History of Paraguay facts for kids

The history of Paraguay covers thousands of years. People have lived in this land for a very long time.

When the Spanish arrived, both farming and nomadic groups lived here. The Guaycuruan people were among them. Paraguay became a less important part of the Spanish Empire. This was because it was far away and had no gold or silver. Still, some Spanish settlers came. They often married native women. This created a mixed population called mestizos.

In the 1600s and 1700s, Jesuit missionaries helped native people. They set up special communities called reducciones. This idea became famous in Europe.

In the early 1800s, Paraguay joined other Spanish colonies. They fought against Spanish rule. After gaining independence, Paraguay was led by Jose Gaspar Rodriguez. He ruled very strictly and almost completely cut off the country from the world.

After Dr. Francia died in 1840, Francisco Solano Lopez took over in 1862. He led Paraguay into wars against Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Paraguay lost these wars. It lost many people and a lot of land.

Military leaders continued to rule in the 1900s. In the 1930s, Paraguay fought the Chaco War with Bolivia. Paraguay won this war. General Alfredo Stroessner came to power in 1954. Military rule lasted until 1989. Then, Paraguay started to become a democracy. A new constitution was made in 1992.

In the 21st century, Paraguay has been more peaceful. It has avoided the strong-man rule seen in much of its past.

Colonial Era: How Paraguay Began

Native Peoples of Paraguay

The Guarani people lived east of the Paraguay River. This area is now parts of Argentina and Brazil. Experts think between 300,000 and one million Guarani lived there. When Europeans arrived, many Guarani died from new diseases.

The Guarani shared a language and culture. But they did not have one big government. They were farmers who lived in villages.

At first, the Guarani fought the Spanish. But two things helped them work with the Spanish. First, other tribes and slave traders threatened the Guarani. The Spanish, especially missionaries, offered some safety. Second, the Guarani had a custom of exchanging women. This helped them make alliances. Many Guarani women had children with Spanish men.

In Paraguay, children of Spanish and Guarani parents were called mestizos. They had the same legal rights as Spaniards. Spain did not find much gold or silver in Paraguay. So, by 1580, Paraguay became a mestizo society. Today, Guarani is an official language alongside Spanish.

However, the Spanish also made Guarani people work for them. This was called the encomienda system. It was like forced labor. Later, Christian missionaries started reductions. These were more controlled communities.

West of the Paraguay River was the Gran Chaco. This was home to the Guaycuru peoples. The Payaguá lived along the river. The Mbayá lived in northwest Paraguay. These tribes were nomads and warriors. They often attacked Spanish settlers and Guarani farmers. They fought against missionaries and Christianity for over 300 years. The name Paraguay likely comes from the Payaguás.

Early Explorers and Conquerors

The first written history of Paraguay comes from Spanish explorers. In 1516, Juan Díaz de Solís tried to explore the Río de la Plata. His trip failed. One of his ships crashed near Brazil. A survivor, Aleixo Garcia, learned the Guaraní language. He heard stories of a "White King" and rich cities to the west. This was the Inca Empire.

In 1524, Garcia joined a Guarani group. They invaded the Inca Empire. Garcia's group found Iguazú Falls. They crossed the Río Paraná. They reached the future site of Asunción 13 years before it was founded. With 2,000 Guarani warriors, Garcia crossed the Gran Chaco. They reached the Inca Empire's borders. After Garcia was killed, news of his raid reached other Spanish explorers.

Sebastian Cabot came to the Río Paraguay in 1526. He thought the Río de la Plata might lead to the Pacific. He wanted the Inca riches. Cabot was the first European to explore this area. He founded a small settlement called Sancti Spiritu. He sailed far upstream. He found some silver objects from a land to the west. Cabot renamed the river Río de la Plata (Silver River).

Cabot returned to Spain in 1530. He told Emperor Charles V about his finds. Charles allowed Pedro de Mendoza to lead an expedition. Mendoza was named governor. In 1536, Mendoza built a fort called Buenos Aires. It was a bad location. The local Querandí tribe fought the Spanish.

Juan de Ayolas, Mendoza's second-in-command, explored upstream. He found a bay called Candelaria. This is now Fuerte Olimpo. Ayolas went into the Chaco and was never seen again.

After Mendoza left, Juan de Salazar de Espinosa and Gonzalo de Mendoza explored the Río Paraguay. They met Ayolas's group. On August 15, 1537, they started building a fort. They named it Asunción (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption).

Within 20 years, Asunción had about 1,500 people. Silver from Peru passed through Asunción on its way to Europe. Asunción became the center of a large Spanish province. It was called La Provincia Gigante de Indias. From Asunción, Spaniards founded Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia. They also re-founded Buenos Aires.

The Young Colony

Emperor Charles V made a special rule for Río de la Plata Province. Colonists could elect their governor if Mendoza did not name a successor. Two years later, they elected Domingo Martínez de Irala. His rule covered a huge area. In 1542, this province became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

Irala's rule shaped Paraguay until independence. Many men from Europe came to Asunción. They married or partnered with Guarani women. Irala himself had many partners. He encouraged his men to marry native women. Paraguay quickly became a colony of mestizos. Over time, a criollo (Spanish-born in America) elite grew.

Peace ended in 1542. Charles V appointed Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca as governor. He was a famous explorer. The province split into two groups. Cabeza de Vaca's enemies accused him of favoritism. They also disliked his efforts to protect native tribes. He tried to explore the Chaco. This angered the Chaco tribes. They fought a two-year war against the colony. Settlers then arrested Cabeza de Vaca and sent him back to Spain. Irala became governor again.

A Guarani woman named India Juliana is famous. Between 1539 and 1542, she killed her Spanish master. She encouraged other native women to do the same. She was freed at first. But Cabeza de Vaca had her arrested and executed in 1542.

Irala ruled until his death in 1556. His rule was kinder than many others in the Spanish colonies. He kept good relations with the Guarani. He explored the Chaco and started trade with Peru. He also encouraged textile making and brought cattle. Cattle thrived in Paraguay. In 1556, the first bishop arrived. This officially started the Catholic Church in Paraguay. Irala oversaw building churches and schools.

