of Ampala, Honduras, in the war with Nicaragua, marked the end of hostilities. President Bonilla of Honduras took refuge on the US cruiser Chicago. Nicaragua now evacuated from Honduras and recognised the Miguel R Davila administration, in office from 1908.

2/1907, War broke out with Nicaragua. Although El Salvador supported Honduras, Nicaragua gained the upper hand.

1903, Manual Bonilla was elected President. An able, popular and experienced General, his rule proved to be stable and he maintained law and order. However as his term drew to a close, opposition Parties campaigned for his replacement, and these were supported by Nicaragua, giving cause for war, see 2.1907.

1871, War broke out with Guatemala.

1839, US coporations established large fruit plantations in Honduras, and dominated the economy.

1838, Honduras became fully independent, when the United Provinces of Central America Federation disintegrated.

1823, Honduras became part of the United Provinces of Central America.

1821, Honduras became independent from Spain as part of the Mexican Empire.

1539, Honduras was incorporated in the Captaincy-General of Guatemala.

1525, City of Puerto Cortes founded.

1524, First permanent settlement established in Honduras.

1502, Christopher Columbus first visited what is now Honduras.

For pre-Columban events, see Mayan history at Mexico timeline

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