That should be interesting! I'm not sure anyone ever bothers doing anything with Franklin Pierce.
America's Silver Era, The Story of William Jennings Bryan
- Thread starter CELTICEMPIRE
- Start date
That should be interesting! I'm not sure anyone ever bothers doing anything with Franklin Pierce.
Does it have anything to do with the tragic death of Franklin Pierce's son Benjamin?
More likely it involves Franklin Pierce dying as well while he's still President-Elect which meas his VP William King would become President, but King died in April 18, 1853 just a little over a month into Pierce's Presidency IOTL, the deaths of these two will probably spark a crisis and a much more chaotic 1850s, maybe an earlier Civil War.
Or Benjamin doesn't die and Franklin doesn't suffer the severe depression that likely impacted his Presidency.
Both scenarios are interesting, I just like the idea of not having the 11-year-old Benjamin die.
If Pierce and then King die, the President Pro Tempore of Senate David Rice Atchinson became Acting President until a new election is called in November 1853. The question is who stand this time (and with a strong pro-slavery acting president be sure that slavery will be an issue).
If Benjamin survives, Pierce can be more successful than HL and win primary against Buchanan and, after this, his reelection. So the question is: what's the effects of two-term Pierce?
If Benjamin survives, Pierce can be more successful than HL and win primary against Buchanan and, after this, his reelection. So the question is: what's the effects of two-term Pierce?
After I finish the Patton Presidency (which I've already written a lot about).
I'm looking forward to reading about Old Blood and Guts' Presidency as soon as possible.
Patton Presidency, Part I
George Patton entered office with a 63% approval rating, meaning that he was liked by a lot of people who didn’t even vote for him. He chose William A. Harriman of New York as Secretary of State. Paul Douglas of Maine was the new Secretary of the treasury. He chose George Marshall of Pennsylvania as Secretary of War. Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas became Attorney General. He chose Senator Absalom Robertson of Virginia as Postmaster General. Claire Chennault of Louisiana was brought back as Secretary of the Navy, he had served in the (Charles) Bryan and Hoover administrations. His Secretary of the Interior would be former Senator James A. Murray of Montana. He chose former North Carolina governor Lenny McCracken as Secretary of Agriculture. Nebraska Senator Ruth Bryan became Secretary of Public Welfare, a cabinet position created by her father.
-Excerpt from The Guide to the Executive Mansion, an in Depth Look at America's Presidents by Benjamin Buckley, Harvard Press, 1999.
Patton had an intense mistrust of politicians. In his inaugural address he spoke of bringing power away from Washington and back to the people. When he first addressed Congress in January, he opened by sarcastically saying “Which one of you is the genius who came up with the idea to make liquor illegal?” He spoke to Democratic legislators, hoping to bridge the divide between Northern and Southern Democrats. In the end, he told Congressional Democrats to let Northerners have more power in one house, and Southerners in another. Northerners got the House, Southerners got the Senate. He also developed a dislike for the media. He would rarely accept interviews from the major papers. He preferred to speak to the nation directly through the radio.
Democrats had control of Congress for the first time since 1935. The Senate would be led by Joseph Lister Hill of Alabama. The new House Speaker would be Barratt O’Hara of Illinois, a Cuban War veteran, and the House majority leader would be Roy Wier of Minnesota. The Senate moved quickly to reestablish the filibuster. And this time the filibuster would require a two-thirds vote for cloture, instead of the three fifths necessary during the Bryan era. One of the first pieces of legislation introduced was a bill to end the military occupation of the South. Patton had criticized Landon on this issue, saying that the president should not have the power to enforce an occupation. The bill had support, even among some Republicans. A compromise bill that called for an end to the occupation within two years was passed and signed. The Senate was effectively able to block any civil rights legislation.
A coalition of Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a bill to strengthen enforcement of immigration laws. Patton signed it into law, against the objections of party leaders. Patton also announced his support for increased tariffs, a traditionally Republican position. He claimed that it was the only way to keep American industry competitive against Europe. Most Democrats rallied against it, especially in the South and West. Patton had hoped that Republicans could give him the necessary votes, but the GOP had been divided on tariffs for over a decade. The tariff bill overwhelmingly failed. Some progressives suggested raising the income tax, but Patton rejected that suggestion. Patton called on congress to increase military spending. By 1949 most of the Second Great War veterans had gone back to civilian life. The Navy remained strong, but the US Army was only slightly larger than Italy’s. This divided both parties. Geographically, support for a larger military was greatest in the South and lowest in the sparsely populated Western states. Nevertheless, it passed the House and Senate comfortably.
In April 1949, Patton welcomed German Chancellor Erwin Rommel to Washington DC. They had fought on the same side during the Second Great War and they seemed to make good friends. Patton was increasingly convinced that Germany and the United States would need to band together to combat the growing Eastern powers. Patton was a product of his times and was certainly a racist. He believed his own race was the best, although he generally kept such views private. He wasn’t an extremist like Florida Governor Warren Kipling, however. He believed that there were honorable people of all races, just that they were more highly concentrated among the “white race.” He was concerned about the “yellow races,” particularly China and Japan. He believed that Russians actually had more in common with Asians than they had with Europeans.