Later, Irala gave in to pressure from settlers. He started the encomienda system. Spanish settlers received land. They also got the right to use native labor and goods. This system quickly became like slavery. About 20,000 natives were given to 320 encomenderos. This led to a big tribal revolt in 1560-1561.

Political problems began. Revolts were common. Irala could not stop Portuguese raiders on the eastern borders. But he left Paraguay prosperous for Europeans and mostly peaceful.

Jesuit Missions Among the Guaraní

In the early 1600s, the Guarani people faced big problems. European diseases had cut their population by half. The encomienda system made many Guarani like slaves. Franciscan missionaries started missions called reductions in the 1580s. The first Jesuits arrived in 1588. They founded their first mission in 1609.

The Jesuits wanted to make the Guarani Christians. They also wanted to teach them European ways. Most importantly, they wanted to protect the Guarani. They wanted to keep them safe from Spanish colonists and slave traders.

Slave raiders from Brazil, called Bandeirantes, were a threat. They captured natives and sold them as slaves. At first, the missions had no defense. Thousands of Guarani were captured. In 1631, the Jesuits moved their missions. They moved them southwest to the border region of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. About 10,000 Guarani moved with them.

In 1641 and 1642, the Jesuits armed the Guarani. Guarani armies defeated the Bandeirantes. This stopped most of the slave trade in their area. After this, the Jesuit missions grew and became rich. By 1732, the Jesuits managed 30 missions. About 141,000 Guarani lived in them.

Historians have different views on the Jesuit missions. Some say the Jesuits protected the Guarani. They say the Jesuits saved their language and culture. The philosopher d'Alembert said the Jesuits created a "triumph of humanity."

Others say the Jesuits took away the Indians' freedom. They forced them to change their lives. They also say the missions were not very efficient. They depended on money from the Jesuit order.

The Comunero Revolt (1721-1735) was a big protest. Spanish and mestizo Paraguayans protested against the Jesuit missions. They were angry about Jesuit control over Guarani labor. They also felt it was unfair competition for products like yerba mate. The revolt failed, but the Jesuits were removed from institutions in Asunción.

In 1756, the Guarani fought a short war with the Spanish and Portuguese. This was because seven missions were moved. The Jesuits were accused of making the Guarani rebel. In 1767, Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits from the Americas. This was part of Spain's effort to control its colonies more. About 78 Jesuits left the missions. They left behind 89,000 Guarani.

Many Guarani at first liked the Jesuits leaving. Spanish leaders made promises to them. But within two years, the missions' money problems grew. Guarani started to leave, seeking freedom and better pay. By 1840, the old missions were in ruins. Many Guarani families became poor. More mestizos took over former mission lands. In 1848, President Carlos Antonio López declared all Indians were citizens. He gave away the last of the mission lands. The ruins of some Jesuit missions are now World Heritage Sites.

Colonial Decline

The Comuneros revolt showed the province was in decline. After Buenos Aires was re-founded in 1580, Asunción became less important. This led to more political problems. In 1617, the Governorate of the Río de la Plata split into two. Asunción became the capital of Governorate of Paraguay. But it lost control of the river mouth. It depended on Buenos Aires for shipping.

In 1776, the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata was created. Paraguay, which was under Lima, now became a small outpost of Buenos Aires. Paraguay was on the edge of the empire. It served as a buffer state. The Portuguese blocked its growth in the north. Native tribes blocked it in the south. The Jesuits blocked it in the east.

Madrid mostly ignored Paraguay. It did not want the cost of ruling a remote colony. Paraguay's governors had no royal troops. They relied on a militia of colonists. Paraguayans had to serve long times in the militia. This caused a big shortage of workers. Paraguayans believed they had the right to choose their governors. The colony, especially Asunción, was known for revolting against the Crown.

Paraguay had little control over its economy. Spain took much of Paraguay's wealth through taxes. For example, Yerba maté became too expensive to sell. Spain also used its wealth from the Americas to buy goods from Britain. This led to poverty in Paraguay.

Paraguay's Independence in 1811

The French Revolution and Napoleon's wars weakened Spain. Spain could not control its colonies well. British invasions of the River Plate in 1806-1807 were stopped by local troops. Spain did not help.

In 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain. He captured the Spanish king, Ferdinand VII. This made the colonial system lose its power. Colonies began to revolt. Buenos Aires removed the Spanish viceroy in May 1810. They wanted to control the Province of Paraguay.

News of this shocked people in Asunción. They disliked Buenos Aires more than the Spanish king. Buenos Aires sent José Espínola y Peña to Asunción. He was very unpopular. He lied about how much support Buenos Aires had in Paraguay. This led Buenos Aires to send 1,100 troops under General Manuel Belgrano to take Asunción.

Paraguayan troops, helped by local militias, defeated Belgrano's forces. This happened at the Battle of Paraguarí and Battle of Tacuarí. Paraguayan officers learned that Spanish rule was ending. They realized they had the real power.

The last Spanish governor, Bernardo de Velasco, made things worse. He thought Paraguayan officers were a threat. He sent soldiers home without pay. Velasco also fled the battlefield at Paraguarí, causing panic. The final straw was his talks with Brazil. He asked Brazil for military help.

This led to a military uprising in Asunción on May 14, 1811. A power-sharing group was formed. On May 17, a public announcement named a ruling group. It included Governor Velasco, Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, and Army Captain Juan Valeriano de Zeballos.

Historical Flags of Paraguay

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  Provisional flag, May–June 1811

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  Provisional flag, 1812

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  Provisional flag, 1812

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  Flag from 1812 to 1826

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  Flag from 1826 to 1842

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  Flag from 1842 to 1954

Era of Dictatorships (1814–1870)

After the first years of revolution, Congress elected José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia as the supreme dictator. This was in 1814. Under Francia (1814–1840), Carlos Antonio López (1841–1862), and Francisco Solano López (1862–1870), Paraguay grew differently. They focused on self-sufficiency. The government owned most industries. They kept Paraguay isolated from other countries. The López family ruled the country like their own property.

