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Pan American War (1846-1852): South America, Part 1
PAN AMERICAN WAR (1846-1852):
Juan José Flores y Aramburu, President of Ecuador
Peruvian reinforcements arriving in the Gulf of Guayaquil
José Tadeo Monagas, President of Venezuela 1847-1850
Returning President Paez of Venezuela
South America (Part 1):
Ecuador:
In Central and South America, the British had to largely ignore the territorial transgressions at first, as America was their chief concern. Guayaquil had a substantial population and a fair bit of industry, so they were largely able to embarrass the Ecuadorian army on their own along with the local British detachment and naval squadron. Supplies -and even a few mercenaries- from Chile were also appreciated.
Since Ecuador continued to claim the Republic of Guayaquil as a renegade department, relations were always tense. As a result, the Guayaquilenos were always at the ready for conflict. When war finally came, they had prepared numerous defenses in the mountains and northern plains. The Ecuadorians had made an early push south out of Santo Domingo, but they could not break through Guayaquilenian lines. For the next year and a half, it would largely be a stalemate between the two sides as neither wanted to risk leaving a break in the lines that would lead to their defeat. Unbeknownst to the Ecuadorians, there was about to be a huge upset in the stalemate...
Ecuador:
In Central and South America, the British had to largely ignore the territorial transgressions at first, as America was their chief concern. Guayaquil had a substantial population and a fair bit of industry, so they were largely able to embarrass the Ecuadorian army on their own along with the local British detachment and naval squadron. Supplies -and even a few mercenaries- from Chile were also appreciated.
Since Ecuador continued to claim the Republic of Guayaquil as a renegade department, relations were always tense. As a result, the Guayaquilenos were always at the ready for conflict. When war finally came, they had prepared numerous defenses in the mountains and northern plains. The Ecuadorians had made an early push south out of Santo Domingo, but they could not break through Guayaquilenian lines. For the next year and a half, it would largely be a stalemate between the two sides as neither wanted to risk leaving a break in the lines that would lead to their defeat. Unbeknownst to the Ecuadorians, there was about to be a huge upset in the stalemate...
Juan José Flores y Aramburu, President of Ecuador
Citing unresolved territorial disputes in the Amazon as well as claiming to come to the defense of an innocent ally, Peru declares war on Ecuador on May 18, 1848. The entry of Peru on the side of the British blindsided Ecuador. The Ecuadorians assumed that their neighbours would see the conflict as an internal matter, and an anti-colonial one at that. The Peruvians had invaded the southern mountain valleys of Ecuador and steadily made their way north until they joined their Guayaquilenian allies in the siege of Cuenca.
With the south flank secure, Guayaquil redirected forces to the north. With reinforcements arriving in Guayaquil City, they begin the central sierra campaign with the Battle of Ambato. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Ecuadorians lost the battle and now found themselves on the defensive. Worse still, it was right in their heartland.
With the south flank secure, Guayaquil redirected forces to the north. With reinforcements arriving in Guayaquil City, they begin the central sierra campaign with the Battle of Ambato. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Ecuadorians lost the battle and now found themselves on the defensive. Worse still, it was right in their heartland.
Peruvian reinforcements arriving in the Gulf of Guayaquil
Against a combined force, they couldn't hope to hold back an inevitable advance on Quito. Ecuador soon made peace with Guayaquil and Peru to great national embarrassment. After just 11 months of fighting the Guayaquileños and Peruvians, Ecuador sued for peace on the 7th of April, 1849 and reluctantly accepted Guayaquil's independence under British suzerainty.
Venezuela:While the Guyanans did their best to resist, they were so few in number that Venezuela's initial invasion, though somewhat botched, still succeeded. They had occupied the disputed territory and had begun laying siege to Georgetown. While things initially went very well for Venezuela, an insurrection led by Jose Antonia Paez in 1847 (in response to President Monagas' dispersing of congress and declaring himself dictator) greatly upset coordination and focus in British Guyana.
President Monagas' fortunes were quickly worsened when Brazil, aiding its ally Britain, began harassing and invading Venezuela's interior from their main staging point in Boa Vista. The Brazilians also assisted in the British blockade of Venezuelan ports in the Caribbean naval campaign that spanned from December 1847 to January of 1848.
President Monagas' fortunes were quickly worsened when Brazil, aiding its ally Britain, began harassing and invading Venezuela's interior from their main staging point in Boa Vista. The Brazilians also assisted in the British blockade of Venezuelan ports in the Caribbean naval campaign that spanned from December 1847 to January of 1848.
José Tadeo Monagas, President of Venezuela 1847-1850
The British and the Brazilians both agreed that it was in their interests to support Paez's rebellion as it could gain them influence and legitimacy with a popular Venezuelan leader that opposed the current regime. So it came to pass that concurrent with this new civil war, Britain and Brazil backed a specific side. On the 10th of March, 1848, Paez's forces teamed up with the British and Brazilians in the 'Batalla de los Araguatos' (Battle of the Howler Monkeys) and handed defeat to President Monagas and his men.
At this point, previous wars had left Venezuela with a drastically reduced and war-weary population. By 1847, the population was 1.26 million. The war against Britain and Brazil and the now rebellious Paez would claim an additional 250,000-300,000 lives and would result in a seriously underpopulated Venezuela by the end of the Pan American War. Thanks to British and Brazilian support, Paez returned to the presidency in 1850.
At this point, previous wars had left Venezuela with a drastically reduced and war-weary population. By 1847, the population was 1.26 million. The war against Britain and Brazil and the now rebellious Paez would claim an additional 250,000-300,000 lives and would result in a seriously underpopulated Venezuela by the end of the Pan American War. Thanks to British and Brazilian support, Paez returned to the presidency in 1850.
Returning President Paez of Venezuela
Needing investment from Britain and other foreign powers, Paez ended up returning to power but became a puppet state of sorts to Britain as a result. After all, Britain had neighbouring Guyana and Trinidad, as well as other colonies and influence in the region. Brazil was willing to accept this in exchange for British acceptance of their aims and influence in the southern half of South America.
- Coyote Knight
- Word Count: 770