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Jesuit a priest from Spain started missionary work in Paraguay in 1609, They started missions known as reducciones (reductions) to develop small city-states to make it easier for conversion to Christianity. Established them through South America but Paraguay is where they had the most success
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Converted hundreds of thousands of Guarani people who were the natives of the land. The spanish in the area where free from the spanish colonial rule because they were not near its center. They had control of the Guarani labor, their missions were profitable agricultural enterprises.
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Paraguay became part of Río de la Plata, it was a Spanish viceroyalty (the position of a ruler over a colony acting on behalf of a supreme ruler) that included Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Its capital was in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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During this time Spanish merchants became more prominent. Used Guarani labor to export key crops. Paraguay held exclusive right on tobacco, exported over million pounds every year. Also exported a lot of timber sugar molasses and rum. They exported these items out of the Paraná river.
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During this time Spanish merchants became more prominent. Used Guarani labor to export key crops. Paraguay held exclusive right on tobacco, exported over million pounds every year. Also exported a lot of timber sugar molasses and rum. They exported these items out of the Paraná river
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Argentina deposed the Spanish viceroy in Buenos Aires. Paraguayans resented the inclusion of their country in the Argentine declaration of independence. Paraguay stood by the Spanish governor Bernardo de Velasco.
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When the Paraguayans reject the declaration of independence Argentinian armies invaded and the Paraguayans defeated them. They stopped their support of Velasco when he attempted to bring in Portuguese troops to defeat further attempts by the Argentinians.
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Feared their loss of self-government. Paraguayan militias deposed Velasco, declaring the country independent on May 14, 1811.
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Paraguay was declared an independent republic on October 12, 1813. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia wrote the new constitution. Rodríquez de Francia was a well-educated man and was interested in philosophy and theology.
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José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia was granted absolute control for life naming him the perpetual dictator and supreme (El supremo). Ruthless to any with opposition to his power. His government was isolationism (remaining away from the political affairs of other countries). Used confiscated land and money to promote the welfare of the common man.
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José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia died in 1840. Before his death he unified Paraguay’s political sphere, he gave them an economy separate from the rest of Latin Americas and the rest of the world. Period of chaos followed in his wake because he did not name a successor.