Much of Patton’s policy was considered Conservative, and as such, out of step with the Democratic Party. But there were some things for progressives to enjoy. His administration saw major increases in funding for science. In 1950 Patton urged Congress to pass a bill funding research for nuclear energy. In a speech to Congress he noted with urgency that “Britain, Germany, and Russia have eclipsed us in this field of technology.” At the time, the main opposition came from hardcore Conservatives, who believed that the free market should handle energy. Opposition was also strong in Appalachia, as nuclear power was seen as an attack on coal. Oil companies opposed funding for nuclear energy, but to a lesser extent. The House approved 323-174 while the Senate approved 61-39. Nuclear energy would prove to be very important during the 1950s in both the US and the rest of the world.
(Nuclear reactor)
Reports from Peru implicating Republicans (and some Democrats) in a grand conspiracy continued to trickle in. One report claimed that Republicans worked with conservative Democrats to impeach William Randolph Hearst on trumped up charges. Patton was convinced that Hearst had been a victim of a sinister plot. Despite Patton’s hatred of the media, he developed a friendship with the ex-President. He pardoned the 87-year-old disgraced former president. Hearst felt vindicated, and in 1951, he died a happy man. By 1950, Latin America was quickly becoming embroiled in conflict. Much of the violence in the region had been going on for three decades. And under Patton, America would become involved in that conflict.
-Excerpt from The Guide to the Executive Mansion, an in Depth Look at America's Presidents by Benjamin Buckley, Harvard Press, 1999.
Patton had an intense mistrust of politicians. In his inaugural address he spoke of bringing power away from Washington and back to the people. When he first addressed Congress in January, he opened by sarcastically saying “Which one of you is the genius who came up with the idea to make liquor illegal?” He spoke to Democratic legislators, hoping to bridge the divide between Northern and Southern Democrats. In the end, he told Congressional Democrats to let Northerners have more power in one house, and Southerners in another. Northerners got the House, Southerners got the Senate. He also developed a dislike for the media. He would rarely accept interviews from the major papers. He preferred to speak to the nation directly through the radio.
Democrats had control of Congress for the first time since 1935. The Senate would be led by Joseph Lister Hill of Alabama. The new House Speaker would be Barratt O’Hara of Illinois, a Cuban War veteran, and the House majority leader would be Roy Wier of Minnesota. The Senate moved quickly to reestablish the filibuster. And this time the filibuster would require a two-thirds vote for cloture, instead of the three fifths necessary during the Bryan era. One of the first pieces of legislation introduced was a bill to end the military occupation of the South. Patton had criticized Landon on this issue, saying that the president should not have the power to enforce an occupation. The bill had support, even among some Republicans. A compromise bill that called for an end to the occupation within two years was passed and signed. The Senate was effectively able to block any civil rights legislation.
A coalition of Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a bill to strengthen enforcement of immigration laws. Patton signed it into law, against the objections of party leaders. Patton also announced his support for increased tariffs, a traditionally Republican position. He claimed that it was the only way to keep American industry competitive against Europe. Most Democrats rallied against it, especially in the South and West. Patton had hoped that Republicans could give him the necessary votes, but the GOP had been divided on tariffs for over a decade. The tariff bill overwhelmingly failed. Some progressives suggested raising the income tax, but Patton rejected that suggestion. Patton called on congress to increase military spending. By 1949 most of the Second Great War veterans had gone back to civilian life. The Navy remained strong, but the US Army was only slightly larger than Italy’s. This divided both parties. Geographically, support for a larger military was greatest in the South and lowest in the sparsely populated Western states. Nevertheless, it passed the House and Senate comfortably.
In April 1949, Patton welcomed German Chancellor Erwin Rommel to Washington DC. They had fought on the same side during the Second Great War and they seemed to make good friends. Patton was increasingly convinced that Germany and the United States would need to band together to combat the growing Eastern powers. Patton was a product of his times and was certainly a racist. He believed his own race was the best, although he generally kept such views private. He wasn’t an extremist like Florida Governor Warren Kipling, however. He believed that there were honorable people of all races, just that they were more highly concentrated among the “white race.” He was concerned about the “yellow races,” particularly China and Japan. He believed that Russians actually had more in common with Asians than they had with Europeans.
Much of Patton’s policy was considered Conservative, and as such, out of step with the Democratic Party. But there were some things for progressives to enjoy. His administration saw major increases in funding for science. In 1950 Patton urged Congress to pass a bill funding research for nuclear energy. In a speech to Congress he noted with urgency that “Britain, Germany, and Russia have eclipsed us in this field of technology.” At the time, the main opposition came from hardcore Conservatives, who believed that the free market should handle energy. Opposition was also strong in Appalachia, as nuclear power was seen as an attack on coal. Oil companies opposed funding for nuclear energy, but to a lesser extent. The House approved 323-174 while the Senate approved 61-39. Nuclear energy would prove to be very important during the 1950s in both the US and the rest of the world.
(Nuclear reactor)
Reports from Peru implicating Republicans (and some Democrats) in a grand conspiracy continued to trickle in. One report claimed that Republicans worked with conservative Democrats to impeach William Randolph Hearst on trumped up charges. Patton was convinced that Hearst had been a victim of a sinister plot. Despite Patton’s hatred of the media, he developed a friendship with the ex-President. He pardoned the 87-year-old disgraced former president. Hearst felt vindicated, and in 1951, he died a happy man. By 1950, Latin America was quickly becoming embroiled in conflict. Much of the violence in the region had been going on for three decades. And under Patton, America would become involved in that conflict.
