 Prior to the Spanish invasion in 1524 , the population of Guatemala was almost exclusively Maya . The Spanish conquest created a system of wealthy European landowners overseeing a labor force composed of slaves and bonded laborers . However , the community lands of the indigenous population remained in their control until the late 19th century . At this point , rising global demand for coffee made its export a significant source of income for the government . As a result , the state supported the coffee growers by passing legislation that took land away from the Indian population , as well as relaxing labor laws so that bonded labor could be used on the plantations . 