Francia, 1814–1840

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia ruled from 1811 until his death in 1840. He built a strong, rich, and safe nation. This was important because Paraguay's independence was not certain.

When it became independent, Paraguay was not very developed. Most people in Asunción and all in the countryside could not read or write. Few people had experience in government or foreign affairs. Hostile neighbors surrounded the country. Strong actions were needed to save Paraguay.

Francia was careful with money, honest, and hardworking. He was popular with common people and natives. But Francia's rule was a dictatorship. It did not respect human rights. It used spies and force. Under Francia, Paraguay changed a lot. The old colonial leaders lost power.

Francia became part of the ruling group after the 1811 uprising. He was good at organizing and had a strong personality. He outsmarted diplomats from Buenos Aires. He made a treaty that recognized Paraguay's independence. This showed he had important skills for the country's future.

Francia made Paraguayans believe he was essential. By late 1811, he resigned from the ruling group. He said the revolution had been betrayed. He claimed the new government was just trading Spanish leaders for local ones. He said the group was not good at ruling.

Paraguay faced many problems. The Portuguese threatened the northern borders. Buenos Aires closed the Río de la Plata to Paraguayan trade. They taxed goods and seized ships. They also asked Paraguay for military help.

In November 1812, the ruling group asked Francia to handle foreign policy. They gave him control of half the army and weapons. Francia now controlled the government. In May 1813, an Argentine diplomat arrived. He was told to wait for a Paraguayan Congress meeting. He was kept under house arrest.

The Second National Congress met in September 1813. It had 1100 delegates. They rejected joining Argentina. They approved a new Constitution on October 12, 1813. Paraguay was officially declared a Republic. It created a two-man leadership. Fulgencio Yegros and Francia were the leaders. Francia was more powerful.

The Third National Congress met in October 1814. It replaced the two leaders with one dictator. Francia was elected.

El Supremo Dictador (The Supreme Dictator)

Francia disliked the old ways of ruling. He saw himself as a revolutionary. He admired the French Revolution. Francia's government was a dictatorship. It took power from the old leaders. It helped common Paraguayans. Paraguay was well-run, stable, and safe. The army grew strong. The justice system was lenient. Murderers worked on public projects. Political refugees from other countries were given safety.

But Francia's system also had problems. Spies stopped free speech. People were arrested without reason. Political prisoners were held in bad conditions.

In 1820, Francia's security found a plot to kill him. He arrested almost 200 important Paraguayans. Many were leaders of the independence movement. Most were executed. In 1821, Francia targeted Spanish-born leaders. He accused them of treason. He arrested them and held them for 18 months. They were freed only after paying a huge amount of money. This broke their power in Paraguay's economy.

Francia wanted to destroy the old social classes. He forbade Europeans from marrying other Europeans. This forced the rich to marry local people.

He closed Paraguay's borders. Anyone trying to leave was executed. Foreigners who entered had to stay for many years. This included the botanist Aimé Bonpland.

These decisions helped create a strong Paraguayan identity. There were no longer separate racial groups. Everyone had to live in Paraguay and build a new society. This society had strong Hispanic and Guarani roots.

Paraguay's international trade almost stopped. This hurt those who exported yerba maté and tobacco. These rules hit the old ruling class the hardest.

The state started its own industries. It built ships and made textiles. Farming was planned by the government. It grew more diverse and productive. These changes helped Paraguay be self-sufficient.

Targeting the Church

Francia also targeted the Catholic Church. The Church had supported Spanish rule. It taught people to accept their social status. In 1824, Francia banned all religious groups. He closed the only seminary. He made priests swear loyalty to the state. He took Church property. He put Church money under state control.

Common people benefited from this. Francia took land from the rich and the Church. He leased it to the poor. About 875 families received land. Fines on the rich helped lower taxes for others. Francia's actions against the rich and his state-controlled economy were popular. The state became the largest landowner. It ran many animal farms. These farms were so successful that extra animals were given to peasants.

Francia's Legacy

Francia was very careful with money. He left the state treasury with twice as much money as when he started. This included his own unspent salary.

Francia's biggest success was keeping Paraguay independent. He did this by keeping Paraguay out of foreign conflicts. He saw Argentina as a threat. He recognized Brazilian independence in 1822. He also had good relations with Argentina's governor. Francia stopped civil war. He secured his rule by cutting off his enemies from their friends in Buenos Aires.

Despite his "isolation," Francia traded with both countries. He bought important foreign goods, especially weapons.

All these changes made Paraguay an independent nation. But this progress came from Francia's complete control. El Supremo controlled every part of public life. No decision was made without his approval. All of Paraguay's achievements were due to Francia.

Carlos Antonio López, 1841–1862

After Francia died in 1840, there was political confusion. Francia had not named a successor. A group led by Manuel Antonio Ortiz took over. They freed some prisoners. But they were not good at governing. Ortiz was overthrown in 1841. Then Mariano Roque Alonzo took over.

Alonzo did not have full power. So, in March 1841, the two-man leadership was brought back. Alonzo ruled with Carlos Antonio López. This lasted until 1844. Congress then named Lopez President. He held this job until he died in 1862.

López kept strong control over the country. But he worked to make Paraguay's independence stronger.

López was a lawyer and one of the most educated men. His government was like Francia's. But his style was different. Francia saw himself as a revolutionary leader. López used the state to make himself and his family rich. López became the biggest landowner and cattle rancher. He also made money from the government's control of yerba maté trade.

Despite his greed, Paraguay did well under López. The population grew from 220,000 in 1840 to 400,000 in 1860.

López improved national defense. He ended the last of the reducciones. He helped the economy grow. He tried to improve relations with other countries. He also tried to reduce threats from native tribes in the Chaco.

Paraguay made big steps in education. When López started, Asunción had only one primary school. During his rule, over 400 schools were built. They taught 25,000 students. Secondary education was also brought back. But it was hard to find teachers. Francia had removed many educated people.

López allowed more foreign relations. He increased exports. He invited foreign doctors, engineers, and investors to Paraguay. He paid for students to study abroad. In 1853, he sent his son Francisco Solano to Europe to buy weapons. López worried about war with Brazil or Argentina. So, he built a large army. It had 18,000 soldiers and 46,000 reserves. This was the biggest army in South America at the time.

