Bolivia
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History
Bolivia attracted the Spanish because of its rich silver mines , leading it to be discovered in 1545 . Before the Spaniards discovered Bolivia , the Incas were thriving there . Francisco Pizarro arrived here and defeated them in 1938 . The revolution from the Spanish came early , with an uprising in Chuquisaca in 1805 . Their independence was won in 1824 . After the Proclamation of Independence was drawn up , then Bolivia had created a constitution in 1826 . During Independence Bolivia had a seacoast and a portion of the Amazon river basin . These were lost in about a century . Attempts at reorganization and reform were overshadowed in the 20th century by military coups , rule of dictators and bankruptcy . In 1932 a border dispute turned into a fullfledged war . Bolivia and Paraguay both claimed the Chaco area , a place with a site of oil discoveries . Bolivia lost this war and 65,000 soldiers along with the Chaco region . The Army took over the government in 1964 and ushered a prolonged period of authoritarian military rule .