Barrios, Justo Rufino

Barrios, Justo Rufino (hOO'stō rOOfē'nō bär'yōs) [key], c.1835–1885, president of Guatemala (1873–85). He took part in the successful revolution of 1871 and was elected to office. He imposed reforms on the country: the religious orders were suppressed and Roman Catholic schools and universities were replaced by secular institutions. Barrios dreamed of reestablishing the Central American Federation and, failing in his attempts to bring about the union by constitutional means, he resorted to dictatorial methods and brute force. He was killed in a battle with the Salvadorean army.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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