Foreign experts helped build a military industry. They built a large fortress called Humaitá. Highways and a telegraph line were built. A British company started building a railroad in 1858. An iron factory and armory were also built.

But López was still a dictator. Paraguayans had no more freedom to oppose him than under Francia. Congress did what he wanted. The 1844 Constitution gave all power to López.

Slavery in Paraguay

Slavery had been in Paraguay since early colonial times. Slaves were brought to work as house servants. But conditions got worse after 1700. About 50,000 African slaves were brought for farm work. Under Francia, the state took about 1,000 slaves from the rich. López did not free these slaves. He passed a law in 1842. It ended the slave trade. It said children of slaves would be free at age 25. This law actually increased the slave population.

Foreign Relations

Paraguay was independent since 1811. It declared itself a Republic in 1813. But it formally declared independence only on November 25, 1842. In 1844, it adopted a new Constitution. Based on this, Paraguay started to get official international recognition.

Foreign relations became more important under López. He still mistrusted neighboring states. But he lacked Francia's diplomatic skills. López feared an attack from Buenos Aires. With Brazil's help, López changed Francia's neutral policy. He started getting involved in Argentine politics. López declared war on Buenos Aires in 1845. He supported a rebellion in Argentina. This rebellion failed. Buenos Aires then stopped trade with Paraguay.

After the Buenos Aires leader fell in 1852, López signed a treaty. It recognized Paraguay's independence. He also signed treaties with France and the United States. In 1853, a US warship visited Asunción.

But tensions grew with several countries. López had changed his neutral policy without clear alliances. He let border disputes with Brazil and Argentina continue. These two big countries tolerated Paraguay's independence. This was because Paraguay helped balance their power. But a Paraguay that was against both could make them unite.

Francisco Solano López, 1862–1870

Francisco Solano López was born in 1827. He became the second and last ruler of the López family. After his father died in 1862, Congress elected him President. Solano López strengthened his power. He imprisoned hundreds of critics.

The government still controlled all exports. Selling yerba mate and wood kept trade balanced. The Paraguayan government protected its industries. It never took loans from other countries. It had high taxes on foreign goods. This made the country self-sufficient. It also avoided the debt that Argentina and Brazil had.

Solano López had an easy childhood. His father prepared him to take over. He became a general at 18. His trip to Europe in 1853 was very important. In Paris, he admired the French Empire. He met Elisa Alicia Lynch, an Irish woman. She became his partner. "La Lynch" became very influential in Paraguay. She had five sons with Solano López. She became the largest landowner in Paraguay. She buried Solano López herself after the last battle in 1870.

People had very different opinions about Solano López. Some called him a "monster." His mistakes led Paraguay into a war. This war killed half of Paraguay's people. It almost wiped the country off the map. During the war, Solano López ordered his own brothers killed. His mother and sisters were tortured. Thousands of others were executed. Some saw him as a paranoid leader. They said he wanted to be the "Napoleon of South America."

But some Paraguayans and historians see him differently. They say Solano López was a patriot. He fought against Argentina and Brazil. They say he was a tragic figure. He bravely defended his country for five years. Since the 1930s, Paraguayans see Solano López as a national hero.

The Paraguayan War

Solano López saw Brazil's actions in Uruguay in 1864 as a threat. He was right that Brazil and Argentina did not care about Paraguay's interests. He believed keeping Uruguay independent was key for Paraguay. So, Solano López decided to help Uruguay.

In early 1864, López warned Brazil not to get involved in Uruguay. But Brazil invaded Uruguay in October 1864. On November 12, 1864, López ordered a Brazilian warship seized. Then, in March 1865, he invaded Brazil's Mato Grosso province. This was one of Paraguay's few successes in the war.

Argentina refused López's request. He wanted his army to cross Argentine land to attack Brazil. So, Solano López declared himself a Marshal. He started a war against Argentina.

This led to the Treaty of the Triple Alliance in May 1865. Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay signed it. They promised to destroy Solano López's government.

Paraguay was not ready for a big war. Its 30,000-man army was strong in Latin America. But it lacked trained leaders and weapons. Paraguay could not replace weapons lost in battle. The alliance stopped López from getting arms from abroad.

Paraguay's population was only about 450,000 in 1865. This was smaller than Brazil's National Guard. It was tiny compared to the Allies' 11 million people. Even by forcing every man, including 10-year-old boys, and making women do all non-military work, López could not match his enemies' army size.

Except for some wins in the north, the war was a disaster. By July 1865, over half of Paraguay's invasion force was killed or captured. By 1867, Paraguay had lost 60,000 men. Another 60,000 soldiers, including slaves and children, were called to fight.

After October 1865, López changed his war plans. He went from attacking to defending. In September 1866, Paraguayans won a big victory at the Battle of Curupayty. There was a quiet period until November 1867.

In February 1868, two Brazilian warships sailed up the Paraguay River. They caused panic in Asunción. They shelled the city but did not capture it. López was not in Asunción at this time. He thought all defensive actions were a plot against him. He ordered many executions of supposed plotters.

By late 1868, the Paraguayan army was very small. It had only a few thousand soldiers, many of them children and women. They fought bravely. Cavalry units had no horses. Naval infantry attacked Brazilian ironclads with only machetes. The order was "Conquer or die."

In December, the Allies destroyed the remaining resistance. On January 1, 1869, they entered Asunción. Solano López hid in the northern jungles for 14 more months. He finally died in battle.

1870 was the worst time in Paraguayan history. Hundreds of thousands of Paraguayans had died. The country was ruined and almost destroyed. It was occupied by foreign troops. It lost large parts of its land to Brazil and Argentina.

Under Occupation, 1870–1876

The Allies occupied Asunción in 1869. They took direct control of Paraguay. Bolivia and Argentina claimed parts of the Gran Chaco. Argentina and Brazil took 154,000 square kilometers of Paraguayan land.

Brazil had done most of the fighting. It lost many soldiers and spent a lot of money. Its troops were the largest occupation army. So, Brazil had more control than Argentina for a time. Disagreements between Brazil and Argentina made the occupation last until 1876.

