Edward Novak, age 15, of Tacoma, Wash., for his question:

WHAT WAS THE UNITED PROVINCES OF CENTRAL AMERICA?

In 1823, a federation was formed which included Costa Rica, E1 Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This group of countries was called the United Provinces of Central America.

The government of the union was modeled after that of the United States. But the people failed to develop a feeling of unity and their leaders engaged in bitter rivalry.

Francisco Morazan of Honduras became president of the federation in 1830. He worked to hold the union together for almost 10 years when he was driven into exile. All hopes for the federation then collapsed.

Morazan tried to form another union in 1842 but failed.

The Republic of Central America, a union formed in 1921, lasted only a few months.