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What War Was the Deadliest in Latin America's History?
Latin America's history is etched with conflict, a tapestry woven with threads of revolution, independence struggles, and brutal civil wars. While precise casualty figures are often elusive due to incomplete records and the chaotic nature of many conflicts, one war stands out as a contender for the deadliest in the region's tumultuous past: the Paraguayan War (1864-1870). This blog post delves into the devastating impact of the Paraguayan War, exploring its causes, key battles, and the staggering human cost that cemented its place as a potential candidate for the title of Latin America’s deadliest war. We’ll also briefly examine other significant conflicts to provide a comparative context.
The Paraguayan War: A Nation's Annihilation (1864-1870)
The Paraguayan War, often called the "War of the Triple Alliance," involved Paraguay against a coalition of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. This seemingly unequal conflict resulted in an unprecedented level of devastation for Paraguay. The war's origins lie in complex geopolitical tensions and competing ambitions for regional dominance. Paraguay, under the ambitious rule of Francisco Solano López, pursued a policy of expansionism, creating friction with its neighbors. This, coupled with disputes over navigation rights on the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, ignited the conflict.
#### The Brutal Reality of the Conflict
The war saw brutal campaigns, characterized by relentless fighting, widespread disease, and famine. Paraguay's smaller, though initially well-equipped, army faced a numerically superior enemy. The battles of Riachuelo, Yatay, and Curupayty highlight the ferocity and scale of the fighting. The sheer number of casualties suffered by Paraguay was staggering, with estimates suggesting the loss of over 60% of its male population. Women and children also suffered immensely, with reports of widespread starvation and disease.
#### The Post-War Devastation
The aftermath of the war left Paraguay utterly devastated. Its infrastructure was in ruins, its economy destroyed, and its population decimated. The recovery process was long and arduous, taking decades to rebuild even the most basic societal structures. The sheer scale of loss – both human and societal – solidified the Paraguayan War's position as a prime candidate for the title of Latin America’s deadliest conflict.
Other Significant Conflicts in Latin America
While the Paraguayan War is a strong contender, other conflicts deserve mention in the context of discussing the deadliest wars in Latin American history. These include:
The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920): This decade-long civil war resulted in significant loss of life, though precise figures remain debated among historians. The conflict was characterized by multiple factions vying for power, leading to widespread violence and societal upheaval.
The Colombian Civil War (1964-1990): This protracted conflict, involving various guerrilla groups, paramilitaries, and government forces, saw extensive violence and displacement. While casualty figures are difficult to pinpoint precisely, the death toll was undoubtedly considerable.
Various Independence Wars (early 19th Century): The numerous wars of independence across Latin America, while often fragmented and geographically dispersed, collectively claimed a substantial number of lives. The lack of centralized record-keeping makes assessing the overall death toll exceptionally challenging.
Determining the "Deadliest"
Accurately determining the deadliest war in Latin American history presents significant challenges. Reliable casualty data is often incomplete, especially for conflicts spanning long periods and involving various factions. Furthermore, the definition of "deadliest" – whether focusing solely on military deaths or encompassing civilian casualties – influences the outcome. While precise figures remain elusive, the sheer scale of destruction and the percentage of Paraguay's population lost during the Paraguayan War make it a strong, if not the strongest, contender for this grim distinction.
Conclusion
The Paraguayan War stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of large-scale conflict. While definitive figures regarding the deadliest war in Latin American history remain debatable due to the complexities of historical record-keeping, the immense loss of life suffered by Paraguay during the Paraguayan War places it firmly at the forefront of contenders. The war serves as a crucial historical lesson emphasizing the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and the enduring impact of warfare on nations and their people.
FAQs
1. What were the main causes of the Paraguayan War? The war's causes were complex, involving territorial disputes, rivalries between nations, and Paraguay's expansionist policies under Solano López. Disputes over river navigation rights also played a significant role.
2. What was the role of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in the Paraguayan War? These three nations formed the Triple Alliance, combining their forces against Paraguay. Their motivations included securing regional dominance and addressing concerns about Paraguay's expansionist policies.
3. What is the significance of the Paraguayan War in Latin American history? It's significant for its sheer scale of destruction, the disproportionate loss of life suffered by Paraguay, and its lasting impact on the political and social landscape of the region.
4. How does the death toll of the Paraguayan War compare to other Latin American conflicts? While exact figures remain debated, the percentage of Paraguay's population lost during the war is exceptionally high, arguably exceeding that of other conflicts in Latin America.
5. What lasting effects did the Paraguayan War have on Paraguay? The war devastated Paraguay's infrastructure, economy, and population. The country's recovery was a lengthy and arduous process, taking decades to rebuild its societal structures.
