Costa Rica gained independence from Spain on September 15, 1821, as part of the Mexican Empire. The Mexican Empire was short-lived, and in 1823 Costa Rica became a member of the United Provinces of Central America, a federation of Central American countries that was established after Mexico's independence. Costa Rica remained part of the United Provinces until 1838, when the federation was dissolved and Costa Rica became an independent nation. Since then, Costa Rica has developed into a stable democracy with a strong focus on education and environmental conservation.

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