Paraguayan War Explanation

1993 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of 19th century western imperialism on Latin America

Interpretations of the Paraguayan War
Wars can be traced throughout different times, civilizations, and cultures around the world. Sadly, war is a piece of human nature, something that will never go away no matter how hard states proactively work for it. Though some wars can easily be forgotten in cultures due to them not being taught in schools and universities. One example of this is the Paraguayan War otherwise known as the Triple Alliance War. This war has been put down in history as the bloodiest war to ever been fought in Latin America to this day. The casualties were extreme due to poor leadership and decision making that still awes historians to this day. Most of these casualties can be blamed on President Francisco Lopez of Paraguay …show more content…

It was an interstate war, which started as a part of the outcome of the Uruguayan Civil War. Without the Uruguayan Civil War it can be inferred that his conflict would have never occurred. This intrastate war of two sides: the Blanco Party (Uruguayan Regime) and the Colorado Party (Rebels). As Paraguay backed the Blanco Party Brazil, the first state Lopez declared war on, backed the Colorado Party supporting them politically and materially. Paraguayan President Francisco Lopez warned Brazil that if they were to continue to help the rebels and or invade Uruguay it would be viewed on an attack against Paraguay. Brazil did not adhere to Lopez’s wishes and Paraguay retaliated with seizing a Brazilian ship that held a Brazilian Governor onboard. In December of 1864 Paraguay officially declared war on Brazil, which followed in the an invasion of Brazilian. Lopez then declared war on Argentina, the second hegemon of South America, after he was denied permission from them to cross their border in order to send troops to their allies in Uruguay against Brazil. Shortly after the Colorado Party’s won their coup against the old Uruguayan regime, which allowed the newly reformed Uruguay to help Brazil and Argentina with the fight. This entail created the Triple Alliance, the force that would defeat President Lopez and the Paraguayans. After many successful battles in favor of the Triple Alliance the war ended on March 1st 1870 with the death of President Lopez. All in all around 400,000 soldiers died in result of the conflict, 150,000 losses for Triple Alliance soldiers and 300,000 for the Paraguayans. Due to Lopez’s law of every male having to do some sort of military service the Paraguayans lost two thirds of their male population, it took years for them to recover. To this day this war is still known as the bloodiest war in all of Latin American History. (Warren

Show More
Related

  • The Mexican War by Otis A. Singletary

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    This book by Otis A. Singletary deals with different aspects of the Mexican war. It is a compelling description and concise history of the first successful offensive war in United States military history. The work examines two countries that were unprepared for war. The political intrigues and quarrels in appointing the military commanders, as well as the military operations of the war, are presented and analyzed in detail. The author also analyzes the role that the Mexican War played in bringing on the U.S. Civil War.

    Read More

  • Rafael Trujullo: A Successful Leader Of Rafael Trujillo

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Parsley Massacre was the first instance where the world realized that Rafael Trujillo was a ruthless dictator. Rafael Trujillo's 1937 massacre of the Haitians, was his first time committing mass murder. This massacre killed more than 20,000 Haitians and even some Dominicans (“Dominican Republic and the Parsley Massacre”). Even though Trujillo committed this treacherous act, he still defended himself with, “He who does not know how to deceive does not know how to rule” (1 “Rafael Trujillo”). It is crazy that even when he went extremely public with his terror, he still tried to defend himself. The Parsley Massacre symbolized that the man who was supposed to lead and benefit the Dominican Republic was actually ruining their country one treacherous act at a

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of The Venezuela's Fight For Independence

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    From 1806 to 1826 most of the Latin countries under Spanish rule fought for their independence. The reason that caused these countries to have courage to fight for independence was because in 1808 Napoleon was able to invade and conquer Spain. Examples of those countries are Venezuela and Chile. There are similarities in the ways in which these two countries fought for their independence but there are also some differences in how they fought. Some of the leaders who were involved in the Venezuela’s fight for independence were Simon Bolivar, Francisco de Miranda and Antonio José de Sucre. The Venezuelan fight for independence against the Spanish empire began in 1811 and finally ended in 1823. The Venezuelan war was done in different phases, which began with Francisco de Miranda.

    Read More

  • The Butterflies Theme Of Sacrifice Essay

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    Death of course by assassination planned by El Jeffe’s forces that was skillfully carried out to make it look like a tragic accident. Of course it was no coincidence to anyone, it was meant by Trujillo to intimidate potential followers of the ever rising rebellion. Their fight to the end showed how they were proud and willing to fight for the better life and brake the chains of living in oppression. They proved they would not tolerate living miserably under an unjust government and this was truly inspiring. This is a genuine and desirable trait that they held strongly, and it gained them due respect and honor.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Spanish American War

    1975 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Spanish American war had a complex beginning. By the 1890’s, Cuba had unsuccessfully battled Spain for its independence for many years. Due to the US’s economic interests in Cuba, the US government sought to stabilize the situation. The United States and Cuba negotiated an agreement that Cuba would become self-governing on January 1, 1898. But