You know, for a minute I was impressed by Patton, with his no-nonsense attitude towards politics and trying to bridge party divides, but then the racist stuff came up and that is just a huge turn off.
So, Patton and Rommel are friends ITTL? Did Patton still read that magnificent bastard's book?
Hmm, I have a bad feeling about that Latin America stuff...
So, Patton and Rommel are friends ITTL? Did Patton still read that magnificent bastard's book?
Hmm, I have a bad feeling about that Latin America stuff...
Well, I see no way in hell being openly blocking of civil rights and ending a military occupation could ever backfire against a POTUS. Especially since they know exactly who is behind it.
To be fair, the occupation was supposed to be temporary and it had been going on for five years already, and has achieved great success in its main goal, securing voting rights. There are now thousands of black poll workers and the GOP has a greater motivation to defend voting rights than OTL. The blame for this goes more to Congress than Patton, however. But it will deepen the rift between Northern and Southern Democrats.
I read a biography of Patton and his racial views were never mentioned, I only learned about them through research for this TL. I always thought that out of Patton, MacArthur, and Eisenhower, we got the best general-turned-president. I will say that pretty much every President I've elected in this TL was probably a racist of some sort. Possible exceptions include Walsh and Landon. And I guess I don't know enough about Hanly to say if he was or not (he was neutral on civil rights ITTL).
Yeah, he's friends with Rommel, though Rommel was only 5 at the POD so he doesn't write the same books as OTL.
If its Pierce's son surviving, I'd love to see what a competent Pierce would do. I've always wondered how much of his flaws as president were down to the shock of that. Maybe Bennie could even try to run like his daddy in 40 years?
If its Bennie living instead of Franklin, ho boy is this going to be complicated to figure the next president. Not just because it's not going to be eighty years until the vice president-elect becomes president-elect when the president-elect dies/resigns, but William R King is terminally ill and will die six weeks in. This is going to be a long year determining who's staying as president
Latin America
During the interwar period, Latin America saw its fair share of wars and revolutions. Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela became famous for political violence. Paris, Madrid, Washington, London, Berlin, and San Juan all got involved in those nations’ conflicts in one way or another. But the world paid comparatively little attention to what was going on in Bolivia and Peru. A revolt by indigenous peoples began in 1916, as most other nations were involved in the First Great War (a war in which Bolivia and Peru were neutral). The consequences of that rebellion would be huge. A chain of events would lead to South America becoming engulfed in war as outside powers put hundreds of thousands of boots on the ground.
In Southeastern Peru, in the 1910s, a man claiming descent from Tupac Ameru began to rally supporters to resist the mistreatment of Peru’s indigenous population. He called himself Tupac III. After a protest in Nazca was put down violently, Tupac responded by revolting against the Peruvian government. The rebels were small in number at first, mainly using guerilla warfare. But they quickly attracted followers. Much of the countryside was under rebel control. By 1920, the rebels began to attract followers from Bolivia as well. In 1921 a rebellion broke out in Northern Peru, inspired by Tupac III in the South. In December, Tupac III was shot and killed in a raid outside Arequipa. It looked as if the rebellion was going to fall apart. But a young, charismatic leader named Anca Lopez soon assumed command of the rebellion, and most of the rebels fell in line. Meanwhile, France and Spain (Madrid) sent weapons to the rebels, hoping to influence rebel leadership.
But Lopez was vigilant against any attempts to undermine his authority. French and Spanish authorities soon realized that they would not be able to control him. He killed French and Spanish agents who he viewed as imperialistic forces trying to co-opt the people’s rebellion. In retaliation, France and Spain began to give aid to the Peruvian government. Spanish monarchist agents in Lima began to give information to Lopez’s forces. Valerio Roldan was Alfonso’s man in Peru, his best agent. Roldan’s efforts were funded by Royal Spanish alcohol that was sold mainly to the Southern United States. In the summer of 1925, ten Peruvian politicians were assassinated, all in separate incidents. Roldan noticed that all the slain politicians had been vocal in their support for recognizing the Spanish government in exile in San Juan. Roldan uncovered the identity of several pro-Madrid agents, and payed local mobsters to kill them. Roldan continued to provide classified information to the rebels until he was exposed and executed in 1927.
Though Roldan never confessed, other agents did, telling Peruvian government officials what they knew about the rebels. On July 1, 500 rebel fighters were lured into a trap outside Nazca and they perished to the last man. Peruvian President José Carlos Mariátegui then issued a surprising offer of amnesty. He said that any rebel not in leadership who surrenders will be allowed to return to normal life. He also offered a bounty for “anyone who brings Anca Lopez to Lima, preferably alive.” Some rebels took the offer, but Moralez told his followers that the government wouldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Nevertheless, government forces held the upper hand, and were gaining ground. Lopez took some of his followers across Lake Titicaca into Bolivia. They made a surprise attack on La Paz and captured it. Lopez declared himself the President of Bolivia as the actual president fled the city. Bolivian President Candelario Romero tried to rally loyal forces at Sucre, but was shot while giving a speech. Romero had been unpopular due to his extreme corruption and had made more than a few enemies. The mayor of Sucre, Bernardo Terrazas, had hired the assassin. He then assumed the position of president. He believed defeating Lopez at La Paz would be easy.
