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Cisplatine War

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The Cisplatine War was a conflict between two strong lands in South America. It happened in the 1820s between the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Both sides wanted to control a region called the Banda Oriental.

PortugueseMuseum-Colonia4
PortugueseMuseum-Colonia4

Brazil had taken this land and called it the Cisplatina province. This dispute started much earlier because of old borders from Spain and Portugal. The land sits near a large river system that was very important for trade.

Eduardo Carbajal (atribuible) - 1860 - 1865 - Artigas en el Paraguay
Eduardo Carbajal (atribuible) - 1860 - 1865 - Artigas en el Paraguay

Control over this area meant control over paths to the interior of the continent.

The war began after many years of tension and failed talks. In 1823, the United Provinces tried to talk to Brazil about leaving the region. Brazil refused to negotiate or leave the province.

Juan Manuel Blanes - El Juramento de los Treinta y Tres Orientales
Juan Manuel Blanes - El Juramento de los Treinta y Tres Orientales

In 1825, a group of patriots called the Thirty-Three Orientals started a rebellion. They were led by a man named Juan Antonio Lavalleja. They wanted the land to be free from Brazil. They also wanted to join the United Provinces. This group declared independence from Brazil on 25 August 1825.

Battle of Sarandi, Juan Manuel Blanes
Battle of Sarandi, Juan Manuel Blanes

Fighting happened on both land and at sea. The armies fought many battles to try and win control. On land, the two sides reached a point where neither could win. This is called an impasse. One of the biggest battles on land was the battle of Ituzaingó.

Infantaria Brasileira em Passo do Rosário
Infantaria Brasileira em Passo do Rosário

At sea, the Brazilian Navy had more success. They used a naval blockade to stop trade on the River Plate.

Brazilian fleet in Buenos Aires 1828
Brazilian fleet in Buenos Aires 1828

An Irish-born admiral named William Brown led the small Argentine fleet. His ships fought against the larger Brazilian Navy.

The war was very hard on the money and politics of both lands. The cost of fighting was huge for both Brazil and the United Provinces. In Brazil, the war caused many arguments about how to lead. Emperor Pedro I even lost his throne later because of these problems.

Nau Pedro I - Eduardo de Martino - Coleção Museu Naval
Nau Pedro I - Eduardo de Martino - Coleção Museu Naval

In the United Provinces, the war also caused big political fights. These fights eventually led to a civil war in that country. Both sides were tired of the fighting and the high costs. They needed to find a way to make peace.

Finally, the two sides signed a peace deal in 1828. This happened with help from the British. They signed the Preliminary Peace Convention on 27 August 1828.

This deal meant that the fighting would stop. Most importantly, the land of Cisplatina became its own independent country. That country is known today as the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. This changed the map of South America forever.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:PortugueseMuseum-Colonia4.jpg
PortugueseMuseum-Colonia4.jpg
File:Jean-Baptiste Debret - Boarding, on Praia Grande, of troops destined for the blockade of Montivideu - Google Art Project.jpg
Jean-Baptiste Debret - Boarding, on Praia...
File:Eduardo Carbajal (atribuible) - 1860 - 1865 - Artigas en el Paraguay.jpg
Eduardo Carbajal (atribuible) - 1860 -...
File:Juan Manuel Blanes - El Juramento de los Treinta y Tres Orientales.jpg
Juan Manuel Blanes - El Juramento de los...
File:Battle of Sarandi, Juan Manuel Blanes.jpg
Battle of Sarandi, Juan Manuel Blanes.jpg
File:Battaillon etranger et grenadier dela garde imperiale bresilienne, by Auguste de Valmont.jpg
Battaillon etranger et grenadier dela...
File:Nau Pedro I - Eduardo de Martino - Coleção Museu Naval.jpg
Nau Pedro I - Eduardo de Martino -...
File:Infantaria Brasileira em Passo do Rosário.png
Infantaria Brasileira em Passo do Rosário.png
File:Brazilian fleet in Buenos Aires 1828.jpg
Brazilian fleet in Buenos Aires 1828.jpg
File:Central market, Buenos Aires 1818.jpg
Central market, Buenos Aires 1818.jpg
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