    Read More

  • The Battle of San Juan Hill

    1822 Words  | 4 Pages

    For four hundred years Spain ruled over an immense and profitable global empire that included islands in the Caribbean, Americas, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. After the Napoleonic Wars (1808-1815) many of Spain’s colonies followed the US’s lead, fighting and winning their independence. These revolts, coupled with other nations chipping away at Spain’s interests, dwindled Spain’s former Empire. By 1860, only Cuba and Puerto Rico were what remained of Spain’s former Empire. Following the lead of other former Spanish colonies, Cuban fighters started their campaign for independence, known as the Ten year war (1868-1878). This war developed into a Cuban insurgency which fought a guerilla war against the Spanish occupation.2

    Read More

  • Rough Riders

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    To do that they would need to gain action politically or militarily in Cuba (a Spanish ruled country). The first battle of the war was The Battle of Manilla. Which was a naval strike on the Manila harbor.

    Read More

  • Three Main Causes of the War of 1898

    626 Words  | 2 Pages

    The War of 1898 was a war between Spain and the United States of America. It is one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted wars in American history. There were many circumstances that led up to the battle between Spain and America. The three main causes of the War of 1898 were the worsening economy during this time, nationalism, and imperialism. The Spanish American war was brief and included few battles. In fact, there was never much doubt of its outcome, but the war had major historical significance.

    Read More

  • Trujillo: The Fall Of The Dominican Republic

    2028 Words  | 5 Pages

    Once assuming the presidency, Trujillo took some of his most loyal men and created a small military force called the Servicio de Inteligencia Militar, or SIM. Their job was to control the public and eliminate any opposition, no matter how big. One of the biggest jobs SIM was ordered to perform was the Parsley Massacre of 1937. A year after a political compromise between the two nations, thousands of Haitians were illegally immigrated into the Dominican Republic. Many Dominicans were complaining about the settlements growing exponentially on the border, as it hindered trade. Trujillo responded with, “We have already begun to remedy the situation. Three hundred Haitians are now dead in [the city of] Bánica. This remedy will continue.” Trujillo had ordered his men to get rid of the Haitians occupying the borderlands. Approximately 20,000 Haitians and some dark Dominicans were killed. If you couldn 't pronounce "perejil" or parsley with a roll of the "r", it entailed you spoke French and as a Haitian you were killed. Women and children were as mercilessly killed as the men by bayonets, machetes, and rifles. Dominicans that tried to help were killed as well. The bodies were dumped in a body of water running between the two countries, as if to send a message. SIM was so effective that horrible genocide occurred during only five days. It was an event that tarnished the Haitian-Dominican

    Read More

  • The Night Henry David Thoreau Spent In Jail

    376 Words  | 1 Pages

    the U.S. and Mexican armies were firing on each other. After the smoke cleared a dying

    Read More

  • the spanish american war

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    One reason why the Spanish-American war was good for the US is the relatively small losses we had. 332 Americans were killed and 1642 were injured, and 2957 died from disease. These numbers amount to a total of 3289 soldiers killed because of the Spanish-American war (McSherry). This seems like many casualties, but if one compares it to any other war, it is almost nothing, considering there were 15 million battlefield deaths in the Second World War (Ash 71).

    Read More

  • The Spanish American War

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    The war begins At the begining of the war there were almost 200,000 Spanish troops located in Cuba.

    Read More

  • El Salvador Civil War Analysis

    1549 Words  | 4 Pages

    The civil war in El Salvador was one of the most destructive combats Central America had ever encountered. It was a settlement between the FMLN and the United States supported Salvadoran regime that led political settlement of El Salvador’s civil war. The full civil war lasted twelve-years

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of the Spanish American War

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first reason for the Spanish American War was public opinion. In 1895, American citizens took notice of a Cuban revolt against their corrupt Spanish oppressor. The Cuban insurgents reasoned that if they did enough damage , the US might move in and help the Cubans win their independence. Not only did Americans sympathize with the Cubans upon seeing tragic reports in the newspaper, but they also empathized in that the US once fought for their own independence from Britain. If France didn’t intervene, the Americans probably would not have won their freedom. As if this did not rally enough hate for the Spanish among the American Public, fuel was added to the flame by the Spanish General (“Butcher”) Weyler. He attempted to crush the rebellion by herding Cubans into barbed-wire concentration camps. In turn, the American public was outraged.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Spanish American War

    795 Words  | 2 Pages

    War would break out after the sinking of the Battleship Maine. This took place in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. Before all of this, Spain would become the first European country to claim land, sailing westward crossing the Atlantic, exploring, and colonizing the lands and its inhabitants in the western hemisphere. At the peak of its time, the empire that resulted from Spain’s exploration extended from Virginia all the way to Tierra del Fuego in South America. The empire then continued to expand t...

    Read More

More about Paraguayan War Explanation

Open Document