But Lopez began to rally support among the indigenous population of Bolivia, aided by his forces who had been operating in the Bolivian countryside for years. Rebel fighter in Peru were quickly running across the border. Along with La Paz, the rural areas were quickly being taken over by Lopez’s forces. Lopez also found supporters among those who had opposed Romero. He assured the upper class of the Bolivian capitol that he was no radical revolutionary. Many politicians and generals kept their jobs as they supported Lopez’s claim. Thousands of whites joined what had been a mostly indigenous movement only weeks earlier. Terrazas was also having difficulty rallying support. Soldiers were defecting at alarming rates. He began to fortify Sucre and Potosi and begged Peru for help. Peru responded by sending a small force to try and capture La Paz. Artillery shells pounded the city for a day, but the Peruvian military underestimated the resolve of the defenders and was pushed back. Civil unrest back home caused the Peruvian forces in Bolivia to withdraw in January 1928. Peruvian planes would occasionally conduct air strikes into pro-Lopez territory.
(Pro-Lopez forces in Bolivia)
Meanwhile, pro-Lopez insurgents took over most of Southern Bolivia. Surrounded, Terrazas could only receive supplies by air from Argentina. While some suggested shooting down the Argentine planes, Lopez knew that he couldn’t win a war with Argentina. In April, Lopez’s forces captured Potosi, liberating silver miners who had been working in conditions close to slavery. Sucre held out much longer, and only fell in December. With the fall of Sucre, Bolivia was united. Lopez enacted moderate land reforms with the support of the parliament. 1929 saw border skirmishes between Peru and Bolivia. Then, in 1930, Bolivia invaded Peru. Lopez was popular in much of the country, and took several towns along the border. Peru then began conscription. The Peruvian military, bolstered by new soldiers, pushed the Bolivians out of Peru in early 1931, but went no further.
In 1933, Lopez ordered another invasion. This one was short-lived as Bolivian forced were routed at the border towns of Iñapari and Puerto Maldonado. Peruvian general Carmelo Moralez became a national hero overnight. Moralez also had political ambitions, and that was his downfall. On November 3, 1933, he was shot by a man dressed as a priest. The politicians in Lima were jealous of his popularity and a group of them conspired to assassinate the general. It was described by one source as “the single most idiotic action ever taken.” Riots broke out in most major cities. Peruvian morale plummeted and Bolivia struck back. Lopez pushed towards the coast this time, hoping he might receive supplies from Europe or the United States. The veterans in his army knew the Andes Mountains well. In December, there was a coup against the increasingly unpopular government by general Francisco Medina. The Peruvian military was starting to get back on its feet. Nevertheless, Lopez was gaining ground, aided by rebels along the way. In March 1934 Cuzco fell.
France and Spain were initially worried about a possible change in direction with the new leadership. But Medina quickly made it clear that he was pro-French and pro-Madrid. Weapons shipments increased, though many of the vehicles sent from France were close to useless in the Mountains. So, the Bolivians were lured into the much flatter town of Pisco. In August, Bolivian and Peruvian soldiers fought for the town. The Peruvians had a single Motor-gun and several armored vehicles, which won them the battle. Medina slowly pushed the Bolivians back. During the retreat, Bolivian soldiers confiscated food and supplies from local towns, and used scorched earth tactics. Before the invasion many Peruvians saw Lopez as a liberator, now he was seen as a cold-hearted tyrant. By the end of 1935, all of Peru was under Medina’s control. On New Year’s Eve, there was a ceasefire between the two nations.
(Peruvian soldiers)
While Lopez had been defeated, he lost less men than the Peruvians, and had brought back money and supplies, in addition to liberated POWs. He began to get involved in political skirmishes, notably with the mining companies and the Catholic Church. He held an election in 1936, in which his Liberty Party won 56%, while Conservative candidates won 38%, and far-left candidates won 6%. In Peru, Medina dissolved parliament. He became increasingly authoritarian and embarked on a program of eugenics. When war broke out around the world in 1936, Peru and Bolivia actually signed a joint statement of neutrality. France and Spain were obviously busy, and were unable to continue fueling the Peruvian war machine anyway. Bolivia was uninterested in war coming to South America, as Lopez feared the possibility of fighting a two-front war against Argentina and Peru.
When the war was coming to a close, some French military personnel, concerned about facing war-crimes tribunals, made their way to Peru in submarines. They received a warm welcome in Peru, where they would help the army and design superior aircraft. This was kept a secret until 1948, however. Medina used brutal repression to keep himself in power, including mass public executions in 1943. In Bolivia, Lopez’s position was becoming weaker. Members of his own party were trying to challenge him for control. In 1944, He won the Presidential election by only 3,000 votes, and many believed he used fraud to win the election. After an assassination attempt in 1945 he began arresting opposition party members. Soon there was talk behind closed doors of a coup. Lopez was aware of his increasing unpopularity, and decided to do something to rally the country; launch a fourth invasion of Peru.
While the first three invasions had widespread support, the fourth did not. Newspapers were threatened or bribed into putting a positive spin on the invasion. On September 1, 1946, the invasion began. The Peruvian front lines were broken through, but this time Peru inflicted much higher casualties on the invaders. Ecuador declared war on Bolivia. From October to December, the Bolivians attempted to take Puno, but were repeatedly pushed back. Bolivian agents trying to stir up unrest and rebellion largely failed. The Bolivian air force was also decimated. In March 1947, Medina led an offensive that pushed the Bolivians out of Peru. Then, in April, Medina gave a speech in which he declared that Lopez was a threat to all of South America, and must be removed from power. In May, Peru invaded Bolivia. With overwhelming air superiority, Peru captured Desaguadero on the 29th. La Paz was put under siege. The city’s defenders lasted until late July, at which time Lopez escaped and continued the war from the city of Trinidad in the North.
