chapter 7 Other Independence.

PARAGUAY

Paraguay was part of La Plata when it declared its independence. Still controlled by loyalist forces, the armies in Paraguay immediately moved to attack the Platinian Army, triumphing in their first battles. However, a Junta was also installed there and declared independence, but since Paraguay did not want to be annexed to La Plata, it did not cooperate and instead began a series of mini-civil wars that ended in disaster when the royalists managed to regain control. from the province.

Later, La Plata would lead several attacks and incursions into Paraguayan territory, only to be repelled by royalist forces, who decided not to support any other offensives, considering them unnecessary and dangerous. They concentrated on defense, which turned out to be a wise decision since it allowed them to repel Belgrano's expedition. Eventually, the royalist forces lost contact with Lima, which led Governor Velasco to a desperate situation.

As in other countries, a revolution occurred and Velasco was replaced by Doctor Gaspar Francia, who formed a Board and sent several letters to La Plata, already under the leadership of San Martín. San Martín, too busy with the Platinian Civil War and Brazilian attacks, finally decided to recognize that Paraguay would be independent. By 1815 all the royalist forces in the province had been defeated and France could declare itself dictator of the Paraguayan Republic. It would make Paraguay an isolationist state, which did not open diplomatic or economic relations with any country until 1824, although France sent a representative to the Colombian Congress in Cúcuta, fearing that Colombia would grant La Plata permission to annex Paraguay. It didn't happen, and France ruled Paraguay until his death. More than thirty years after the fall of the last royalist stronghold in the country, Paraguay finally made a formal declaration of independence in 1836, which was immediately recognized by Brazil, La Plata and Colombia. Spain would recognize the state a year later, 1837, considering that not doing so was unnecessary and stupid as the area was impossible to reconquer, Spain had little interest in it anyway and claiming it as a rebel colony would only put Spain at odds with Colombia.

PONDS.

Known as Alto Perú and Real Audiencia de Charkas, the area was platinum on paper, but it was closer to Lima than to Buenos Aires. However, it was not royalist like Peru, and there were independence movements, although these were made by indigenous people rather than Creoles as in the rest of Latin America.

When La Plata declared its independence, it was obvious that the first obstacle it would have to cross before reaching Lima was Charkas, so different offensives were concentrated there, with the Army of the Platinum Andes being the main attacker. Upper Peru first fell under Platinean control, but with the beginning of the Brazilian conquest of the eastern provinces it fell again under Peruvian control. La Plata was retaken after San Martín became the new leader, but the area was left virtually defenseless when the Platinian Civil War began. Gauchos, informal militias, and guerrillas defended Upper Peru from Lima and the royalist part of Chile, but as both Colombia and La Moza Patria gained ground in their wars, fewer and fewer forces could attack. The Gaucho Army was dissolved in 1815, after the news of the March from Colombia to Lima became known and a Creole triumvirate was formed there. They were taking advantage of the fact that all the royalist forces were mobilizing for the last resistance in Lima. Later, at the Congress of Cúcuta, Colombia and Chile would recognize the Independence of the Republic of Charkas, challenging the claims of La Plata and Peru.

CENTRAL AMERICA

Unlike the rest of Latin America, the independence of Central America, known during colonial times as the Kingdom of Guatemala, was relatively bloodless. Although movements and demonstrations were carried out throughout the period from 1810 to 1815, there was no war; the most the authorities did was a purge of the independentist Creoles, which was minor. Even when the independence and annexation of Panama to Colombia occurred, there were no proposals to start a war for independence thanks to the low success of the Mexican liberating armies, reduced to only guerrillas.

In 1814, several weak-willed and easily manipulated viceroys took charge of Central America, allowing the criollos to gain the support of the population. Finally, in 1816 there was a movement and all the provinces decided to declare their independence. With Colombia in the south, and all the royalist focus centered on Mexico, Central America was not attacked and the militias and armies decided not to continue the fight, but to become the base of their own army that focused mainly on defending Central America. to attack the Spanish royalists. However, they still took control of most of Yucatán, until then a no-man's land thanks to guerrilla and royalist fighting there. Spain had little interest in the area, and instead focused on regaining control of New Spain, its richest and most important viceroy.

When the Congress of Cúcuta was held, Colombia and the others recognized it as the Federal Republic of Central America, and a defense pact was signed with Colombia. The United Kingdom backed them, but only to retain control of its territories there, including an extended Belize. Thanks to this, the FRCA spent the next eight years in peace, but it had constant economic and social problems, and the federation was literally falling apart by the time 1823 passed. Mexico would achieve its independence that year.