Paraguay was ruined by war, disease, and hunger. It was almost falling apart in 1870. But its fertile land and simple way of life helped it survive. Most Paraguayans lived in the countryside. They continued to live as they had for centuries.

Foreign business people quickly took over Paraguay's economy. The economy, which was mostly state-owned, was sold off. It became controlled by Argentine and European companies.

During President Juan Bautista Gill's time (1874–1877), Brazilian troops finally left in 1876.

Legionnaires and New Government

After the war, the country's politics were shaped by survivors of the Paraguayan Legion. These exiles had fought with the Allies against Solano López. They saw him as a crazy ruler. This group set up a temporary government in 1869. Brazil mostly supported them. They signed peace agreements in 1870. These agreements guaranteed Paraguay's independence and free river travel. A new Constitution was also made in 1870. But it did not work well. Its ideas of freedom and democracy came from other countries.

The Legionnaires were exiles from Francia's time. They truly wanted to end tyranny. They believed in democracy. Coming back to a poor, isolated Paraguay from rich Buenos Aires was a shock. They thought more freedom would fix Paraguay. So, they ended slavery. They created a constitutional government. They believed in free business, free elections, and free trade.

But the Legionnaires did not have much experience with republics. The 1870 constitution quickly became useless. Politics became about groups fighting each other. Favoritism and plots were common. Presidents still acted like dictators. Elections were not free. The Legionnaires lost power in less than ten years.

Free elections were new for Paraguayans. They were used to following a powerful leader for safety. Argentina and Brazil also did not want Paraguay to have a truly free system. A pro-Argentine military leader, Benigno Ferreira, became a dictator for a short time. But Bernardino Caballero overthrew him with Brazilian help in 1874. Ferreira later led a Liberal uprising in 1904. He became President from 1906 to 1908.

Provisional Government, 1869–1870

With Solano López on the run, Paraguay had no government. Brazil's foreign minister, José Paranhos, arrived in Asunción in February 1869. He talked with local politicians. In March, 335 citizens asked the Allies for a temporary government. In June, an agreement was made. A three-man temporary government would be set up. In July, a National Assembly met. They chose a committee to pick three men. They chose Carlos Loizaga, Juan Francisco Decoud, and José Díaz de Bedoya. Paranhos did not like Decoud. So, Cirilo Antonio Rivarola replaced him. The government started on August 15. But it was just a front for the Allied occupation.

The temporary government had:

• President of the Council, Colonel Carlos Loizaga.
• Secretary of the Interior, Cirilo Antonio Rivarola.
• Secretary of the Treasury, José Díaz de Bedoya.

After López died, the temporary government made a promise. They promised to support freedoms, trade, and immigration. But the government did not last. In May 1870, José Díaz de Bedoya resigned. On August 31, Carlos Loizaga also resigned. The National Assembly removed Rivarola. They set up a temporary Presidency. Facundo Machaín was elected. He took office on August 31, 1870. But he was overthrown the next day. Rivarola returned to power.

Post-War Political Conflicts

Politics in the first ten years after the war were very personal. They were about conflicts between López supporters and their opponents. But also, Argentina and Brazil supported different politicians. In the end, the Brazilian-backed politicians won. They started the rule of the Colorado party.

After Cirilo Antonio Rivarola resigned in December 1871, Salvador Jovellanos came to power. He was backed by General Benigno Ferreira. Jovellanos was not meant to be president. He faced many revolts from López supporters. In 1873 and 1874, first Ferreira, then Jovellanos, went into exile. General Bernardino Caballero was the real power. He was behind President Juan Bautista Gill, who was killed in 1877. He was also behind President Cándido Bareiro, who died in 1880. Caballero then became president. He started the two-party system. He was very influential until the Liberal revolution in 1904.

Liberals Versus Colorados

The time of party politics in Paraguay truly began. But foreign forces leaving did not mean foreign influence ended. Brazil and Argentina were still deeply involved. They had connections with Paraguay's political groups. The rivalry between future Liberals and Colorados started in 1869. The names Azules (Blues) and Colorados (Reds) first appeared then.

Factions

The remaining López supporters gathered around Cándido Bareiro. He founded the Republican Union Club in 1869. This group was also called lopiztas. They were loyal to President López's memory. They were against the Decoud group.

In June 1869, the Decoud group started their Club del Pueblo. Facundo Machaín led it. So, the two groups that became the Liberal and Colorado Parties began.

In the decade after the war, politics were split. Legionnaires fought Lopiztas for power. Brazil and Argentina worked behind the scenes. Legionnaires saw Lopiztas as old-fashioned. Lopiztas called Legionnaires traitors. Many people changed political sides often. This era was about getting power and money, not strong beliefs.

The Liberal and Colorado Parties officially started in 1887. Both parties had former López supporters and Paraguayan Legion veterans. The Liberal party split into civicos (civics) and radicales (radicals). The Colorados split into caballeristas (supporters of President Bernardino Caballero) and egusquicistas (supporters of President Juan Bautista Egusquiza).

The National Republican Association-Colorado Party ruled Paraguay from the mid-1880s until 1904. Then Liberals overthrew them. The rise of the Liberal Party meant less Brazilian influence. It meant more Argentine influence.

The First Colorado Era

Cándido Bareiro, López's former business agent, returned to Paraguay in 1869. A group of López supporters grew around him. This included Bernardino Caballero and Patricio Escobar. It also included López opponents like Juan Bautista Gill, who became president. After President Juan Bautista Gill was killed in 1877, Caballero used his army power. He made sure Bareiro was elected president in 1878. When Bareiro died in 1880, Caballero took power. He ruled Paraguayan politics for almost 20 years. He was either President or had power in the army. He brought political stability. He founded the Colorado Party in 1887. He also started rebuilding the economy.

In 1878, a group led by US President Rutherford B. Hayes gave Paraguay the disputed Chaco area. A department was named after him.

Governments led by two former López officers, Bernardino Caballero (1880–1886) and Patricio Escobar (1886–1890), started rebuilding the nation. They allowed political opposition in Parliament. The National University was founded in 1889. A census in 1886–1887 showed a population of 329,645. Foreign immigration was encouraged to increase the population.

