Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation
The Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation (Spanish: Confederación Perú-Boliviana ) was a short-lived confederate state in South America . It existed from 1836 to 1839 as a loose union of the states of Bolivia and Peru (at that time divided into the republics of northern Peru and southern Peru ). The first and only head of state was the Bolivian President Andrés de Santa Cruz , the capital was Tacna .
The confederation disintegrated as a result of the defeat in the Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation War against Chile .
history
Background and formation of a confederation
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Both the area of today's Bolivia and the area of Peru were part of the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru, founded in 1542 . It was only with the establishment of the Viceroyalty Río de la Plata in 1776 that Bolivia was separated from Peru. With the independence of Peru on July 28, 1821, the viceroyalty of Peru went under. Bolivia declared its independence from Spain on August 6, 1825. The lack of a geographical border and the continued existence of cultural, economic and administrative structures from the colonial era led to a situation of permanent mutual influence between the two countries. In addition, there was a strong threat from Chile, which intensified efforts to establish a joint alliance between the two countries. Earlier plans for a federation of the two countries failed because of the question of leadership role within the future union.
After Antonio José de Sucre's resignation , Andrés Santa Cruz was elected President of Bolivia; he took office on May 24, 1829. He took the military support of the Peruvian Caudillo Luís Orbegoso in the fight against Agustín Gamarra and Felipe Santiago de Salaverry as an opportunity to occupy large parts of Peru. On August 15, 1836, Santa Cruz invaded Lima . In preparation for a Peruvian-Bolivian confederation, he had the political structure of Peru reorganized. The country was divided into two republics: On March 17, 1836, Southern Peru was founded under General Ramón Herrera Rodado from the four southern provinces of Peru. Northern Peru , consisting of the four northern provinces of Peru, followed on August 6, 1836 under the government of Orbegoso. Both republics united with Bolivia on October 28, 1836 to form the Confederación Perú-Boliviana . The combined population of the confederation was estimated at four million. On May 1, 1837, representatives from the three states signed the 'Tacna Pact', which was to serve as a constitution. After its publication, however, doubts arose, especially in Bolivia, which feared for its independence. Santa Cruz took over the affairs of state as the highest protector. The USA , England and France recognized the new federation by establishing diplomatic relations.
Confederate War and End of Confederation
Main article: Peruvian-Bolivian Confederate War
In view of the threatened economic and military dominance, Chile demanded the dissolution of the Peruvian-Bolivian confederation. When this refused, Chile decided on a preventive war . Argentina joined the Chilean declaration of war on December 26, 1836 on May 19, 1837.
During the war, the confederation showed the first signs of disintegration. On July 30th, 1838, Luís Orbegoso unilaterally declared the independence of northern Peru, but without leaving the war against Chile. After the initial successes of the Bolivian troops and the departure of Argentina from the war in June 1838, the fortunes of the war visibly turned in the second half of 1838. With the sinking of the Peruvian fleet on January 12, 1839 and the defeat of the Bolivian army at Yungay on January 20, 1839, the war in Chile was decided. Santa Cruz had to abdicate as president of Bolivia and protector of the confederation and fled to Ecuador . On June 16, 1839, José Miguel Velasco took over the government on the Bolivian side . On August 25, 1839, the Peruvian General Agustín Gamarra , who was elected president on February 24, officially declared the dissolution of the confederation and the renewed independence (of the now reunited) Peru.
aftermath
A civil war broke out over the successor to Santa Cruz. President Velasco was overthrown and Santa Cruz was once again proclaimed president. In the subsequent power struggle, General José Ballivián prevailed with Peruvian support; he became President of Bolivia on September 27, 1841. In view of the unstable rulers in Bolivia, the once dominated Peru saw itself encouraged to attack. This triggered the Peruvian-Bolivian War of 1841.
See also
literature
- Heraclio Bonilla: Peru and Bolivia from Independence to the War of the Pacific , in: Leslie Bethell (ed.): The Cambridge history of Latin America , Vol. 3, Cambridge 2002, pp. 539-582.
- Herbert S. Klein: A concise history of Bolivia , Cambridge 2003, pp. 89–117.
- Robert L. Scheina: Latin America's Wars: The age of the caudillo 1791-1899 , Vol. 1, Dulles 2003, pp. 132-139.
Footnotes
- ↑ Robin Kiera: Otto Philipp Braun (1798-1869): a transatlantic biography , p. 230f. ( online ). Böhlau 2014, ISBN 978-3412223786 (Diss., Uni Hamburg)
- ↑ See Samuel Augustus Mitchell: Mitchell's geographical reader: a system of modern geography , Philadelphia, 1840, pp. 226f. ( online )