Peru-Bolivian Confederation: Map & History

History

At the beginning of the 19th century, Simón Bolívar postulated the idea of creating a great nation, coinciding with Andrés de Santa Cruz, who thought of uniting Peru and Bolivia in a single country, the latter colloquially known as Upper Peru. The idea of uniting both countries was the general idea of several influential political leaders in Peru—including Francisco Xavier de Luna Pizarro, José María Pando, Manuel Lorenzo de Vidaurre, Agustín Gamarra, among others—who sought to reintegrate the two Perus, disagreeing only in the form of the "union": confederation or merger. An important factor in the desire to unite these two states were the historical ties between both regions, even after independence.

Government and politics

According to the Fundamental law of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation (Spanish: Ley fundamental de la Confederación Perú–Boliviana) signed on 18 April 1837, in each of the Confederation's states, there was, from 1837 until the dissolution, a "provisional president" under Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz, who was styled the "supreme protector" and was also president of Bolivia.

The Central Executive Power would be in the hands of Santa Cruz with the title of Protector of the Confederation, with a term of 10 years and the possibility of being re-elected, although the latter was not applicable if he had been removed from office by the Senate. The general customs and the general postal administration depended on him, as well as all diplomatic, military and naval appointments.