The Colorados ended Francia's state-controlled economy. They needed money because of large debts. So, they sold most of the state's land. This was over 95% of Paraguay's land. Caballero's government sold much of this land to foreigners in huge chunks. Colorado politicians made a lot of money. They became big landowners. Peasants who had farmed the land for generations were forced to leave. Many had to move away. By 1900, 79 people owned half of the country's land.

Liberals also supported selling land. But the land sales were unpopular. There was also a lot of government corruption. This made the opposition very angry. Liberals became strong opponents of land sales. Especially after the 1887 elections, which had violence against the opposition. Former Legionnaires and reformers joined in July 1887. They formed the Centro Democrático (Democratic Center). This group was a start for the Liberal party. They demanded free elections, an end to land sales, and clean government. Caballero responded by forming the Colorado Party a month later. This made the two-party system official. Both parties had internal fights. They had few strong differences in ideas. This allowed members to switch sides easily. Colorados kept their power. Liberals called for changes.

Frustration led to a failed Liberal revolt in 1891. This caused changes in 1894. War minister General Juan Bautista Egusquiza overthrew Caballero's chosen President. Egusquiza surprised Colorados by sharing power with Liberals. This split both parties. Former Legionnaire Ferreira and the cívico Liberals joined Egusquiza's government. Egusquiza left office in 1898. He allowed a civilian, Emilio Aceval, to become President. Liberal radicales did not like this. They boycotted the new setup. Caballero also boycotted. He planned to overthrow civilian rule. He succeeded when Colonel Juan Antonio Escurra took power in 1902. But this was Caballero's last victory. In 1904, General Benigno Ferreira, Caballero's old enemy, invaded from Argentina. He had support from different groups. After four months of fighting, Escurra signed a deal. He gave power to the Liberals.

Liberal Era, 1904–1936

The Liberal Revolution of August 1904 started as a popular movement. But Liberal rule quickly became about groups fighting. There were military takeovers and civil wars. Political instability was very high. Paraguay had 21 governments in 36 years. From 1904 to 1922, Paraguay had 15 presidents.

Revolution of 1904

The 1904 Revolution was planned in Buenos Aires. Paraguayan exiles led by Manuel J. Duarte organized it. Rebels used a Paraguayan merchant ship. On August 4, 1904, rebels took control of the ship. They loaded thousands of rifles and guns.

President Juan Antonio Escurra declared a state of emergency. The Paraguayan army was small. Another merchant ship was used for military purposes. It was sent to fight the rebel ship. On August 11, the government ship was sunk. 28 sailors died. Rebels then left the ship. They fought the government for five months. The fighting ended on December 12, 1904. Escurra resigned. A temporary President, Juan Bautista Gaona, from the Liberal party, took office. On November 25, 1906, General Benigno Ferreira was elected president.

By 1908, the Liberal radicales overthrew General Ferreira. The Liberals had gotten rid of Caballero's army. They made a new one. But by 1910, army commander Colonel Albino Jara felt strong enough. He took power from President Manuel Gondra. Jara's takeover caused two years of chaos. Every major political group took power at least once. This led to the Civil War of 1912. The radicales invaded again from Argentina. When Eduardo Schaerer became president, Gondra returned as War Minister. He reorganized the army again. Schaerer was the first president in a long time to finish his four-year term.

But the new calm ended. The radicales split into Schaerer and Gondra groups. Gondra won the 1920 election. But the schaereristas weakened his power. They forced him to resign. A full civil war broke out in May 1922. It lasted 14 months. The gondristas won. They held power until 1936.

Liberal policies had allowed a few rich landowners to control the countryside. Peasants had no land. Foreign companies controlled Paraguay's economy. Liberals, like Colorados, were a divided group of powerful families. Social conditions in Paraguay were always difficult. They got worse during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The country needed changes in work, public services, and education.

The Chaco War

Paraguay's long dispute with Bolivia over the Chaco region finally caused problems for the Liberals. Wars and poor diplomacy had kept the border unsettled for decades. Paraguay had held the Chaco for a long time. But it did little to develop the area. Only a few Mennonite colonies and native tribes lived there.

Bolivia's claim to the Chaco became more urgent. It lost its coast to Chile in the 1879-1884 War of the Pacific. Bolivia wanted to take the Chaco. It wanted to expand to the Paraguay River to get a river port. Also, oil had been found there in the 1920s. People wondered if there was a lot of oil under the whole area.

The Chaco Issue

While Paraguayans fought among themselves in the 1920s, Bolivians built forts in the Chaco. They also bought weapons from Germany. They hired German officers to train their army. Paraguayans were frustrated with the Liberals. In 1928, the Bolivian army built a fort called Fortín Vanguardia. In December, Paraguayan major Rafael Franco attacked and destroyed it. The Bolivians responded by taking two Paraguayan forts. Both sides prepared for war. But the Liberal government felt unprepared. They agreed to rebuild Fortín Vanguardia for Bolivia. The government also made Franco, a national hero, retire from the army. This caused criticism.

Diplomats tried to make peace. But Colonel José Félix Estigarribia, Paraguay's army commander, ordered attacks on Bolivian positions in 1931. Meanwhile, a nationalist group grew. It wanted a new era for Paraguay. It wanted a political and social rebirth. This group wanted a "new democracy." It hoped to get rid of corrupt politics and foreign influence. In October 1931, government troops fired on students protesting. The Liberal government lost its support. Students and soldiers saw the Liberals as corrupt.

The War and Liberal Downfall

When war officially started in July 1932, Bolivians expected a quick win. Their country was richer and had more people. Their army was bigger and better trained. But these advantages did not matter. Paraguayans were eager to defend their homeland. They knew the Chaco's geography better. They easily sneaked behind Bolivian lines. They surrounded outposts and captured supplies. Bolivian soldiers, many from the high plateau, did not like the war. They struggled with the hot Chaco climate. Paraguayans were more united. President Eusebio Ayala and Colonel Estigarribia worked well together.

