Eliodoro Camacho facts for kids

Eliodoro Camacho (1831–1899) was an important Bolivian politician. He was a leader of a political party and ran for president several times. The Eliodoro Camacho Province in Bolivia is named after him.

Who Was Eliodoro Camacho?

Eliodoro Camacho was born in a town called Inquisivi in the La Paz area of Bolivia. He grew up in Cochabamba. He is best known for starting the Liberal Party. This party believed in important ideas for its time.

Ideas of the Liberal Party

The Liberal Party, led by Camacho, wanted several changes in Bolivia:

• They believed in freedom of religion. This meant people should be able to practice any religion they chose.
• They wanted a clearer separation between the church and the government.
• They supported legalizing civil marriages and divorce.
• They strongly believed in following democratic rules and procedures.

Camacho's Role in History

Camacho was also a military officer. He fought in the 1879-1880 War of the Pacific against Chile. After the war, he played a big part in creating Bolivia's new rules. He helped write the 1880 Constitution. He worked with Conservative Party leader Aniceto Arce on this.

After the new rules were set, Camacho became a leader of the opposition. This meant he led the group that disagreed with the ruling Conservative Party. He ran for president three times: in 1884, 1888, and 1892.

Later Years and Legacy

Camacho lost all three presidential elections. Many people believed these elections were unfair and involved cheating. After these defeats, he stepped down as the leader of the Liberal Party in 1894. José Manuel Pando took over as the new leader.

Under Pando's leadership, the Liberal Party finally came to power in 1899. They stayed in charge of Bolivian politics until 1920. The Liberal Party remained one of the most important parties in Bolivia until the middle of the 20th century. Eliodoro Camacho died in 1899, the same year his party gained power.

See also

• In Spanish: Eliodoro Camacho para niños