The early decades of the Mexican nation were turbulent and full of tests and perils. The conflict with France, with the United States, civil wars, corrupt and opportunistic politicians with little care for nationalism or the future of the country made these early years arguably the darkest of Mexico’s history. On the other hand, some of the greatest legends of heroism were also sung during this time.

The Republic of Yucatan is a mix of the two aspects. At a time when Mexico was forming its national identity, separatism wasa threat to the nation’s existence. Between 1841 and 1848, this region of the nation existed more or less as an independent nation at times, although efforts by the central government to reinstate its sovereignty were not lacking.

Andres Quintana Roo, whose name is given to a state today, played a major role in preventing bloodshed and establishing the formal relaitonship between the central government and the revem state in 1841.