The Americas

Modern Paraguay
AD 1811 - Present Day

Located in South America, the name Paraguay originates from the river which runs through its heart. The country borders Brazil to the north, Bolivia to the north-west, and Argentina to the south and east. Its capital is Asuncion.

Until 1617, Paraguay was a region within the viceroy of Peru, and under the direct control of Rio de la Plata. Then, Francisco de Borja y Aragon divided Rio de la Plata in two, creating Buenos Aires and Paraguay, both of which remained dependencies of Peru. In 1776, Rio de la Plata was created a viceroyalty in its own right to govern Peru's former southern provinces of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The name of Paraguay was used for the entire Rio Plata basin at first, but these gradual subdivisions saw it eventually applied to the territory which forms the modern state. Independence was declared in 1811, but the state lost large swathes of its territory following the bloody Chaco War in 1935.

1811 - 1816

The country announces and consolidates its independence. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia is one of two joint consuls who are elected at first to govern the country on a four-monthly rotating basis, but he quickly assumes total control, ruling Paraguay as a benevolent dictator for his lifetime.

1814 - 1840

Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia

Dictator for life.

1840 - 1841

Manuel Antonio Ortiz

Chairman of the military junta.

1841

Juan Jose Medina

Chairman of the military junta Jan-Feb only.

1841

Mariano Roque Alonzo

President of the military junta Feb-Mar only.

1841 - 1844

Mariano Roque Alonzo establishes a government ruled by consuls; himself and Carlos Antonio Lopez, although the latter becomes sole consul from 13 March 1844.

1844 - 1862

Carlos Antonio Lopez

Semi-dictatorial president for life.

1862 - 1870

Francisco Solano Lopez

Son. Semi-dictatorial president for life. Killed during the war.

1864 - 1870

As a result of Lopez's declaration of war against Uruguay, the states of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay go to war against Paraguay in the War of the Triple Alliance (which is also known as the Paraguayan War or the Great War in Paraguay). It proves to be a long and costly affair, causing more casualties than any other South American war. Paraguay is totally defeated, losing almost half its territory, with the war turning into a drawn-out guerrilla conflict that causes devastation to Paraguay's population.

The War of the Triple Alliance was one of the first to be recorded by the relatively new invention of photography

During the war, Brazil's army ransacks the Paraguayan National Archives, moving its contents to Rio de Janeiro. They remain there, kept permanently secret, so Paraguay's early history is often a poorly-documented one with many conflicting views of events. From 1870, a democratic form of government is introduced in the defeated country.

1886

The outgoing president, Bernardino Caballero, rigs the election to ensure his favoured successor, Patricio Escobar, wins. As a response to this, his opponents form the Liberal party, while he founds the Colorado party. Caballero retains a great deal of power in his role as commander of the army, while his favoured candidates govern as president.

1894

Juan Bautista Eguzquiza organises a coup against Cabellero's selected president.

1902 - 1904

Cabellero organises a coup of his own to place Juan Antonio Escurra in office. Escurra is overthrown in 1904 by intervention from Argentina, and the Liberal party gains power.

1917 - 1918

Unlike many of its neighbours in the Americas, Paraguay remains neutral during the First World War against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire.

1932 - 1935

The Chaco War arises between Bolivia and Paraguay over the Gran Chaco region when oil is discovered nearby, leading both countries to believe that the region is rich in oil. Following its defeat by the Triple Alliance in 1870, Paraguay is reluctant to lose the territory, or the economic benefits an oil find might deliver, and skirmishes have been taking place between the two protagonists since the late 1920s. Frustrated with the course of the war, Bolivian generals seize their president on 27 November 1934 and replace him with the vice-president. A ceasefire is negotiated on 10 June 1935 (and recognised in 1938), by which time Paraguay controls about three-quarters of the territory.

1940

Jose Felix Estigarribia

Made himself dictator but died in a plane crash.

1940 - 1948

Higinio Morinigo

Dictator.

1945

Paraguay joins the Second World War as an ally of the USA and Great Britain on 7 February 1945 against Japan and Germany.

1947 - 1954

With several political parties fighting for control of the country, from March to August 1947, civil war grips the country. Early the following year, Morinigo forms a cabinet to end his period of absolute rule. Presidential elections are permitted in the same year, albeit with only one candidate standing. Unstable governments attempt to rule the country until Alfredo Stroessner establishes his own dictatorship in 1954, which, despite human rights abuses, nevertheless ensures stability once again.

1954 - 1989

Alfredo Stroessner

Dictator. Deposed and fled.

1988 - 1989

General elections take place as Paraguay begins its slow transition to a democracy. Stroessner is deposed by a coup on 3 February 1989, and flees the country. The destroyed Liberal party is reborn as the Authentic Radical Liberal Party.