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→Paraguay in the 19th Century: Paraguay in the 19th century. Lore about events ftom the 1840s to 1880s.
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=== Paraguay in the 19th Century ===
==== Support on the Riograndense independence ====
During the Riograndense War of Independence, Paraguay supported the neighboring country by opening its borders to volunteers coming from Carolina, the Carolinos, as they were called, weapons and other resources to cross into the Riograndense Republic through the Missões region. Paraguay also was the first country to recognize the independence of the Riograndense Republic.
==== Free Waters Treaty with Britain (1848) ====
In 1846, Spain recognized Paraguay as independent, shortly after, various nations across the American Continent and Europe also followed the path. One of the first deals made by Paraguay with a foreign nation was the Free Waters Treaty, signed in 1848, which opened the Rio de La Plata to Paraguayan ships. Being the only landlocked country in South America, the treaty had a key importance to the end of Paraguayan geographical and economical isolation.
A year after the ratification of the treaty, every day, hundreds of cargo ships and fishing boats from Paraguay started to cross the river, leaving or returning to the country. The treaty also opened the ports of Carolina major cities, such as Buenos Aires, Sacramento and Port Leonabelle.
Britain saw the treaty as a way to expand its markets to the newly independent country, and also to reduce the Spanish influence over South America. Paraguay looked for modernization and protection from the Viceroyalty of Peru, so, in the end, Paraguay became heavily relying on British goods and modern equipment for the outdated Paraguayan army. The Paraguayan government feared a crisis with the European power would result in the nation being suffocated by the closure of the river, so an era of British aligned Paraguayan rulers started.
==== Occupation of the Chaco and Paraguayan-Peruvian War (1885-1887) ====
In 1875, the Viceroyalty of Peru declared independence from Spain, which was followed by a bloody conflict with the former metropolis. Paraguay took advantage of the unstable situation of Peru to occupy the Chaco region, an enormous flat land on the west side of the Paraguay river, which at the time was mostly uncolonized, with only a few communities and towns constructed near major rivers. In 1876, the Paraguayan army crossed the Peruvian border and started occupying the area. The low number of inhabitants of the land showed no resistance for the occupation, but the same could not be said about the Peruvian government in Cusco.
On February 10th of 1885, an ultimatum from Peru arrived in Asuncion. The document demanded the Paraguayan forces to leave the Chaco immediately, or the occupiers would be expelled by force. Imagining receiving support from Britain in a conflict, Paraguay refused to retreat. Peru declared war on March the 2nd.
In late April, the first clashes between Paraguay and Peruvian forces along the Pilcomayo river started. The British support didn’t come, and Paraguay soon asked the Riograndense Republic for support, which they also refused. During 1885 and most of 1886, Paraguay was capable of holding the Peruvian advance, but the war was already too costly, the economy of the small agrarian country could not hold on too much longer the conflict. Also, the difference between the two countries' population was enormous, this made Paraguay start to suffer from manpower shortage.
In may 1887, Peru won the last major battle near the Paraguay river, this opened passage to the conquest of the west bank of the main waterway to the Paraguayan core. It was only a matter of time until Asunción fell. Knowing this, in June 21th, Paraguay asked for peace. The peace treaty with Peru established the Paraguay river as the border, Paraguay also had to pay huge war reparations.
== Government and Politics ==
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