After Paraguay's victory at Campo Via in December 1933, Bolivia seemed ready to surrender. But President Ayala agreed to a truce. This decision was not popular in Asunción. Instead of a quick victory, the Liberals signed a truce. This allowed the Bolivians to regroup. The war continued until July 1935. Liberals had led Paraguay to control almost all the disputed land. They had won the war. But they were politically finished.

The Chaco War helped unite different groups. It brought together political opponents, workers, and peasants. After the 1935 truce, many soldiers went home. The soldiers had shared dangers in battle. They resented the Liberals' failure to prepare the country for war. They had seen the army's poor state. They often had to fight with only machetes. After this, party differences seemed unimportant. The government angered the army. It refused pensions for disabled veterans in 1936. But it gave a large sum to Estigarribia. Colonel Franco, back in the army, became a leader for nationalist rebels. The final spark came when Franco was exiled for criticizing Ayala. On February 17, 1936, army units took over the Presidential Palace. They forced Ayala to resign. This ended 32 years of Liberal rule.

Military Dictatorships

The February Revolution

The revolution of February 1936 overthrew the Liberal Party. The soldiers, veterans, and students who revolted felt they won the war despite the Liberals. They promised a national and social revolution. They took Asunción and brought Colonel Rafael Franco to power.

For 18 months, Franco's government worked for social justice. It took over 200,000 hectares of land. It gave it to 10,000 peasant families. The new government also gave workers the right to strike. It set an eight-hour work day.

Perhaps the government's most lasting impact was on national pride. Franco declared Francisco Solano López a national hero. He said López stood up to foreign threats. He sent a team to find López's grave. His remains were buried in the National Pantheon of the Heroes. A monument was built for him.

Despite popular excitement, Franco's government lacked a clear plan. Franco gave powerful speeches. But when he published a law promising a "totalitarian transformation," protests started. The young, idealistic people who started the movement were a mix of different ideas. Franco soon had political trouble. His cabinet included socialists, fascists, nationalists, Colorados, and Liberal cívicos.

A new party, the Revolutionary National Union, was founded in November 1936. It called for democracy and workers' rights. But it did not get more support for Franco. Franco lost popular support because he did not keep his promises to the poor. He did not take land from foreign owners, who were mostly Argentines. Also, the Liberals, who still had army support, constantly tried to overthrow Franco. When Franco ordered troops to leave advanced positions in the Chaco, the army revolted in August 1937. They returned the Liberals to power.

But the army was not united about the Febreristas. Several attempted coups showed that the February Revolution was not dead. People soon saw that the Liberals had not learned from their time out of power. A peace treaty with Bolivia in July 1938 set the final borders.

Estigarribia's Rule

In 1939, Liberal politicians chose General José Félix Estigarribia as their candidate. He was a hero of the Chaco War. He was serving in the United States. In June, Estigarribia signed a loan agreement with the US. This increased US influence. On August 15, 1939, he became president. He realized he had to continue some ideas of the February Revolution. He started a land reform program. It promised land to every Paraguayan family. He reopened the University. He made money and city reforms. He balanced the budget. He planned to build highways with the US loan.

Estigarribia faced criticism from conservative Catholics and leftist students. After protests, the army stopped them. They arrested leaders. This made Colorados withdraw support. An attempted coup happened in February 1940.

On the same day, Estigarribia suggested a temporary dictatorship. This split the Liberal party. On February 18, 1940, he started a temporary dictatorship. He dismissed the 1870 Constitution. He promised a new one.

On July 10, the new Constitution was published. On August 4, 1940, it was approved. The new Constitution was based on Brazil's authoritarian 1937 Constitution. It created a state where groups like workers and businesses were organized by the government. It promised a "strong, but not despotic" President. It gave the state power to deal with social and economic problems. But it greatly increased the President's power. It removed the vice-presidency. It created a single parliament. It gave the military the duty to protect the Constitution. This gave the military a role in politics.

Morínigo, 1940–1948

The era of the New Liberals ended suddenly. On September 7, 1940, President Estigarribia and his wife died in a plane crash. Liberal ministers and army leaders wanted to keep control. They chose War Minister Higinio Moríñigo as temporary President. New elections were planned for two months later.

Moríñigo quickly showed he was a smart politician. Liberal ministers resigned in September. They realized they could not control him. Moríñigo had Estigarribia's strong powers from the new 1940 Constitution. He quickly banned Febreristas and Liberals. He severely limited free speech and individual freedoms.

Moríñigo was a dictator without a strong party. He survived politically because he was good at handling young military officers. These officers held key positions.

The Allied victory in World War II pushed Moríñigo to make his rule more open in 1946. Paraguay had a short period of openness. He allowed free speech. He let political exiles return. He formed a government with Liberals and Febreristas. But Moríñigo's plans to step down were unclear. He kept an alliance with Colorado Party hardliners. Their right-wing group, Guión Rojo, terrorized the opposition. This led to a failed coup in December 1946. A full civil war started in March 1947. The revolutionaries were a mix of Febreristas, Liberals, and Communists. They all wanted to overthrow Moríñigo.

The Colorados helped Moríñigo crush the rebellion. The man who saved Moríñigo's government was Lieutenant Colonel Alfredo Stroessner. His artillery regiment quickly destroyed a rebel area in Asunción. When rebel gunboats threatened the capital, Stroessner's forces fought and destroyed them.

By August 1948, the Colorado Party had almost total control. They had been out of power since 1904. The fighting had simplified politics. All other parties were gone. The army was smaller. Most officers had joined the rebels. So, fewer people competed for power.

But the Colorados were split. The hardline guionistas, led by Juan Natalicio González, were against democracy. The moderate democráticos, led by Federico Chaves, wanted free elections. They wanted to share power with other parties.

With Moríñigo's support, González used his Guión Rojo group. They scared the democráticos. González won his party's presidential nomination. He ran unopposed in the 1948 elections. A group of Colorado military officers, including Stroessner, removed Moríñigo in June 1948. They thought Moríñigo would not give power to González. After a short presidency, González joined Moríñigo in exile. Chaves became President in September 1949.

