User:Sharpd153/Paraguayan War

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Recorded as one of the most violent conflicts in South America's history, The War of the Triple Alliance was fought in the mid 19th century. From 1864 through 1870, Paraguay went to war against the Triple alliance composed of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It was the deadliest and bloodiest inter-state war in Latin America's history. The chaos was widely attributed to colonialism within South America, Tariff disputes, along with the desire of dictator Francisco Solano López to expand his country's territory. Tied to their leader's ambition for expansion, Paraguay had been devastated by the end of the war (the numbers are disputed, and the true mortality rate may never be known). On top of the warfare itself, external factors such as disease and famine also destroyed Paraguay's population. Paraguay was also forced to cede disputed territory to Argentina and Brazil. The war began in late 1864, as a result of a conflict between Paraguay and Brazil caused by the Uruguayan War. Argentina and Uruguay entered the war against Paraguay in 1865, and it then became known as the "War of the Triple Alliance". The war ended with the defeat of Paraguay, and after Paraguay was defeated in conventional warfare, the nation conducted a drawn-out guerrilla resistance – a strategy that resulted in the further destruction of the Paraguayan military and the civilian population. Much of the civilian population lost their lives, due to battle casualties, hunger, and disease. The guerrilla war lasted for 14 months, until President Francisco Solano López was killed in action by Brazilian forces in the Battle of Cerro Corá on 1 March 1870. Argentine and Brazilian troops occupied Paraguay until 1876. The effects of the war economically can still be observed today, considering that Paraguay is one of the poorest nations in South America.

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Paraguay Pre War and the Lopez Family

The development under a dictator made Paraguay inherently different from any other South American country. Dictator Lopez was a well known isolationist, with a goal of a self sustaining Paraguayan economy in mind. A distinct feature of the Lopez family rain was the lack of distinction between private and public spheres. Exports were entirely under the control of the government, and the enactment of high tariffs deterred any entrance of foreign products into Paraguay. Francisco Solano López inherited rule over Paraguay from his father Carlos Antonio López in the year 1862. Both Francesco and Carlos were known to strictly limit any form of material that spoke out against their regime, often deterring critics of the government through imprisonment. Francesco hired foreign technicians as a means of revolutionizing the Paraguay military. Infrastructure was improved as railroad lines were installed; Lines that would utimalley supply the country with paper, ink, steel, and gunpowder. This type of growth within the country required greater support from the international market. The issue for Francesco was the fact that Paraguay is landlocked, limiting travel ability for Paraguayan ships. It was limitations as such that ultimately fueled the dictators hunger for expansion. To keep this vision of expansion alive, Lopez began to ready his military for warfare. The countries industry was encouraged to build up arms, and a large quantity of civilization men were drafted and trained under intense conditions. Lastly, portions of the Paraguay River were fortified.