The Peruvians were advancing all along the border. In September the city of Santa Anna fell, putting Trinidad within striking distance. Bolivia was, however, able to temporarily hold back the Peruvian advance. Colombia declared war on Peru and Ecuador. Voices within the Landon cabinet spoke in favor of intervention, but Vice President Robert Taft convinced the president to not get involved. Lopez couldn’t hold out forever. In February 1948 Trinidad fell to Peruvian attackers using chemical weapons and Lopez died with a gun in his hand. Bolivian resistance continued for several months, however. Medina turned his attention to the North, where Colombia was aiming to take his ally out of the war. The Ecuadorians had been defeated at Otavalo and Quito was now under attack. In June, the beleaguered defenders were relieved by Peruvian reinforcements, who beat back the Colombians.
Bolivia was annexed by Peru and Bolivians were conscripted into the Peruvian Army. Many more were sent to do forced labor in factories producing war materiel. Peruvian doctors and scientists captured Bolivians and performed medical experiments on them. Medina declared the formation of the Peruvian Empire. Colombia was, for now, alone in its fight with Peru and Ecuador. The two nations slowly advanced into Colombian territory. In Early 1949 they took the city of Cali. Brazil then declared war, sending one force to defend Colombia, and another to invade occupied Bolivia. Peru responded by using more chemical weapons, on both soldiers and civilians. Brazilian and Colombian cities were hit by biological agents, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. The world began to take notice of what was going on. All of South America besides Argentina placed a trade embargo against Peru, followed by Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, the US, Mexico, Mali, Japan, China, and many other nations as well.
As Peruvian air raids against Colombia continued, British and German companies came under increasing danger. In February 1950, both nations entered the conflict. In June, Patton convinced the US Congress to declare war on Peru and Ecuador. There was significant opposition to the war and both parties were split between pro and anti-war wings. Spain, Portugal, and Cuba joined in as well. Medina took the opportunity to portray himself as a man fighting for South Americans against foreign imperialists. He acted brave in public appearances. But privately, he was very afraid. The French and Spanish war criminals he was harboring were even more scared than he.
In Southeastern Peru, in the 1910s, a man claiming descent from Tupac Ameru began to rally supporters to resist the mistreatment of Peru’s indigenous population. He called himself Tupac III. After a protest in Nazca was put down violently, Tupac responded by revolting against the Peruvian government. The rebels were small in number at first, mainly using guerilla warfare. But they quickly attracted followers. Much of the countryside was under rebel control. By 1920, the rebels began to attract followers from Bolivia as well. In 1921 a rebellion broke out in Northern Peru, inspired by Tupac III in the South. In December, Tupac III was shot and killed in a raid outside Arequipa. It looked as if the rebellion was going to fall apart. But a young, charismatic leader named Anca Lopez soon assumed command of the rebellion, and most of the rebels fell in line. Meanwhile, France and Spain (Madrid) sent weapons to the rebels, hoping to influence rebel leadership.
But Lopez was vigilant against any attempts to undermine his authority. French and Spanish authorities soon realized that they would not be able to control him. He killed French and Spanish agents who he viewed as imperialistic forces trying to co-opt the people’s rebellion. In retaliation, France and Spain began to give aid to the Peruvian government. Spanish monarchist agents in Lima began to give information to Lopez’s forces. Valerio Roldan was Alfonso’s man in Peru, his best agent. Roldan’s efforts were funded by Royal Spanish alcohol that was sold mainly to the Southern United States. In the summer of 1925, ten Peruvian politicians were assassinated, all in separate incidents. Roldan noticed that all the slain politicians had been vocal in their support for recognizing the Spanish government in exile in San Juan. Roldan uncovered the identity of several pro-Madrid agents, and payed local mobsters to kill them. Roldan continued to provide classified information to the rebels until he was exposed and executed in 1927.
Though Roldan never confessed, other agents did, telling Peruvian government officials what they knew about the rebels. On July 1, 500 rebel fighters were lured into a trap outside Nazca and they perished to the last man. Peruvian President José Carlos Mariátegui then issued a surprising offer of amnesty. He said that any rebel not in leadership who surrenders will be allowed to return to normal life. He also offered a bounty for “anyone who brings Anca Lopez to Lima, preferably alive.” Some rebels took the offer, but Moralez told his followers that the government wouldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Nevertheless, government forces held the upper hand, and were gaining ground. Lopez took some of his followers across Lake Titicaca into Bolivia. They made a surprise attack on La Paz and captured it. Lopez declared himself the President of Bolivia as the actual president fled the city. Bolivian President Candelario Romero tried to rally loyal forces at Sucre, but was shot while giving a speech. Romero had been unpopular due to his extreme corruption and had made more than a few enemies. The mayor of Sucre, Bernardo Terrazas, had hired the assassin. He then assumed the position of president. He believed defeating Lopez at La Paz would be easy.
