Between approach and the beginning of war: American foreign policy in Paraguay (1845-1859)

Abstract

The performance of U.S. consular agent Edward Hopkins, between 1845 and 1854, and the attack on the U.S. ship Water Witch by Paraguayan forces from Itapiru Fortress in 1855, were significant moments in the construction and division of bilateral relations between the United States and Paraguay in the second half of the nineteenth century; both conjuctures led the two countries to a situation of tension and near conflict. Thus, by means of a documentary and bibliographical research from which were used: official speeches, correspondence, presidential messages, travel reports and from an analysis in the field of the history of international affairs, supported by the works of Cervo and Bueno (2008), Corriston (1983), Doratioto (2002), Hobsbawm (1990), Junqueira (2007), Mora and Cooney (2007), Moreira (2013), Selser (1992), Smith and Bartlett (2009), Yegros (2010), Yegros and Brezzo (2013), this article aims to address how the U.S. approach to Paraguay was and how the crisis that led the two countries to dissension was built. It will also address the process for the re-establishment of relations between the two countries in early 1859, and as a conclusion, the pragmatic outcome of the expedition to Paraguay for U.S. domestic policy will be pointed out.

Keywords: foreign policy, United States, Paraguay, La Plata Basin, Navigation.