Moríñigo kept order by limiting freedoms. But he created a political emptiness. When he tried to fill it with the Colorado Party, he split the party. Neither side could rule without the military's help. This one-party rule and the army's role in politics set the stage for Stroessner's rule.

Political Consequences

Within a few decades, Paraguayan politics had come full circle. The Chaco War started the February Revolution. This ended Liberal rule. It brought back a strong Paraguayan nationalism. This nationalism admired the dictatorship of the López era. The result was the Constitution of 1940. It gave the President almost dictatorial powers again. When a short try at multi-party democracy led to civil war, the Colorado Party, loyal to López's memory, ruled Paraguay again. The army's influence in politics grew a lot. No Paraguayan government since the Chaco War held power without the army's approval.

Stroessner's Dictatorship, 1954–1989

As one of the few officers loyal to Moríñigo, Stroessner became very powerful. On May 4, 1954, Alfredo Stroessner led a coup d'état against President Federico Chaves. Fierce fighting with police killed almost 50 people.

Brazil helped pay for the huge Itaipú Dam on the Paraná River. This had big effects on Paraguay. Paraguay could not pay for the construction. But its help was vital. This included agreements about ownership and electricity prices. Itaipú gave Paraguay's economy new wealth. The construction caused a huge economic boom. Thousands of Paraguayans got regular jobs. From 1973 to 1982, the economy grew over 8% each year. This was double the rate of the past decade. It was higher than most other Latin American countries. Money from selling electricity to Brazil increased a lot. The new jobs made people buy more goods. This led to fast growth in farming.

Stroessner's dictatorship was known for corruption. He gave favors to "the trilogy": the government, the Colorado Party, and the armed forces. Smuggling was a main source of income. Paraguay's location between Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia helped this. Some think smuggling was three times the official export amount. Stroessner used this money to buy loyalty from his officers. Many officers became very rich and owned large lands.

This concentration of wealth made Paraguay very unequal. Organizations like Oxfam say 1.6% of the population owns 80% of the land. They say Stroessner's rule is to blame. Between 1954 and 1989, about 8 million hectares were given out unfairly. This was a third of all farmable land.

On February 3, 1989, Stroessner was overthrown. His close friend General Andrés Rodríguez led the takeover. Stroessner went into exile in Brazil. He died in 2006. At his death, he faced human rights cases in Paraguay. President Rodríguez started political, legal, and economic changes. He improved relations with other countries. In 1991, opposition candidates won elections in major cities, including Asunción.

Modern Paraguay

The June 1992 constitution created a democratic government. It greatly improved the protection of fundamental rights. In May 1993, Juan Carlos Wasmosy of the Colorado Party was elected president. He was Paraguay's first civilian president in almost 40 years. International observers said the elections were fair. The new Congress, with many opposition members, quickly showed its independence. It canceled laws passed by the old Colorado-controlled Congress.

In April 1996, Army Chief General Lino Oviedo tried to remove President Wasmosy. With support from the United States and other countries, Paraguayans rejected this attempt. This was an important step to strengthen the Republic.

Oviedo became the Colorado candidate for president in 1998. But the Supreme Court of Paraguay upheld his conviction. He was not allowed to run. His running mate, Raúl Cubas, became the candidate. He was elected in May. International observers said these elections were fair. One of Cubas' first actions was to reduce Oviedo's sentence. He released him from jail. In December 1998, the Supreme Court said this was against the constitution. Cubas refused to send Oviedo back to jail in February 1999.

In this tense situation, Vice President Luis María Argaña was murdered on March 23, 1999. He was a long-time rival of Oviedo. The Chamber of Deputies started to impeach Cubas the next day. On March 26, eight student protesters were murdered. Many believed Oviedo supporters did it. It became clear the Senate would vote to remove Cubas. Cubas resigned on March 28. Despite fears, Senate President Luis González Macchi, an opponent of Cubas, became president. Cubas went to Brazil and got asylum. Oviedo fled to Argentina, then Brazil. In 2001, Brazil refused to send Oviedo back to Paraguay.

González Macchi offered cabinet jobs to all three political parties. He wanted to create a coalition government. The Liberal Party left the government in February 2000. But the government reached agreements on many issues, including economic reform. Liberal Julio César Franco won the election for vice president in August 2000. In August 2001, Congress considered impeaching González Macchi for corruption. But the motion did not pass. In 2003, Nicanor Duarte was elected president.

On August 1, 2004, a supermarket in Asunción burned down. It killed almost 400 people.

On July 1, 2005, the United States sent troops and aircraft to the military airfield of Mariscal Estigarribia. This was part of a plan to control interests in Latin America. A military training agreement gave US soldiers immunity. Media reports at first said a base for 20,000 US soldiers was being built. It was near Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. It was near an airport that could take large planes. The Paraguayan Air Force does not have such planes. Now, no more than 400 US troops are expected.

The governments of Paraguay and the United States said the airport was just a transfer point. The Argentine newspaper Clarín said the US military base was important. It was near the Triple Frontera (Triple Border). It was near the Guarani aquifer (a large underground water source). And it was close to Bolivia.

For the 2008 elections, the Colorado Party was favored. But this time, the candidate was not an opponent of the President. It was Minister of Education Blanca Ovelar. She was the first woman to be a candidate for a major party. After 60 years of Colorado rule, voters chose a non-politician. He was former Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo.

Outgoing President Nicanor Duarte said the defeat was historic. It was the first time a government handed power to the opposition peacefully. Lugo took office on August 15, 2008. But he was impeached in 2012. Vice President Federico Franco took over.

In the 2013 elections, Horacio Cartes was elected president. This brought the Colorado Party back to power. Cartes wanted to change the constitution. He wanted to allow presidents to be re-elected. But widespread protests made him give up this goal. He agreed not to seek another term. In August 2018, Mario Abdo Benítez became his successor. He won the 2018 presidential election. The 2023 elections resulted in Santiago Peña being elected president. He is a right-wing candidate from the Colorado Party.

See also

In Spanish: Historia del Paraguay para niños

• History of the Americas
• History of Latin America
• History of South America
• List of presidents of Paraguay
• Politics of Paraguay
• Spanish colonization of the Americas