But Lopez began to rally support among the indigenous population of Bolivia, aided by his forces who had been operating in the Bolivian countryside for years. Rebel fighter in Peru were quickly running across the border. Along with La Paz, the rural areas were quickly being taken over by Lopez’s forces. Lopez also found supporters among those who had opposed Romero. He assured the upper class of the Bolivian capitol that he was no radical revolutionary. Many politicians and generals kept their jobs as they supported Lopez’s claim. Thousands of whites joined what had been a mostly indigenous movement only weeks earlier. Terrazas was also having difficulty rallying support. Soldiers were defecting at alarming rates. He began to fortify Sucre and Potosi and begged Peru for help. Peru responded by sending a small force to try and capture La Paz. Artillery shells pounded the city for a day, but the Peruvian military underestimated the resolve of the defenders and was pushed back. Civil unrest back home caused the Peruvian forces in Bolivia to withdraw in January 1928. Peruvian planes would occasionally conduct air strikes into pro-Lopez territory.
(Pro-Lopez forces in Bolivia)
Meanwhile, pro-Lopez insurgents took over most of Southern Bolivia. Surrounded, Terrazas could only receive supplies by air from Argentina. While some suggested shooting down the Argentine planes, Lopez knew that he couldn’t win a war with Argentina. In April, Lopez’s forces captured Potosi, liberating silver miners who had been working in conditions close to slavery. Sucre held out much longer, and only fell in December. With the fall of Sucre, Bolivia was united. Lopez enacted moderate land reforms with the support of the parliament. 1929 saw border skirmishes between Peru and Bolivia. Then, in 1930, Bolivia invaded Peru. Lopez was popular in much of the country, and took several towns along the border. Peru then began conscription. The Peruvian military, bolstered by new soldiers, pushed the Bolivians out of Peru in early 1931, but went no further.
In 1933, Lopez ordered another invasion. This one was short-lived as Bolivian forced were routed at the border towns of Iñapari and Puerto Maldonado. Peruvian general Carmelo Moralez became a national hero overnight. Moralez also had political ambitions, and that was his downfall. On November 3, 1933, he was shot by a man dressed as a priest. The politicians in Lima were jealous of his popularity and a group of them conspired to assassinate the general. It was described by one source as “the single most idiotic action ever taken.” Riots broke out in most major cities. Peruvian morale plummeted and Bolivia struck back. Lopez pushed towards the coast this time, hoping he might receive supplies from Europe or the United States. The veterans in his army knew the Andes Mountains well. In December, there was a coup against the increasingly unpopular government by general Francisco Medina. The Peruvian military was starting to get back on its feet. Nevertheless, Lopez was gaining ground, aided by rebels along the way. In March 1934 Cuzco fell.
France and Spain were initially worried about a possible change in direction with the new leadership. But Medina quickly made it clear that he was pro-French and pro-Madrid. Weapons shipments increased, though many of the vehicles sent from France were close to useless in the Mountains. So, the Bolivians were lured into the much flatter town of Pisco. In August, Bolivian and Peruvian soldiers fought for the town. The Peruvians had a single Motor-gun and several armored vehicles, which won them the battle. Medina slowly pushed the Bolivians back. During the retreat, Bolivian soldiers confiscated food and supplies from local towns, and used scorched earth tactics. Before the invasion many Peruvians saw Lopez as a liberator, now he was seen as a cold-hearted tyrant. By the end of 1935, all of Peru was under Medina’s control. On New Year’s Eve, there was a ceasefire between the two nations.
(Peruvian soldiers)
While Lopez had been defeated, he lost less men than the Peruvians, and had brought back money and supplies, in addition to liberated POWs. He began to get involved in political skirmishes, notably with the mining companies and the Catholic Church. He held an election in 1936, in which his Liberty Party won 56%, while Conservative candidates won 38%, and far-left candidates won 6%. In Peru, Medina dissolved parliament. He became increasingly authoritarian and embarked on a program of eugenics. When war broke out around the world in 1936, Peru and Bolivia actually signed a joint statement of neutrality. France and Spain were obviously busy, and were unable to continue fueling the Peruvian war machine anyway. Bolivia was uninterested in war coming to South America, as Lopez feared the possibility of fighting a two-front war against Argentina and Peru.
When the war was coming to a close, some French military personnel, concerned about facing war-crimes tribunals, made their way to Peru in submarines. They received a warm welcome in Peru, where they would help the army and design superior aircraft. This was kept a secret until 1948, however. Medina used brutal repression to keep himself in power, including mass public executions in 1943. In Bolivia, Lopez’s position was becoming weaker. Members of his own party were trying to challenge him for control. In 1944, He won the Presidential election by only 3,000 votes, and many believed he used fraud to win the election. After an assassination attempt in 1945 he began arresting opposition party members. Soon there was talk behind closed doors of a coup. Lopez was aware of his increasing unpopularity, and decided to do something to rally the country; launch a fourth invasion of Peru.
While the first three invasions had widespread support, the fourth did not. Newspapers were threatened or bribed into putting a positive spin on the invasion. On September 1, 1946, the invasion began. The Peruvian front lines were broken through, but this time Peru inflicted much higher casualties on the invaders. Ecuador declared war on Bolivia. From October to December, the Bolivians attempted to take Puno, but were repeatedly pushed back. Bolivian agents trying to stir up unrest and rebellion largely failed. The Bolivian air force was also decimated. In March 1947, Medina led an offensive that pushed the Bolivians out of Peru. Then, in April, Medina gave a speech in which he declared that Lopez was a threat to all of South America, and must be removed from power. In May, Peru invaded Bolivia. With overwhelming air superiority, Peru captured Desaguadero on the 29th. La Paz was put under siege. The city’s defenders lasted until late July, at which time Lopez escaped and continued the war from the city of Trinidad in the North.
