Before delving into Costa Rica’s circumstances immediately following its independence, it is crucial to shed light on the country’s colonial era. Firstly, Costa Rica stood out as one of the Spanish Crown’s poorest and most underdeveloped provinces. This can be attributed, in part, to its geographical isolation from Guatemala, under whose administrative jurisdiction it belonged, as well as its relatively small population of around 50,000 inhabitants. This limited population had a notable impact on the province’s economy, rendering it less productive compared to other provinces. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s restricted trade with neighboring regions—such as Panama and Nicaragua—and its limited connection to the global market, due to low productivity, hindered economic growth.