Editing History of Guatemala (section)

==== Jorge Ubico regime (1931–1944) ====
{{Main|Jorge Ubico}}
In 1931, General [[Jorge Ubico]] came to power, supported by the United States, and established one of the most repressive regimes in Central American history.{{sfn|Shillington|2002|pp=38–39}} Like his predecessor, Estrada Cabrera, Ubico created an extensive network of spies and informants, resulting in the torture and execution of numerous political opponents. A wealthy aristocrat (with an estimated income of $215,000 per year in 1930s dollars) and a staunch anti-communist, Ubico consistently aligned himself with the [[United Fruit Company]], Guatemalan landowners, and urban elites in conflicts with peasants. Following the 1929 [[New York Stock Exchange]] crash, the peasant system established by Barrios in 1875, which had initially stimulated coffee production, became inadequate. Ubico then imposed a system of [[debt slavery]] and forced labour to ensure a sufficient workforce for the coffee plantations and UFCO operations.{{sfn|Martínez Peláez|1990|p=842}}

Allegedly, Ubico enacted laws permitting landowners to execute workers as a "disciplinary" measure.{{sfn|Streeter|2000|pp=11–12}}{{sfn|Immerman|1983|pp=34–37}}{{sfn|Cullather|2006|pp=9–10}}{{sfn|Rabe|1988|p=43}}{{sfn|McCreery|1994|pp=316–317}} He openly identified as a fascist, admiring [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]], [[Francisco Franco|Franco]], and [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]], and once stated, "I am like Hitler. I execute first and ask questions later."{{sfn|LaFeber|1993|pp=77–79}}{{sfn|Forster|2001|pp=81–82}}{{sfn|Friedman|2003|pp=82–83}}{{sfn|Shillington|2002|pp=38–39}}{{sfn|Krehm|1999|pp=44–45}} Ubico expressed disdain for the indigenous population, describing them as "animal-like" and arguing that they required mandatory military training to become "civilized," likening it to "domesticating donkeys." He granted hundreds of thousands of hectares to the [[United Fruit Company]] (UFCO), exempted them from taxes in [[Tiquisate]], and allowed the U.S. military to establish bases in Guatemala.{{sfn|Streeter|2000|pp=11–12}}{{sfn|Immerman|1983|pp=34–37}}{{sfn|Cullather|2006|pp=9–10}}{{sfn|Rabe|1988|p=43}}{{sfn|McCreery|1994|pp=316–317}}

Ubico viewed himself as a modern-day [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon]], dressing ostentatiously and surrounding himself with statues and paintings of the emperor. He frequently remarked on their similarities. He militarised various political and social institutions—including the post office, schools, and symphony orchestras—and appointed military officers to many government positions. Ubico regularly conducted "inspections" throughout the country, accompanied by a military escort, a mobile radio station, an official biographer, and cabinet members.{{sfn|Streeter|2000|pp=11–12}}{{sfn|Immerman|1983|p=32}}{{sfn|Grandin|2000|p=195}}{{sfn|Benz|1996|pp=16–17}}{{sfn|Loveman|Davies|1997|pp=118–120}}

On the other hand, Ubico was an efficient administrator:{{sfn|Sabino|2007|pp=9–24}}

* His new decrees, though unfair to most of the indigenous population, benefitted the Guatemalan economy during the [[Great Depression]], as they boosted coffee production nationwide.{{sfn|Sabino|2007|pp=9–24}}
* He reduced bureaucrats' salaries by nearly half, helping to curb inflation.{{sfn|Sabino|2007|pp=9–24}}
* He maintained peace and order in [[Guatemala City]] by effectively combating crime.{{sfn|De los Ríos|1948}}