What was the War of the Pacific?
The War of the Pacific, also known as the Saltpeter War, the war began in February 1879 when Chilean forces invaded Bolivia, and later on, Peru took control over the key territories and ports along the Pacific coast. The war primarily revolved around the control of valuable resources such as nitrate deposits (used in fertilizer and explosives) found in the Atacama Desert. It was also fought over disputes over territorial boundaries.
The War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific was fought primarily between Chile and Bolivia over taxation. In 1878, increased taxation was imposed on a mining company in Chile. This taxation went against the 1874 Boundary Treat, signed by the Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariano Baptista and the Chilean Minister Carlos Walker Martinez.
Chile and Bolivia fought over land in the Atacama Desert. Chile won the war and took control of land that was rich in resources from both Bolivia and Peru. This article will discuss the causes, summary, and outcome of the War of the Pacific in detail.
Table of Content
- What was the War of the Pacific?
- Historical Background of the War of the Pacific
- Causes of the War of the Pacific
- Military Analysis of the War of Pacific
- Who won the War of the Pacific?
- Summary of the War of Pacific