The South American Republics

The aim of this book is to offer a comprehensive approach to the history of the South American republics since the South American histories written before were mostly treating of special periods, and few authorities existed for post-revolution times. One of the main questions he tried to answer was why there were so many revolutions in South American countries. Constitutional traditions, inherited from Spain and Portugal, implanted a tendency toward disintegration; Spanish and Portuguese tyranny bred in the people a distrust of all rulers and governments; the war of independence brought to the front military adventurers; civil disorders were inevitable, and the search for forms of government that should be final and stable has been very painful. On the other hand, the generous impulse that prompted the movement toward independence has grown into an earnest desire for ordered liberty, which was steadily spreading among all classes, resulting in a slow evolution toward republicanism.Volume 1:Argentina:The Argentine LandThe Spanish Colonial SystemCompletion of the War of IndependenceThe Era of Civil WarsThe Modern ArgentineParaguay:Paraguay Until 1632The Jesuit Republic and Colonial ParaguayThe WarUruguay:Portuguese Aggressions and the Settlement of the CountryThe RevolutionIndependence and Civil WarBrazil:DiscoveryEarly ColonizationIndependenceEvents of 1849 to 1864Republicanism and EmancipationVolume 2:Peru:The Inca EmpireThe Spanish ConquestThe Wars of IndependenceChile:The Spanish ConquestThe Colonial PeriodThe War of IndependenceThe Formative PeriodBolivia:The Conquest and the MinesThe War of IndependenceBolivia IndependentEcuador:The Spanish ConquestThe War of IndependenceThe Formation of EcuadorModern EcuadorVenezuela:Conquest, Settlement, and Colonial DaysThe RevoltModern VenezuelaColombia:Conquest and SettlementColonial TimesThe War against SpainModern ColombiaPanama:The Events Leading to Independence