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The War of the Triple Alliance Gabriele Esposito, 2017-06-06 A detailed and illustration work on the most deadly conflict in the history of Latin America The War of the Triple Alliance an international military conflict fought in South America from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. It was the deadliest war in Latin America’s history with an estimated 400,000 deaths. It was particularly devastating in Paraguay which suffered catastrophic losses in population – some claim that almost 70% of its adult male population died – and was forced to cede territory to Argentina and Brazil. The main aim of this book is to present a complete presentation of the organization, uniforms and weapons of the South American armies involved in the War of the Triple Alliance. This includes eight original illustrations by noted military artist - Guiseppe Rava. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Paraguayan War: Causes and early conduct Thomas Whigham, 2002-01-01 The Paraguayan War (1864?70) was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America. The conflict involving Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil killed hundreds of thousands of people and had dire consequences for the Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano L¢pez and his nation. Though the Paraguayan War stirs the same emotions in South Americans as does the Civil War in the United States, there have been few significant investigations of the war available in English. In this first of two volumes, Thomas L. Whigham provides an engrossing and comprehensive account of the war's origins and early campaigns, and he guides the reader through the complexities of South American nationalism, military development, and political intrigue. Whigham portrays the conflict as bloody and inexcusable, though it paved the way for more modern societies in the continent. The Paraguayan War fills an important gap in our understanding of Latin American history. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Guatemala, Never Again! Catholic Institute for International Relations, Latin America Bureau, 1999 As a church, we collectively and responsibly assumed the task of breaking the silence that thousands of war victims have kept for years. We opened up the possibility for them to talk, to have their say, to tell their stories of suffering and pain, so they might feel liberated from the burden that has been weighing down on them for so many years. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Desertmakers Javier Uriarte, 2019-10-29 This book studies how the rhetoric of travel introduces different conceptualizations of space and time in scenarios of war during the last decades of the 19th century, in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. By examining accounts of war and travel in the context of the consolidation of state apparatuses in these countries, Uriarte underlines the essential role that war (in connection to empire and capital) has played in the Latin American process of modernization and state formation. In this book, the analysis of British and Latin American travel narratives proves particularly productive in reading the ways in which national spaces are reconfigured, reimagined, and reappropriated by the state apparatus. War turns out to be a central instrument not just for making possible this logic of appropriation, but also for bringing temporal notions such as modernization and progress to spaces that were described — albeit problematically — as being outside of history. The book argues that wars waged against deserts (as Patagonia, the sertão, Paraguay, and the Uruguayan countryside were described and imagined) were in fact means of generating empty spaces, real voids that were the condition for new foundations. The study of travel writing is an essential tool for understanding the transformations of space brought by war, and for analyzing in detail the forms and connotations of movement in connection to violence. Uriarte pays particular attention to the effects that witnessing war had on the traveler’s identity and on the relation that is established with the oikos or point of departure of their own voyage. Written at the intersection of literary analysis, critical geography, political science, and history, this book will be of interest to those studying Latin American literature, Travel Writing, and neocolonialism and Empire writing. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: History of Modern Latin America Teresa A. Meade, 2016-01-19 Now available in a fully-revised and updated second edition, A History of Modern Latin America offers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the rich cultural and political history of this vibrant region from the onset of independence to the present day. Includes coverage of the recent opening of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba as well as a new chapter exploring economic growth and environmental sustainability Balances accounts of the lives of prominent figures with those of ordinary people from a diverse array of social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds Features first-hand accounts, documents, and excerpts from fiction interspersed throughout the narrative to provide tangible examples of historical ideas Examines gender and its influence on political and economic change and the important role of popular culture, including music, art, sports, and movies, in the formation of Latin American cultural identity Includes all-new study questions and topics for discussion at the end of each chapter, plus comprehensive updates to the suggested readings |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 6) King K. Holmes, Stefano Bertozzi, Barry R. Bloom, Prabhat Jha, 2017-11-06 Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death globally, particularly among children and young adults. The spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective packages of interventions and strategies across delivery platforms to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, adult febrile illness, viral hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases. The volume emphasizes the need to effectively address emerging antimicrobial resistance, strengthen health systems, and increase access to care. The attainable goals are to reduce incidence, develop innovative approaches, and optimize existing tools in resource-constrained settings. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Saving Lives, Buying Time Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Committee on the Economics of Antimalarial Drugs, 2004-09-09 For more than 50 years, low-cost antimalarial drugs silently saved millions of lives and cured billions of debilitating infections. Today, however, these drugs no longer work against the deadliest form of malaria that exists throughout the world. Malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africaâ€currently just over one million per yearâ€are rising because of increased resistance to the old, inexpensive drugs. Although effective new drugs called artemisinins are available, they are unaffordable for the majority of the affected population, even at a cost of one dollar per course. Saving Lives, Buying Time: Economics of Malaria Drugs in an Age of Resistance examines the history of malaria treatments, provides an overview of the current drug crisis, and offers recommendations on maximizing access to and effectiveness of antimalarial drugs. The book finds that most people in endemic countries will not have access to currently effective combination treatments, which should include an artemisinin, without financing from the global community. Without funding for effective treatment, malaria mortality could double over the next 10 to 20 years and transmission will intensify. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Armies of the War of the Triple Alliance 1864–70 Gabriele Esposito, 2015-03-20 The War of the Triple Alliance is the largest single conflict in the history of South America. Drawing Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay into conflict the war was characterized by extraordinarily high casualty rates, and was to shape the future of an entire continent – depopulating Paraguay and establishing Brazil as the predominant military power. Despite the importance of the war, little information is available in English about the armies that fought it. This book analyzes the combatants of the four nations caught up in the war, telling the story of the men who fought on each side, illustrated with contemporary paintings, prints, and early photographs. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Chaco War Bruce W. Farcau, 1996-05-23 Nearly 100,000 men died during the course of the tragic three-year war between two of the world's poorest nations, Bolivia and Paraguay, in the 1930s. The Chaco War was fought over a worthless stretch of desert scrubland for the pride of political leaders and the ambition of a few military officers. While thousands of illiterate, barefoot, undernourished peasant soldiers fought and died with incredible bravery, their commanders and national leaders fussed and fumed over imagined slights and avoided the peace which was so easily within their reach. The Bolivian military, in particular, performed abysmally. Few wars have been as unnecessary or as costly as the Chaco War. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Apollo's Warriors Michael E. Haas, 1998-05 Presenting a fascinating insider's view of U.S.A.F. special operations, this volume brings to life the critical contributions these forces have made to the exercise of air & space power. Focusing in particular on the period between the Korean War & the Indochina wars of 1950-1979, the accounts of numerous missions are profusely illustrated with photos & maps. Includes a discussion of AF operations in Europe during WWII, as well as profiles of Air Commandos who performed above & beyond the call of duty. Reflects on the need for financial & political support for restoration of the forces. Bibliography. Extensive photos & maps. Charts & tables. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Votes, Drugs, and Violence Guillermo Trejo, Sandra Ley, 2020-09-03 One of the most surprising developments in Mexico's transition to democracy is the outbreak of criminal wars and large-scale criminal violence. Why did Mexican drug cartels go to war as the country transitioned away from one-party rule? And why have criminal wars proliferated as democracy has consolidated and elections have become more competitive subnationally? In Votes, Drugs, and Violence, Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley develop a political theory of criminal violence in weak democracies that elucidates how democratic politics and the fragmentation of power fundamentally shape cartels' incentives for war and peace. Drawing on in-depth case studies and statistical analysis spanning more than two decades and multiple levels of government, Trejo and Ley show that electoral competition and partisan conflict were key drivers of the outbreak of Mexico's crime wars, the intensification of violence, and the expansion of war and violence to the spheres of local politics and civil society. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Fighting for Peace in Somalia Paul D. Williams, 2018-06-20 Fighting for Peace in Somalia provides the first comprehensive analysis of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), an operation deployed in 2007 to stabilize the country and defend its fledgling government from one of the world's deadliest militant organizations, Harakat al-Shabaab. The book's two parts provide a history of the mission from its genesis in an earlier, failed regional initiative in 2005 up to mid-2017, as well as an analysis of the mission's six most important challenges, namely, logistics, security sector reform, civilian protection, strategic communications, stabilization, and developing a successful exit strategy. These issues are all central to the broader debates about how to design effective peace operations in Africa and beyond. AMISOM was remarkable in several respects: it would become the African Union's (AU) largest peace operation by a considerable margin deploying over 22,000 soldiers; it became the longest running mission under AU command and control, outlasting the nearest contender by over seven years; it also became the AU's most expensive operation, at its peak costing approximately US$1 billion per year; and, sadly, AMISOM became the AU's deadliest mission. Although often referred to as a peacekeeping operation, AMISOM's troops were given a range of daunting tasks that went well beyond the realm of peacekeeping, including VIP protection, war-fighting, counterinsurgency, stabilization, and state-building as well as supporting electoral processes and facilitating humanitarian assistance. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Massacre at El Mozote Mark Danner, 2005 The story of the 1989 massacre of civilians in El Salvadore by US-trained soldiers. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Bomb (Graphic Novel) Steve Sheinkin, 2023-01-24 A riveting graphic novel adaptation of the award-winning nonfiction book, Bomb—the fascinating and frightening true story of the creation behind the most destructive force that birthed the arms race and the Cold War. In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned three continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists, led by father of the atomic bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer, was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb. New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin's award-winning nonfiction book is now available reimagined in the graphic novel format. Full color illustrations from Nick Bertozzi are detailed and enriched with the nonfiction expertise Nick brings to the story as a beloved artist, comic book writer, and commercial illustrator who has written a couple of his own historical graphic novels, including Shackleton and Lewis & Clark. Accessible, gripping, and educational, this new edition of Bomb is perfect for young readers and adults alike. Praise for Bomb (2012): “This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is 'boring.' It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed—and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb.” —The Wall Street Journal “This is edge-of-the seat material that will resonate with YAs who clamor for true spy stories, and it will undoubtedly engross a cross-market audience of adults who dozed through the World War II unit in high school.” —The Bulletin (starred review) Also by Steve Sheinkin: Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: A New History of Modern Latin America Lawrence A. Clayton, Michael L. Conniff, Susan M. Gauss, 2017-08 Revised and expanded third edition--Cover. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Haiti: The Aftershocks of History Laurent Dubois, 2012-01-03 A passionate and insightful account by a leading historian of Haiti that traces the sources of the country's devastating present back to its turbulent and traumatic history Even before the 2010 earthquake destroyed much of the country, Haiti was known as a benighted place of poverty and corruption. Maligned and misunderstood, the nation has long been blamed by many for its own wretchedness. But as acclaimed historian Laurent Dubois makes clear, Haiti's troubled present can only be understood by examining its complex past. The country's difficulties are inextricably rooted in its founding revolution—the only successful slave revolt in the history of the world; the hostility that this rebellion generated among the colonial powers surrounding the island nation; and the intense struggle within Haiti itself to define its newfound freedom and realize its promise. Dubois vividly depicts the isolation and impoverishment that followed the 1804 uprising. He details how the crushing indemnity imposed by the former French rulers initiated a devastating cycle of debt, while frequent interventions by the United States—including a twenty-year military occupation—further undermined Haiti's independence. At the same time, Dubois shows, the internal debates about what Haiti should do with its hard-won liberty alienated the nation's leaders from the broader population, setting the stage for enduring political conflict. Yet as Dubois demonstrates, the Haitian people have never given up on their struggle for true democracy, creating a powerful culture insistent on autonomy and equality for all. Revealing what lies behind the familiar moniker of the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, this indispensable book illuminates the foundations on which a new Haiti might yet emerge. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Mosquito Timothy C. Winegard, 2019-08-06 **The instant New York Times bestseller.** *An international bestseller.* Finalist for the Lane Anderson Award Finalist for the RBC Taylor Award “Hugely impressive, a major work.”—NPR A pioneering and groundbreaking work of narrative nonfiction that offers a dramatic new perspective on the history of humankind, showing how through millennia, the mosquito has been the single most powerful force in determining humanity’s fate Why was gin and tonic the cocktail of choice for British colonists in India and Africa? What does Starbucks have to thank for its global domination? What has protected the lives of popes for millennia? Why did Scotland surrender its sovereignty to England? What was George Washington's secret weapon during the American Revolution? The answer to all these questions, and many more, is the mosquito. Across our planet since the dawn of humankind, this nefarious pest, roughly the size and weight of a grape seed, has been at the frontlines of history as the grim reaper, the harvester of human populations, and the ultimate agent of historical change. As the mosquito transformed the landscapes of civilization, humans were unwittingly required to respond to its piercing impact and universal projection of power. The mosquito has determined the fates of empires and nations, razed and crippled economies, and decided the outcome of pivotal wars, killing nearly half of humanity along the way. She (only females bite) has dispatched an estimated 52 billion people from a total of 108 billion throughout our relatively brief existence. As the greatest purveyor of extermination we have ever known, she has played a greater role in shaping our human story than any other living thing with which we share our global village. Imagine for a moment a world without deadly mosquitoes, or any mosquitoes, for that matter? Our history and the world we know, or think we know, would be completely unrecognizable. Driven by surprising insights and fast-paced storytelling, The Mosquito is the extraordinary untold story of the mosquito’s reign through human history and her indelible impact on our modern world order. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Social Urbanism and the Politics of Violence K. Maclean, 2015-01-23 Medellín, Colombia, used to be the most violent city on earth, but in recent years, allegedly thanks to its 'social urbanism' approach to regeneration, it has experienced a sharp decline in violence. The author explores the politics behind this decline and the complex transformations in terms of urban development policies in Medellín. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: A Century of Global Economic Crises Lúcio Vinhas de Souza, |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Rough Riders Theodore Roosevelt, 2012-03-08 DIVBased on a pocket diary from the Spanish-American War, this tough-as-nails 1899 memoir abounds in patriotic valor and launched the future President into the American consciousness. /div |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Encyclopaedia Britannica Hugh Chisholm, 1910 This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Threat of Pandemic Influenza Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2005-04-09 Public health officials and organizations around the world remain on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable. Moreover, recent problems with the availability and strain-specificity of vaccine for annual flu epidemics in some countries and the rise of pandemic strains of avian flu in disparate geographic regions have alarmed experts about the world's ability to prevent or contain a human pandemic. The workshop summary, The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? addresses these urgent concerns. The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu. It also looks at gaps in readiness, including hospitals' inability to absorb a surge of patients and many nations' incapacity to monitor and detect flu outbreaks. The report points to the need for international agreements to share flu vaccine and antiviral stockpiles to ensure that the 88 percent of nations that cannot manufacture or stockpile these products have access to them. It chronicles the toll of the H5N1 strain of avian flu currently circulating among poultry in many parts of Asia, which now accounts for the culling of millions of birds and the death of at least 50 persons. And it compares the costs of preparations with the costs of illness and death that could arise during an outbreak. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Rebirth of the Paraguayan Republic Harris Gaylord Warren, 2010-11-23 A scholarly study of Paraguay in the decades dominated by the Colorados, immediately following the Allied occupation of the country after the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance, when half of Paraguay's population died. This period of rebirth saw the formal organization of Paraguay's major political parties, the Colorados and the Liberals, and the dominance of the Colorados until the Liberal revolution of 1904. