Summary
Highlights
The War of the Pacific, also known as the War of Saltpeter and Guano, was an armed conflict from 1879 to 1883, pitting Chile against Bolivia and Peru. It took place across the Pacific Ocean, Peruvian valleys and mountains, and the Atacama Desert. This conflict is considered a dramatic and unresolved event in South American history during the contemporary age.
Key causes included poorly defined colonial borders between Bolivia and Chile, Chilean exploitation of resources in disputed territories, and a secret alliance pact in 1873 between Bolivia and Peru to guarantee territorial integrity. A direct trigger was Bolivia imposing taxes on Chilean companies in 1878, which Chile argued violated the 1874 border treaty, leading to confiscation of Chilean assets and military intervention by Chile.
The war began with the Maritime Campaign in 1879, crucial for troop movement and supply, marked by the Battle of Iquique. This was followed by the Tarapacá Campaign, where land skirmishes began, and Chile used the region's saltpeter wealth to fund the war. In 1880, the Tacna and Arica Campaign saw Chile seize Tacna and Arica, gaining control of southern Peru and leading to Bolivia's withdrawal and initial negotiations between Peru and Chile.
In 1881, Chilean troops advanced north, leading to victories in the battles of Chorrillos and Miraflores and the occupation of Lima. From 1881 to 1883, the Sierra Campaign took place, where Peruvian resistance led to significant Chilean losses, eventually forcing Peru to negotiate peace.
The War of the Pacific is often seen as a tragic conflict for Latin American nations. It concluded in 1883 with Chile controlling parts of Atacama (Bolivia) and Arica (Peru) through the Treaty of Ancón. This treaty granted Bolivia free transit through the new Chilean territory.
Chile and Peru signed an agreement where Peru ceded the Tarapacá zone to Chile. Bolivia refused this treaty, signing only a truce. Peru also had to accept Chile's temporary occupation of Tacna and Arica; while Arica remained Chilean, Tacna was returned to Peru in 1925. Bolivia lost its only access to the sea in the Litoral department, and Chile and Argentina divided the Puna de Atacama.
The war had dramatic social consequences for Peru and Bolivia, with 15,000 casualties. Peru experienced a civil war due to social stratification exacerbated by the conflict and was left economically ruined by the Chilean blockade. Bolivia also suffered economically, losing its sea access and returning embargoed Chilean company assets. Conversely, Chile benefited greatly, gaining mineral-rich territories, maritime control, and customs duties, significantly strengthening its economy.