On February 14, 1879, the South American Pacific War (1879-1884) broke out between Chile and Bolivia and Peru. War of the Pacific, Chile's war with Peru and Bolivia.

War of the Pacific in Southern America

Chile fought with Bolivia and Peru for saltpeter production in the Atacama Desert on the South Pacific coast. The Atacama Desert is located at the junction of Bolivia, Chile and Peru and was never clearly designated during Spanish colonial rule. After the independence of the three countries, Bolivia occupied the Antofagasta region in the central Atacama Desert, Peru occupied the Tarapaca region in the northern desert, and Chile occupied the southern desert region. All three countries believe they have sovereignty over the desert area. The dispute between the three countries has become more acute due to the discovery of rich saltpeter deposits in the central and northern Atacama Desert. In 1866, Chile and Bolivia signed a border treaty, stipulating that the 24° south latitude line should be the border between the two countries, and tariffs on all mineral products and exported products between the 23° and 25° south latitude lines should be equally divided between the two countries. In the same year, a joint venture between Chile and the United Kingdom signed a contract with Bolivia to obtain mining rights in the Antofagasta region. In 1874, Bolivia and Chile signed a new treaty, stipulating that the Chilean government relinquished all rights in the area north of the 24° South latitude line. Bolivia agreed not to increase the current tax rate on Chilean companies for 25 years. In 1878, Bolivia decided to increase taxes on Chilean companies. The Chilean company refused to pay under the 1874 treaty. Bolivia decided to confiscate all its assets and auction them publicly. On February 14, 1879, Chile, with the support of British capitalists, sent troops to occupy the Bolivian territory of Antofagasta, and the South American Pacific War broke out. Peru was soon embroiled in conflict after signing a secret alliance treaty with Bolivia. On April 5 of the same year, Chile officially declared war on Bolivia and Peru. Chile, which has a navy twice the size of the Peruvian Combined Fleet, won the naval battle near Mejjones and gained control of the sea. In early November, Chilean troops landed in Pisagua, Peru, wiped out the local garrison, and quickly occupied the entire province of Tarapaca. In early 1880, Chilean troops landed in Ilo and the Port of Pacocha, Peru, occupied Moquua, passed through the desert area, and defeated the Bolivian and Peruvian coalition forces in the battles of Tacna and Arica. At this point, Chilean troops have occupied all saltpeter producing areas on the Pacific coast of Bolivia and Peru. Bolivia lost the ability to continue the war and effectively withdrew from it. On January 17, 1881, Chilean troops captured Lima, the capital of Peru. On October 20, 1883, Peru and Chile signed a treaty at Anconn City, north of Lima, ending the Pacific War. Under the Treaty of Ancon, Peru ceded the province of Tarapaca to Chile and handed over the regions of Tacna and Arica to Chile's jurisdiction for 10 years. Bolivia signed the Valparaiso Agreement and the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Chile in 1884 and 1904 respectively. Bolivia lost all its territory between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific coast and became a landlocked country without access to the sea, seriously affecting its economic development.

[todayonhistory.com Tip] No matter which Pacific War, the cost is heavy!