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Crime, Violence and the State in Latin America Jonathan D. Rosen, Hanna Samir Kassab, 2020-08-03 In this succinct text, Jonathan D. Rosen and Hanna Samir Kassab explore the linkage between weak institutions and government policies designed to combat drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in Latin America. Using quantitative analysis to examine criminal violence and publicly available survey data from the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) to conduct regression analysis, individual case studies on Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, and Nicaragua highlight the major challenges that governments face and how they have responded to various security issues. Rosen and Kassab later turn their attention to the role of external criminal actors in the region and offer policy recommendations and lessons learned. Questions explored include: What are the major trends in organized crime in this country? How has organized crime evolved over time? Who are the major criminal actors? How has state fragility contributed to organized crime and violence (and vice versa)? What has been the government’s response to drug trafficking and organized crime? Have such policies contributed to violence? Crime, Violence and the State in Latin America is suitable to both undergraduate and graduate courses in criminal justice, international relations, political science, comparative politics, international political economy, organized crime, drug trafficking, and violence. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Destined for War Graham Allison, 2017-07-03 China and the United States are heading toward a war neither wants. The reason is Thucydides’s Trap, a deadly pattern of structural stress that results when a rising power challenges a ruling one. This phenomenon is as old as history itself. About the Peloponnesian War that devastated ancient Greece, the historian Thucydides explained: ‘It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.’ Over the past 500 years, these conditions have occurred sixteen times. War broke out in twelve of them. Today, as an unstoppable China approaches an immovable America, and both Xi Jinping and Donald Trump promise to make their countries ‘great again’, the seventeenth case looks grim. Unless China is willing to scale back its ambitions or Washington can accept becoming number two in the Pacific, a trade conflict, cyberattack, or accident at sea could soon escalate into all-out war. In Destined for War, the eminent Harvard scholar Graham Allison explains why Thucydides’s Trap is the best lens for understanding U.S.-China relations in the twenty-first century. Through uncanny historical parallels and war scenarios, he shows how close we are to the unthinkable. Yet, stressing that war is not inevitable, Allison also reveals how clashing powers have kept the peace in the past — and what painful steps the United States and China must take to avoid disaster today. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Blood Gun Money Ioan Grillo, 2021-02-23 “An eye-opening and riveting account of how guns make it into the black market and into the hands of criminals and drug lords.”--Adam Winkler From the author of El Narco and winner of the Maria Moors Cabot Prize, a searing investigation into the enormous black market for firearms, essential to cartels and gangs in the drug trade and contributing to the epidemic of mass shootings. The gun control debate is revived with every mass shooting. But far more people die from gun deaths on the street corners of inner city America and across the border as Mexico's powerful cartels battle to control the drug trade. Guns and drugs aren't often connected in our heated discussions of gun control-but they should be. In Ioan Grillo's groundbreaking new work of investigative journalism, he shows us this connection by following the market for guns in the Americas and how it has made the continent the most murderous on earth. Grillo travels to gun manufacturers, strolls the aisles of gun shows and gun shops, talks to federal agents who have infiltrated biker gangs, hangs out on Baltimore street corners, and visits the ATF gun tracing center in West Virginia. Along the way, he details the many ways that legal guns can cross over into the black market and into the hands of criminals, fueling violence here and south of the border. Simple legislative measures would help close these loopholes, but America's powerful gun lobby is uncompromising in its defense of the hallowed Second Amendment. Perhaps, however, if guns were seen not as symbols of freedom, but as key accessories in our epidemics of addiction, the conversation would shift. Blood Gun Money is that conversation shifter. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The World War I Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz J. Luz Sáenz, 2014-02-18 “I am home, safe and sound, and reviewing all these memories as if in a dream. All of this pleases me. I have been faithful to my duty.” Thus José de la Luz Sáenz ends his account of his military service in France and Germany in 1918. Published in Spanish in 1933, his annotated book of diary entries and letters recounts not only his own war experiences but also those of his fellow Mexican Americans. A skilled and dedicated teacher in South Texas before and after the war, Sáenz’s patriotism, his keen observation of the discrimination he and his friends faced both at home and in the field, and his unwavering dedication to the cause of equality have for years made this book a valuable resource for scholars, though only ten copies are known to exist and it has never before been available in English. Equally clear in these pages are the astute reflections and fierce pride that spurred Sáenz and others to pursue the postwar organization of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). This English edition of one of only two known war diaries of a Mexican American in the Great War is translated with an introduction and annotation by noted Mexican American historian Emilio Zamora. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Atrocitology Matthew White, 2011-10-20 Was the twentieth century the most violent in history? Are religions or tyrants, capitalism or communism the cause of most human suffering? Has violence increased or decreased over the course of history? In this wholly original and remarkably ambitious work, 'Atrocitologist' Matthew White considers man's inhumanity to man across several thousand years of history. From the First Punic War and the collapse of Mayan rule, to the reign of Peter the Great and the cataclysmic events of the Second World War, White's epic book spans centuries and civilisations as it measures the hundred most violent events in human history. While sceptical of any grand theory for the causes of human violence, White does share three big lessons gleaned from his careful statistical analysis: one, chaos is more deadly than tyranny; two, the world is even more disorganised than we realise; and three, wars kill more civilians than soldiers (in fact, the army is usually the safest place to be). If we study history to avoid the mistakes of the past, then there can be no more important place to start than this eye-opening and entertaining book. