1811 Independence Movement The 1811 Independence Movement known in El Salvador as the Primer grito de independencia ( First Shout of Independence ) was the first of a series of revolts in Central America in El Salvador against Spanish colonialism and dependency on the Captaincy General of Guatemala . Antecedents . At the beginning of the 19th century , agitation grew in the American territories dominated by the Spanish crown . The previous century was dominated by the growing support of ideas of individual freedom , which characterized the Enlightenment that took place in Europe and the Americas . Most influential was the American Revolution , with the resulting liberation of the British North American colonies , and the French Revolution , which seeded the restlessness and search for freedom in the Spanish American territories under dominion of the Spaniards . In the Intendancy of San Salvador ( covering roughly the same territory as today ' s El Salvador ) , many Creoles and other settlers wanted to separate control of the colony from the Guatemalan Captaincy General . This was largely due to economic and political reasons . Greater administrative autonomy or outright independence for San Salvador would reduce the high level of taxes paid to the Spain and Guatemala and would raise finances for the colony . Napoleón Bonaparte ' s invasion of Spain in 1808 and the removal of Ferdinand VII from the Spanish throne created an atmosphere of unrest in San Salvador . Revolt in San Salvador . The insurrectionists organized themselves along with prominent middle - class supporters of the cause of independence such as doctors and priests who took part in the event . These included doctors such as Santiago José Celis , the brothers ( Nicholas , Vicente and Manuel Aguilar ) and the priest José Matías Delgado . Others included Manuel José Arce , Juan Manuel Rodríguez and Pedro Pablo Castillo . On November 5 the revolt began in San Salvador . According to tradition , the rebels waited for a signal from the bell tower of the Church of La Merced , but this did not occur on the scheduled time . The rebels later assembled on the town square outside the church where Manuel José Arce proclaimed in front of the public : " There is no King , nor Intendant , nor Captain General . We only must obey our " alcalde s " , " meaning that since Ferdinand VII had been deposed , all other officials appointed by him no longer legitimately held power . A tumult in the square grew to the point that the intendant , Antonio Gutierrez y Ulloa , asked that the gathered name somebody to formally receive their demands . Manuel José Arce himself was chosen and selected as the leader by the crowd . Despite this , the insurrectionists took arms and proclaimed the total independence of San Salvador from the Spanish crown , but were later subdued . In the following days , the independence movement extended to the cities of Santiago Nonualco , Usulután , Chalatenango , Santa Ana , Tejutla and Cojutepeque . The two other notable revolts occurred on November 24 in the city of Metapán and on December 20 in Sensuntepeque . Suppression and aftermath . Despite the efforts of the insurrectionists , the cause of independence was not shared by the city councils of the Intendancy . Neither San Miguel , nor San Vicente nor Santa Ana joined them . Unable to amass support , the rebels decided to negotiate with a delegation sent in from the Guatemalan capital to take control . The new Intendant Colonel Jose de Aycinena , arrived on December 8 with Guatemalan troops and priests to force them to swear obedience to the crown and reclaimed the city . The new government was well received by the majority of the population due to Aycinena ' s policy of understanding and nonconfrontation . However , several days later , unrest broke out in the neighboring Intendancy of Nicaragua , where uprisings broke out in León on December 13 and later in Granada on December 22 . Nevertheless , both were soon suppressed . Many of those involved in the events in El Salvador and Nicaragua were incarcerated , but José Matías Delgado was taken back with the delegation to Guatemala City . Despite his past activities , or perhaps because of them , Delgado was elected in 1813 as a representative on the Provincial Deputation of Guatemala created by the Spanish Constitution of 1812 . He also became director of the Tridentino Seminary in the capital city , therefore , he was not in El Salvador at the time of the second insurrection in 1814 , and so did not take part in it . He was once again elected provincial deputy in 1820 when the Spanish Constitution was restored , and on September 15 , 1821 , he was among those who signed the Act of the Independence of Central America in Guatemala City . On November 28 , 1821 he became political chief ( " jefe pólitico civil " ) of the Province of San Salvador , and as its executive officer , he led its separation from Guatemala to prevent the former intendancy from becoming part of First Mexican Empire . Arce later became president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1825 to 1829 , once full independence from both Spain and Mexico became a reality . In El Salvador the independence movement and 1811 Revolt is officially commemorated every year on November 5 and recognized as the " First Shout for the Independence of Central America " .