The Peruvians were advancing all along the border. In September the city of Santa Anna fell, putting Trinidad within striking distance. Bolivia was, however, able to temporarily hold back the Peruvian advance. Colombia declared war on Peru and Ecuador. Voices within the Landon cabinet spoke in favor of intervention, but Vice President Robert Taft convinced the president to not get involved. Lopez couldn’t hold out forever. In February 1948 Trinidad fell to Peruvian attackers using chemical weapons and Lopez died with a gun in his hand. Bolivian resistance continued for several months, however. Medina turned his attention to the North, where Colombia was aiming to take his ally out of the war. The Ecuadorians had been defeated at Otavalo and Quito was now under attack. In June, the beleaguered defenders were relieved by Peruvian reinforcements, who beat back the Colombians.
Bolivia was annexed by Peru and Bolivians were conscripted into the Peruvian Army. Many more were sent to do forced labor in factories producing war materiel. Peruvian doctors and scientists captured Bolivians and performed medical experiments on them. Medina declared the formation of the Peruvian Empire. Colombia was, for now, alone in its fight with Peru and Ecuador. The two nations slowly advanced into Colombian territory. In Early 1949 they took the city of Cali. Brazil then declared war, sending one force to defend Colombia, and another to invade occupied Bolivia. Peru responded by using more chemical weapons, on both soldiers and civilians. Brazilian and Colombian cities were hit by biological agents, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. The world began to take notice of what was going on. All of South America besides Argentina placed a trade embargo against Peru, followed by Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, the US, Mexico, Mali, Japan, China, and many other nations as well.
As Peruvian air raids against Colombia continued, British and German companies came under increasing danger. In February 1950, both nations entered the conflict. In June, Patton convinced the US Congress to declare war on Peru and Ecuador. There was significant opposition to the war and both parties were split between pro and anti-war wings. Spain, Portugal, and Cuba joined in as well. Medina took the opportunity to portray himself as a man fighting for South Americans against foreign imperialists. He acted brave in public appearances. But privately, he was very afraid. The French and Spanish war criminals he was harboring were even more scared than he.
The War in South America
The years 1950 and 1951 would be consumed with the war in Latin America. Patton had no doubt that the war would determine his legacy. He claimed it was a just war, as the Peruvian Empire was a threat to world peace and that the Peruvian Army had committed atrocities in Bolivia (which they had, but this was still yet to be proven). Some in his own party, particularly Midwestern progressives opposed the declaration of war. Republicans in the Midwest opposed the war as well. There was also the problem of the media. Patton had a bad relationship with the media, both radio and newspapers, and thus much of the media didn’t put a positive spin on the new war. Nevertheless, Patton was confident that the overwhelming military power of the United States, combined with Germany, could quickly crush Peru and Ecuador. He had certainly faced tougher opponents before.
Though Britain had declared war, its involvement would be small, as it was fighting colonial wars in Africa and reeling from its recent loss of India. It would send a few ships to blockade Peru and defend the Falklands in case Argentina entered the war. Spain declared war in July, but they only sent 2,000 soldiers to South America, to be used in Colombia. Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Portugal, and Austria-Hungary similarly sent token forces. Brazil, Colombia, the United States, and Germany would be the ones to do most of the fighting. America would capture Esmeraldas in September, taking few casualties. There was much more fierce fighting at Quito, and general Macarthur decided to wait until more reinforcements arrived before taking the city. Meanwhile, German troops were pushing back the Peruvians and Ecuadorians in Colombia.
(American troops in Ecuador)
In late October the American public became concerned about the state of the war. First, they heard that an American ship had been sunk of the Coast of El Salvador by a Peruvian submarine. Patton was angry with his Ally, Brazil, for being hesitant to use their superior Navy against Peru. Indeed, Brazil had been at war for over a year and still kept most of its fleet in the Atlantic. Then, Russia came close to entering the conflict. Russia had been Peru’s major supplier of fuel after Mexico and Venezuela stopped trading in 1949. A German submarine torpedoed a Russian oil tanker on the 31st. Russia began to mobilize its troops, and in response, Japan did as well. Patton declared that America could fight Russia if it was necessary. After two weeks, tensions began to die down, however.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the Democratic Party. Anti-war protests erupted and the midterm elections were right around the corner. In the Senate, Democrats only held six seats. Republicans would dominate both Houses of Congress in 1951. The Socialists gained one seat in the House of Representatives, increasing their numbers in the chamber by 50%. By the time the new Congress would begin, public opinion was already swinging back in favor of the war. An offensive by Ecuador and Peru to push the Americans back into the sea was beat back and by Christmas reinforcements had arrived in large numbers as new recruits were ready for combat. Quito was bombed as the Americans waited until spring to resume their assault on the city. Peru was beginning to experience fuel shortages.
In March, three offensives began. The German-led offensive in Colombia, the American offensive in Ecuador, and the Brazilian offensive in Bolivia. The Germans were advancing rapidly, winning every battle. Over 60,000 Peruvians and 10,000 Ecuadorians died in one day at Mocoa on March 28th. The Americans spent ten days fighting in Quito, with the city falling on the 31st. The Ecuadorian government surrendered, though Peru set up a puppet government at Rio Tigre. The Brazilians gained ground, but the Peruvians inflicted high casualties. Brazil was beaten back at San Borja on April 16, a victory in which Francisco Medina greatly exaggerated for propaganda purposes. Medina soon withdrew many of his troops from Bolivia to defend Peru. On the 19th, Americans and Germans met at Riobamba. They would advance into Peru.