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Latin American Politics and Development Harvey F. Kline, Christine J. Wade, Howard J. Wiarda, 2018-04-24 For over thirty years, Latin American Politics and Development has kept instructors and students abreast of current affairs and changes in Latin America. Now in its ninth edition, this definitive text has been updated throughout and features contributions from experts in the field, including twenty new and revised chapters on Mexico, Central America,the Caribbean, and South America. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Routledge Hispanic Studies Companion to Nineteenth-Century Latin America Agnes Lugo-Ortiz, Graciela Montaldo, 2024-10-29 The Routledge Hispanic Studies Companion to Nineteenth-Century Latin America provides a unique, comprehensive, and critical overview of Latin American studies in the nineteenth century, including the major regions and subfields. The essays in this collection offer a complex, yet accessible transdisciplinary overview of the heterogeneous and asynchronous historical, political, and cultural processes that account for the becoming of Latin America in the nineteenth century—from Mexico and the Caribbean Basin to the Southern Cone. The thematic division of the book into six parts allows for a better understanding of the ways in which different themes are interrelated and affords readers the opportunity to draw their own connections among subfields. The volume assembles a robust sample of recent and innovative scholarship on the subject, reformulating from fresh perspectives commonly held views on the issues that characterized the era. Additionally, it provides an overarching analysis of the field and introduces cutting-edge concepts all within one expansive volume, opening the dialogue about topics that share common denominators and modeling how those topics can be approached from a variety of perspectives. The innovative volume will be of interest to students and scholars of Latin American studies and Spanish studies. Readers unfamiliar with the period will acquire a comprehensive view of its complexities, while specialists will discover new interpretations and archives. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Great Influenza John M. Barry, 2005-10-04 #1 New York Times bestseller “Barry will teach you almost everything you need to know about one of the deadliest outbreaks in human history.”—Bill Gates Monumental... an authoritative and disturbing morality tale.—Chicago Tribune The strongest weapon against pandemic is the truth. Read why in the definitive account of the 1918 Flu Epidemic. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research, The Great Influenza provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon. As Barry concludes, The final lesson of 1918, a simple one yet one most difficult to execute, is that...those in authority must retain the public's trust. The way to do that is to distort nothing, to put the best face on nothing, to try to manipulate no one. Lincoln said that first, and best. A leader must make whatever horror exists concrete. Only then will people be able to break it apart. At the height of World War I, history’s most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: America's Deadliest Export William Blum, 2022-10-20 'A fireball of terse information.'Oliver Stone'A remarkable collection. Blum concentrates on matters of great current significance, and does not pull his punches. They land, backed with evidence and acute analysis.'Noam ChomskyFor over sixty-five years, the United States war machine has been on automatic pilot. Since World War II we have been conditioned to believe that America's motives in 'exporting' democracy are honorable, even noble.In this startling and provocative book, William Blum, a leading dissident chronicler of US foreign policy and the author of controversial bestseller Rogue State, argues that nothing could be further from the truth.Moreover, unless this fallacy is unlearned, and until people understand fully the worldwide suffering American policy has caused, we will never be able to stop the monster. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Rickettsial Diseases Didier Raoult, Philippe Parola, 2007-04-26 The only available reference to comprehensively discuss the common and unusual types of rickettsiosis in over twenty years, this book will offer the reader a full review on the bacteriology, transmission, and pathophysiology of these conditions. Written from experts in the field from Europe, USA, Africa, and Asia, specialists analyze specific patho |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Carta de Jamaica Simon Bolivar, Jamaica Letter, 1977 |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Daily Lives of Civilians in Wartime Latin America Pedro Santoni, 2008-09-30 The countries of Latin America have suffered through numerous foreign interventions and domestic wars in the nearly two centuries that have followed its independence. These conflicts have also given rise to mass mobilizations of middle-class professionals, women, peasants, urban workers, and Indians, who sought to carve out a more active public role in the new states that emerged from these struggles. In some cases, elites and their military allies violently repressed the newly emerging forces. Recent research has begun to place greater emphasis on the lives of common people and the interventions they had on the larger events of the day. Eight chapters written by different scholars show the the importance of the actions of civilians in wars in Latin America. Chapters describing civilians' roles and lives through wars in Latin America are supplemented by recommended print and online resources for further study, a glossary defining important terms and concepts, and a timeline putting events into a chronological context. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Most Dangerous Steve Sheinkin, 2015-09-22 Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War is New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin's award-winning nonfiction account of an ordinary man who wielded the most dangerous weapon: the truth. “Easily the best study of the Vietnam War available for teen readers.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award winner A National Book Award finalist A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon book A Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature finalist Selected for the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List In 1964, Daniel Ellsberg was a U.S. government analyst, helping to plan a war in Vietnam. It was the height of the Cold War, and the government would do anything to stop the spread of communism—with or without the consent of the American people. As the fighting in Vietnam escalated, Ellsberg turned against the war. He had access a top-secret government report known as the Pentagon Papers, and he knew it could blow the lid off of years of government lies. But did he have the right to expose decades of presidential secrets? And what would happen to him if he did it? A lively book that interrogates the meanings of patriotism, freedom, and integrity, the National Book Award finalist Most Dangerous further establishes Steve Sheinkin—author of Newbery Honor book Bomb as a leader in children's nonfiction. This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum. “Gripping.”