- Spanish:
- Guerra del Pacífico
- Date:
- April 5, 1879 - October 20, 1883
War of the Pacific
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What was the War of the Pacific?
The War of the Pacific (1879–83) was a conflict involving Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, resulting in Chile's annexation of valuable disputed territory on the Pacific coast.
It grew from a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over control of a part of the Atacama Desert, which contained valuable mineral resources, particularly sodium nitrate. Peru's involvement stemmed from its rivalry with Chile and a secret agreement with Bolivia to guarantee their territories.
Chile's armed forces occupied the port city of Antofagasta on February 14, 1879, after Bolivia attempted to increase taxes on the Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate Company. Subsequently, Bolivia declared war on Chile and requested assistance from Peru, leading Chile to declare war on both.
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Which countries were involved in the War of the Pacific?
The War of the Pacific (1879–83) involved Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, resulting in Chile's annexation of disputed territory on the Pacific coast.
The conflict began due to a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over control of a part of the Atacama Desert, which contained valuable mineral resources. Peru's involvement stemmed from its rivalry with Chile and a secret agreement with Bolivia to guarantee their territories.
Chile occupied the Bolivian coastal region and then launched offensives against Peru. Naval victories allowed Chile to control sea approaches to Peru, and Chilean forces eventually occupied Lima. In 1883, Chile and Peru signed a treaty ceding Tarapacá province to Chile.
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When did the War of the Pacific take place?
The War of the Pacific took place from 1879 to 1883. It was a conflict involving Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, resulting in Chile annexing valuable disputed territory on the Pacific coast.
The war began due to a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over control of a part of the Atacama Desert, which contained valuable mineral resources. Bolivia's attempt to increase taxes on the Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate Company led to Chile occupying the port city of Antofagasta in February 1879. Subsequently, Bolivia declared war on Chile and called on Peru for assistance, leading to Chile declaring war on both Peru and Bolivia in April 1879.
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What were the main causes of the War of the Pacific?
The War of the Pacific (1879–83) arose from a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over the Atacama Desert, rich in mineral resources like sodium nitrate. Bolivia's attempt to increase taxes on the Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate Company broke amity, leading to Chile's occupation of Antofagasta in 1879.
Peru's secret mutual guarantee of territories and independence with Bolivia, due to its rivalry with Chile, further escalated the conflict. When Bolivia declared war on Chile, it called on Peru for help, resulting in Chile declaring war on both. Chile's victory resulted in the annexation of valuable disputed territory on the Pacific coast.
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How did the War of the Pacific affect the borders of the countries involved?
The War of the Pacific (1879–83) significantly altered the borders of South American countries involved.
Chile annexed valuable, disputed territory on the Pacific coast from both Bolivia and Peru. In 1884, a truce gave Chile control of the entire Bolivian coast, making Bolivia landlocked. A 1904 treaty made this arrangement permanent. Chile agreed to construct a railroad connecting La Paz and Arica, guaranteeing freedom of transit for Bolivian commerce through Chilean ports and territory.
According to the Treaty of Ancón (1883), Peru ceded the province of Tarapacá to Chile. Chile was also to occupy the provinces of Tacna and Arica for ten years, but in 1929, Chile kept Arica, and Peru reacquired Tacna.
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What were some lasting consequences of the War of the Pacific for South America?
The War of the Pacific had several lasting consequences for South America:
- Territorial Changes Chile annexed valuable, mineral-rich territory from Bolivia and Peru, resulting in the loss of coastal regions for Bolivia.
- Economic Impact Peru suffered significant economic decline due to the loss of resources and property damage. Chile gained control over the nitrate, copper, and other mineral industries in the occupied territories.
- Political Restructuring The war discredited military officers in Bolivia, leading to new mining entrepreneurs gaining political control.
- Diplomatic Disputes The "Question of the Pacific" arose from the failure to hold a plebiscite in Tacna and Arica, causing decades of diplomatic tension between Chile and Peru.
- Bolivia's Landlocked Status Bolivia's access to the Pacific Ocean was cut off, impacting its trade and economic development. Chile agreed to build a railroad connecting La Paz to Arica and guaranteed freedom of transit for Bolivian commerce.
- Increased U.S. Influence The war further solidified the U.S. as a dominant power in Latin America, as the region became more of an American sphere of influence.
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War of the Pacific, (1879–83), conflict involving Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, which resulted in Chilean annexation of valuable disputed territory on the Pacific coast. It grew out of a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over control of a part of the Atacama Desert that lies between the 23rd and 26th parallels on the Pacific coast of South America. The territory contained valuable mineral resources, particularly sodium nitrate.
National borders in the region had never been definitively established; the two countries negotiated a treaty that recognized the 24th parallel as their boundary and that gave Chile the right to share the export taxes on the mineral resources of Bolivia’s territory between the 23rd and 24th parallels. But Bolivia subsequently became dissatisfied at having to share its taxes with Chile and feared Chilean seizure of its coastal region where Chilean interests already controlled the mining industry.
Peru’s interest in the conflict stemmed from its traditional rivalry with Chile for hegemony on the Pacific coast. In 1873 Peru agreed secretly with Bolivia to a mutual guarantee of their territories and independence. In 1874 Chilean-Bolivian relations were ameliorated by a revised treaty under which Chile relinquished its share of export taxes on minerals shipped from Bolivia, and Bolivia agreed not to raise taxes on Chilean enterprises in Bolivia for 25 years. Amity was broken in 1878 when Bolivia tried to increase the taxes of the Chilean Antofagasta Nitrate Company over the protests of the Chilean government. When Bolivia threatened to confiscate the company’s property, Chilean armed forces occupied the port city of Antofagasta on February 14, 1879. Bolivia then declared war on Chile and called upon Peru for help. Chile declared war on both Peru and Bolivia (April 5, 1879).
Chile easily occupied the Bolivian coastal region (Antofagasta province) and then took the offensive against more powerful Peru. Naval victories at Iquique (May 21, 1879) and Angamos (October 8, 1879) enabled Chile to control the sea approaches to Peru. A Chilean army then invaded Peru. An attempt at mediation by the United States failed in October 1880, and Chilean forces occupied the Peruvian capital of Lima the following January. Peruvian resistance continued for three more years, with U.S. encouragement. Finally, on October 20, 1883, Peru and Chile signed the Treaty of Ancón, by which Tarapacá province was ceded to the latter.
Chile was also to occupy the provinces of Tacna and Arica for 10 years, after which a plebiscite was to be held to determine their nationality. But the two countries failed for decades to agree on what terms the plebiscite was to be conducted. This diplomatic dispute over Tacna and Arica was known as the Question of the Pacific. Finally, in 1929, through the mediation of the United States, an accord was reached by which Chile kept Arica; Peru reacquired Tacna and received $6 million indemnity and other concessions.
During the war Peru suffered the loss of thousands of people and much property, and, at the war’s end, a seven-month civil war ensued; the nation foundered economically for decades thereafter. In 1884 a truce between Bolivia and Chile gave the latter control of the entire Bolivian coast (Antofagasta province), with its nitrate, copper, and other mineral industries; a treaty in 1904 made this arrangement permanent. In return Chile agreed to build a railroad connecting the Bolivian capital of La Paz with the port of Arica and guaranteed freedom of transit for Bolivian commerce through Chilean ports and territory. But Bolivia continued its attempt to break out of its landlocked situation through the Paraná-Paraguay river system to the Atlantic coast, an effort that led ultimately to the Chaco War (1932–35) between Bolivia and Paraguay.