Bolivia
Page 2
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.