On the 27th, Colombian, Brazilian, and Spanish troops captured Iquitos in Northeastern Peru. Americans and Germans routed the Peruvians in along the border with Ecuador. Meanwhile, US Marines captured the coastal towns of Pisco and Callao. Lima was under threat. The Peruvian military used its last supplies of chemical weapons in the North against the Americans and Germans, killing 25,000. The German-American advance began to slow as the fighting increasingly occurred in the mountains. Medina declared that we will “bleed them dry,” referring to the foreign troops in the country. In August, Brazilian forces captured La Paz and advanced into Peru from the South. As the allies advanced, they found evidence of human experimentation, which infuriated the public back home.
Fransisco Medina declared that Peru would fight to the last man, but in September he was killed in a coup and peace was signed. Dozens of people were arrested and handed over to the Americans and Germans. America and Germany kept troops in the country for a year. During this occupation, the full extent of the Peruvian eugenics program was uncovered. Massive sterilizations of “undesirable” elements along with euthanasia of people with severe disabilities shocked people around the world. In America, this kicked off the anti-eugenics movement, as people began to realize that these sorts of programs were going on (albeit on a much smaller scale) in their own country. A similar movement would arise in Britain and Germany later.
Though Britain had declared war, its involvement would be small, as it was fighting colonial wars in Africa and reeling from its recent loss of India. It would send a few ships to blockade Peru and defend the Falklands in case Argentina entered the war. Spain declared war in July, but they only sent 2,000 soldiers to South America, to be used in Colombia. Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Portugal, and Austria-Hungary similarly sent token forces. Brazil, Colombia, the United States, and Germany would be the ones to do most of the fighting. America would capture Esmeraldas in September, taking few casualties. There was much more fierce fighting at Quito, and general Macarthur decided to wait until more reinforcements arrived before taking the city. Meanwhile, German troops were pushing back the Peruvians and Ecuadorians in Colombia.
(American troops in Ecuador)
In late October the American public became concerned about the state of the war. First, they heard that an American ship had been sunk of the Coast of El Salvador by a Peruvian submarine. Patton was angry with his Ally, Brazil, for being hesitant to use their superior Navy against Peru. Indeed, Brazil had been at war for over a year and still kept most of its fleet in the Atlantic. Then, Russia came close to entering the conflict. Russia had been Peru’s major supplier of fuel after Mexico and Venezuela stopped trading in 1949. A German submarine torpedoed a Russian oil tanker on the 31st. Russia began to mobilize its troops, and in response, Japan did as well. Patton declared that America could fight Russia if it was necessary. After two weeks, tensions began to die down, however.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the Democratic Party. Anti-war protests erupted and the midterm elections were right around the corner. In the Senate, Democrats only held six seats. Republicans would dominate both Houses of Congress in 1951. The Socialists gained one seat in the House of Representatives, increasing their numbers in the chamber by 50%. By the time the new Congress would begin, public opinion was already swinging back in favor of the war. An offensive by Ecuador and Peru to push the Americans back into the sea was beat back and by Christmas reinforcements had arrived in large numbers as new recruits were ready for combat. Quito was bombed as the Americans waited until spring to resume their assault on the city. Peru was beginning to experience fuel shortages.
In March, three offensives began. The German-led offensive in Colombia, the American offensive in Ecuador, and the Brazilian offensive in Bolivia. The Germans were advancing rapidly, winning every battle. Over 60,000 Peruvians and 10,000 Ecuadorians died in one day at Mocoa on March 28th. The Americans spent ten days fighting in Quito, with the city falling on the 31st. The Ecuadorian government surrendered, though Peru set up a puppet government at Rio Tigre. The Brazilians gained ground, but the Peruvians inflicted high casualties. Brazil was beaten back at San Borja on April 16, a victory in which Francisco Medina greatly exaggerated for propaganda purposes. Medina soon withdrew many of his troops from Bolivia to defend Peru. On the 19th, Americans and Germans met at Riobamba. They would advance into Peru.
On the 27th, Colombian, Brazilian, and Spanish troops captured Iquitos in Northeastern Peru. Americans and Germans routed the Peruvians in along the border with Ecuador. Meanwhile, US Marines captured the coastal towns of Pisco and Callao. Lima was under threat. The Peruvian military used its last supplies of chemical weapons in the North against the Americans and Germans, killing 25,000. The German-American advance began to slow as the fighting increasingly occurred in the mountains. Medina declared that we will “bleed them dry,” referring to the foreign troops in the country. In August, Brazilian forces captured La Paz and advanced into Peru from the South. As the allies advanced, they found evidence of human experimentation, which infuriated the public back home.
Fransisco Medina declared that Peru would fight to the last man, but in September he was killed in a coup and peace was signed. Dozens of people were arrested and handed over to the Americans and Germans. America and Germany kept troops in the country for a year. During this occupation, the full extent of the Peruvian eugenics program was uncovered. Massive sterilizations of “undesirable” elements along with euthanasia of people with severe disabilities shocked people around the world. In America, this kicked off the anti-eugenics movement, as people began to realize that these sorts of programs were going on (albeit on a much smaller scale) in their own country. A similar movement would arise in Britain and Germany later.