—New York Times Book Review “A master of fast-paced histories...[this] is Sheinkin’s most compelling one yet. ”—Washington Post Also by Steve Sheinkin: Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: Spy Princess Shrabani Basu, 2011-04-11 This is the riveting story of Noor Inayat Khan, a descendant of an Indian prince, Tipu Sultan (the Tiger of Mysore), who became a British secret agent for SOE during World War II. Shrabani Basu tells the moving story of Noor's life, from her birth in Moscow – where her father was a Sufi preacher – to her capture by the Germans. Noor was one of only three women SOE agents awarded the George Cross and, under torture, revealed nothing, not even her real name. Kept in solitary confinement, her hands and feet chained together, Noor was starved and beaten, but the Germans could not break her spirit. Ten months after she was captured, she was taken to Dachau concentration camp and, on 13 September 1944, she was shot. Her last word was 'Liberté.' |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: King Philip's War 1675–76 Gabriele Esposito, 2020-10-29 King Philip's War was the result of over 50 years' tension between the native inhabitants of New England and its colonial settlers as the two parties competed for land and resources. A coalition of Native American tribes fought against a force of over 1,000 men raised by the New England Confederation of Plymouth, Connecticut, New Haven and Massachusetts Bay, alongside their Indian allies the Mohegans and Mohawks. The resultant fighting in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and later Maine and New Hampshire, resulted in the destruction of 12 towns, the death of between 600–800 colonists and 3,000 Indians, making it the deadliest war in the history of American colonization Although war resulted in victory for the colonists, the scale of death and destruction led to significant economic hardship. This new study reveals the full story of this influential conflict as it raged across New England. Packed with maps, battle scenes, and bird's-eye-views, this is a comprehensive guide to the war which determined the future of colonial America. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Second World War Antony Beevor, 2012-06-07 A magisterial, single-volume history of the greatest conflict the world has ever known by our foremost military historian. ***** The Second World War began in August 1939 on the edge of Manchuria and ended there exactly six years later with the Soviet invasion of northern China. The war in Europe appeared completely divorced from the war in the Pacific and China, and yet events on opposite sides of the world had profound effects. Using the most up-to-date scholarship and research, Beevor assembles the whole picture in a gripping narrative that extends from the North Atlantic to the South Pacific and from the snowbound steppe to the North African Desert. Although filling the broadest canvas on a heroic scale, Beevor's The Second World War never loses sight of the fate of the ordinary soldiers and civilians whose lives were crushed by the titanic forces unleashed in the most terrible war in history. |
what war was the deadliest in latin americas history: The Haitian Revolution Toussaint L'Ouverture, 2019-11-12 Toussaint L’Ouverture was the leader of the Haitian Revolution in the late eighteenth century, in which slaves rebelled against their masters and established the first black republic. In this collection of his writings and speeches, former Haitian politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide demonstrates L’Ouverture’s profound contribution to the struggle for equality. |
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History Copy
The Paraguayan War 1864 70 was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America The conflict involving Paraguay Uruguay Argentina and Brazil killed hundreds of …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History [PDF]
The Paraguayan War: Causes and early conduct Thomas Whigham,2002-01-01 The Paraguayan War 1864 70 was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History
Accurately determining the deadliest war in Latin American history presents significant challenges. Reliable casualty data is often incomplete, especially for conflicts spanning long periods and …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History Full …
The Paraguayan War: Causes and early conduct Thomas Whigham,2002-01-01 The Paraguayan War 1864 70 was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America …
The Paraguayan War 1864 70 The Triple Alliance At (PDF)
It was the deadliest war in Latin America’s history with an estimated 400,000 deaths. It was particularly devastating in Paraguay which suffered catastrophic losses in population – some …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History
in the history of Latin America The War of the Triple Alliance an international military conflict fought in South America from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Brazil, …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History (2024)
Accurately determining the deadliest war in Latin American history presents significant challenges. Reliable casualty data is often incomplete, especially for conflicts spanning long periods and …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History …
(1864?70) was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America. The conflict involving Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil killed hundreds of thousands of …
The Last Colonial Massacre: Latin America in the Cold War
My book argues that the transformation of Latin America’s Old Left – led by socialist, nationalist, or Communist parties with working-class and at times peasant bases of support – to a more …
''1914-18: the Death Throes of Civilization. The Elites of Latin ...
The War as a Stake of Civilisation. A brief retrospective glance at to the pre-war period is necessary in order to understand the scale of the cataclysm which struck the Latin American …
The Third World War: American Hegemony in Latin America …
As Hal Brands described the situation: The Cuban revolution exacerbated anti-‐Americanism and tercermundismo (“Third-‐Worldism”) within Latin America, led to a precipitous escalation of …
TRACKING THE COLD WAR IN LATIN AMERICA - JSTOR
As a result, Latin America's Cold War offers a sharp corrective to revision- ist studies that situate the projection of U.S. political, economic, and military power into Latin America at the heart of …
The Militarization of the State in Latin America - JSTOR
Military dictatorships have been a characteristic feature of Latin America's political history since the time of the military caudillos (Bolivar, San Martin, O' Higgins, and others) who led the …
Vanni Pettinà. A Compact History of Latin America's Cold …
Pettinà defines Lat‐in America’s Cold War as “one process of socioeco‐nomic and political transformation that began in Latin America after 1929 and a second dynamic launched with the …
‘The Cuban Question’ and the Cold War in Latin America, …
Latin America and what to do about it–la cuestión cubana or “the Cuban question” as it was known at the time–would continue, dominating regional politics throughout the early 1960s.
Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America s Soul
Reid notes that “the region has been relatively free of the interstate conflicts that have dogged so many other parts of the world” and suggests that as one rea-son why “for much of Latin …
The longue durée of Colonial Violence in Latin America
the colonial period. In the core areas of Mexico and Peru, however, colonial rule was consoli- dated by the middle of the sixteenth century. Here too, violence was at the bottom of …
Latin America and the Post War World - JSTOR
The first world war provided the next impetus to these new growths. Brazil emerged from the conflict with the first significant merchant marine in Latin America, a textile industry, and a …
Latin American History Poverty - Weebly
Latin America in the War - JSTOR
When the German Empire, on Jan. 31, 1917, instituted its submarine blockade of the British, French, and Italian shores, sev-eral Latin- American nations followed the lead of the United …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History Copy
The Paraguayan War 1864 70 was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America The conflict involving Paraguay Uruguay Argentina and Brazil killed hundreds of …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History [PDF]
The Paraguayan War: Causes and early conduct Thomas Whigham,2002-01-01 The Paraguayan War 1864 70 was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History
Accurately determining the deadliest war in Latin American history presents significant challenges. Reliable casualty data is often incomplete, especially for conflicts spanning long periods and …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History Full …
The Paraguayan War: Causes and early conduct Thomas Whigham,2002-01-01 The Paraguayan War 1864 70 was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America …
The Paraguayan War 1864 70 The Triple Alliance At (PDF)
It was the deadliest war in Latin America’s history with an estimated 400,000 deaths. It was particularly devastating in Paraguay which suffered catastrophic losses in population – some …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History
in the history of Latin America The War of the Triple Alliance an international military conflict fought in South America from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Brazil, …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History …
Accurately determining the deadliest war in Latin American history presents significant challenges. Reliable casualty data is often incomplete, especially for conflicts spanning long periods and …
What War Was The Deadliest In Latin Americas History …
(1864?70) was the deadliest and most extensive interstate war ever fought in Latin America. The conflict involving Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil killed hundreds of thousands of people
The Last Colonial Massacre: Latin America in the Cold War
My book argues that the transformation of Latin America’s Old Left – led by socialist, nationalist, or Communist parties with working-class and at times peasant bases of support – to a more …
''1914-18: the Death Throes of Civilization. The Elites of Latin ...
The War as a Stake of Civilisation. A brief retrospective glance at to the pre-war period is necessary in order to understand the scale of the cataclysm which struck the Latin American élites in the …
The Third World War: American Hegemony in Latin America …
As Hal Brands described the situation: The Cuban revolution exacerbated anti-‐Americanism and tercermundismo (“Third-‐Worldism”) within Latin America, led to a precipitous escalation of …
TRACKING THE COLD WAR IN LATIN AMERICA - JSTOR
As a result, Latin America's Cold War offers a sharp corrective to revision- ist studies that situate the projection of U.S. political, economic, and military power into Latin America at the heart of …
The Militarization of the State in Latin America - JSTOR
Military dictatorships have been a characteristic feature of Latin America's political history since the time of the military caudillos (Bolivar, San Martin, O' Higgins, and others) who led the processes …
Vanni Pettinà. A Compact History of Latin America's Cold …
Pettinà defines Lat‐in America’s Cold War as “one process of socioeco‐nomic and political transformation that began in Latin America after 1929 and a second dynamic launched with the …
‘The Cuban Question’ and the Cold War in Latin America, …
Latin America and what to do about it–la cuestión cubana or “the Cuban question” as it was known at the time–would continue, dominating regional politics throughout the early 1960s.
Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America s Soul
Reid notes that “the region has been relatively free of the interstate conflicts that have dogged so many other parts of the world” and suggests that as one rea-son why “for much of Latin …
The longue durée of Colonial Violence in Latin America - JSTOR
the colonial period. In the core areas of Mexico and Peru, however, colonial rule was consoli- dated by the middle of the sixteenth century. Here too, violence was at the bottom of colonialism. …
Latin America and the Post War World - JSTOR
The first world war provided the next impetus to these new growths. Brazil emerged from the conflict with the first significant merchant marine in Latin America, a textile industry, and a shoe …
Latin American History Poverty - Weebly
Latin America faces some of the worst poverty in the World. Poverty is the state of extreme poor having little or no money for goods and services. As a whole, one out of five Latin Americans live …
Latin America in the War - JSTOR
When the German Empire, on Jan. 31, 1917, instituted its submarine blockade of the British, French, and Italian shores, sev-eral Latin- American nations followed the lead of the United States and …