Many people know that Christianity and socialism are very close in spiritual and ideological terms. However, few people know that it was the Jesuit monks who created the world's first state entity with signs of socialism on the territory of modern Paraguay (Latin America), and even long before the appearance of Marx's teachings. The assassination of socialist Paraguay is one of the darkest and bloodiest chapters in the history of Latin America.
From the history of Paraguay
The first European to set foot on the land of modern Paraguay in 1525 was the Spanish explorer Alejo Garcia. He was shipwrecked on the island of Santa Catarina and began to move inland along the Pilcomayo River. Back in 1515, the Spanish explorer Hun Diaz de Solis discovered the mouth of the Parana River (and died in a skirmish with the Indians). Before the arrival of Europeans, the territory of Paraguay was inhabited by the Guarani Indians. In 1528, Sebastian Cabot founded Fort Santa Esperita. In August 1537, Juan de Salazar founded Asuncion, the future capital of Paraguay. This year is considered the beginning of the history of this Latin American country. Then the Spaniards founded several more strong points and began to send special managers to Paraguay (translated from the language of the local Indians, the word "Paraguay" means "from the great river" - meaning the Parana River).
At the beginning of the 17th century, Spanish Jesuits began to establish their settlements in Paraguay. It should be noted that the Jesuit Order, a male monastic order of the Roman Catholic Church, was a special and very remarkable structure. The Jesuits played a large role in the Counter-Reformation, often playing the role of a kind of secret service. They identified heretics and dissidents within the church, and carried out investigations. The Jesuits were active in Eastern Europe, penetrated into Japan, China, Africa and Latin America. Collected data in the interests of Rome. The order was actively engaged in science, education and missionary activities. The Jesuits had their own educational institutions with very high selection criteria and a good study program. It is clear that many of the Jesuits were highly educated people with a wide outlook and vast life experience. These were people capable of making important decisions without permission from above.
In Paraguay, monks, on the basis of the institutions of the Inca empire and the ideas of Christianity, tried to create a theocratic-patriarchal community ("kingdom"). It was the first attempt in the world to create a just society without private property with the primacy of the public good, where society stood above the individual. The Order of the Jesuits in the areas inhabited by the Tupi Guarani tribes, mainly in the territory of modern Paraguay, as well as in parts of the territories of present Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay, created Indian reservations-reductions (Spanish reducciones de Indios). In these reservations, the Indians were converted to Christianity and tried to make them people leading a sedentary lifestyle, engaged in a productive economy - agriculture and cattle breeding, as well as handicrafts and manufacturing. More than 170 thousand Indians were civilized. The monks brought them a fairly high level of agricultural technology, taught them crafts, passed on certain elements of spiritual culture, choirs, orchestras were organized, and musical instruments were made.
In each settlement, along with the Indian leaders, there was a Jesuit priest, with a vicar, who performed not only spiritual duties, but also were the leaders of the local administration. The Indians worked together, all the fruits of labor were collected in special stores, from which they gave out products to everyone who needed them. The monks were not tyrants, they did not enforce the Spanish language and European customs by force, so the Indians treated them well. The settlements flourished, "Christian socialism" was a fairly effective form of organization that brought economic success. The Jesuits had high autonomy, and practically did not obey the civil authorities of the colony. When necessary, Indian settlements gathered militias, repelling attacks by slave traders and their Indian mercenaries. In addition, the Jesuit reductions had to resist the neighboring Portuguese colonies.
It is clear that the independence of the monks irritated the Portuguese and Spanish authorities. They had their own plans for the Indians and for the belonging of the territories occupied by the Jesuits. In 1750 Spain and Portugal signed the Madrid Treaty. This agreement settled the boundaries of the possessions of the two powers in South America, in particular, on the territory of what is now Brazil. According to this treaty, the Spaniards ceded to Portugal a narrow strip along the banks of the Uruguay River - the eastern edge of the territories of the Jesuit missions in Paraguay. 7 reductions passed under the rule of Portugal.
The Jesuits refused to comply with this decision. An attempt by Spanish soldiers to relocate the Indians to the territory ruled by the Spanish crown failed. A bloody war began, known as the Guarani War or the War of the Seven Reductions (1754-1758). The Guarani, under the leadership of Sepe Tiaraj, fiercely resisted. The Spanish and Portuguese had to join forces to evict them. In February 1756, a combined Spanish-Portuguese detachment attacked Indian settlements, more than 1.5 thousand people were killed.
In the 1760s, the Jesuits were expelled from all of their possessions. Their numerous and prosperous settlements fell into disrepair. Many Indians returned to their former way of life, moving away from the Europeans, into the forests.
Independence of Paraguay
The Spanish colonial authorities were unable to continue the work of the monks. The colony began to decline. In 1776, La Plata, along with the whole of Paraguay, was transformed into a viceroyalty, and the colonization processes were intensified. Therefore, when in 1810 the Argentines (Buenos Aires became independent) organized the "Paraguay Expedition" and tried to start an uprising in Paraguay against Spain, the Paraguayans gathered a militia and drove the "liberators". In addition, the "liberators" distinguished themselves in robbing the local population and other military "joys", which did not add sympathy to them on the part of the Paraguayans (most were Indians, some mestizos - descendants of whites and Indians). It should be noted that the British played an important role in the process of the collapse of the Spanish colonial empire, who wanted to crush Latin America for themselves, making it a market for their products and getting cheap raw materials.
But the process was launched, in 1811 Buenos Aires recognized the independence of Paraguay. The conspirators arrested the governor, a congress was called, elected by universal suffrage, he chose the junta (from the Spanish junta - "assembly, committee"). The leader of the junta was a doctor of theology, former lawyer and mayor José Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia and Velasco. For several years he subdued all branches of government and until his death in 1840 was the Supreme Dictator of the Republic of Paraguay. Jose Francia suppressed the "fifth column" of supporters of the unification of Paraguay with Argentina, and pursued a policy of autarchy, that is, he tried to create an economic regime in the country that presupposes self-sufficiency. The Spanish wealthy were arrested and then forced to pay a large ransom, which undermined their economic power over Paraguay.
Francia partially revived the ideas of the Jesuit monks, but without an emphasis on religion. While studying at the University of Cordoba, he was fond of the ideas of the Enlightenment, his heroes were Robespierre and Napoleon. The supreme dictator carried out the secularization of church and monastery land and property. All religious orders were banned, tithes were abolished, church hierarchs were subordinated to the state. The Pope excommunicated Francia from the church, but this did not make any impression on the dictator. The country fought mercilessly against crime, after a few years people forgot about crime.
In Paraguay, a specific national economy was created: the economy was based on social labor and small business. As a result of the campaign of confiscations, the state owned almost all the land - up to 98%. Part of the land was leased to peasants on preferential terms, subject to the cultivation of certain crops. Several dozen estates were transformed into state farms, they were mainly engaged in the production of leather and meat. State-owned enterprises were also created in the manufacturing industry. The state carried out large-scale public works for the construction and improvement of settlements, roads, bridges, canals, etc. Slaves and prisoners were widely involved in the work. The import of foreign products was banned into the country, which led to the development of economically successful domestic trade, encouraged the development of national industry.
Public goods, quite surprising for the first half of the 19th century, were introduced: in 1828 in Paraguay, a system of universal secondary state free education for men was created; free medicine; poverty has been eliminated, a relatively income-homogeneous society has been created; low taxes and public food funds. As a result, in Paraguay, with an initially low level of development and an isolated situation (access to world markets was only along the Parana River), it was possible to create a strong industry. Paraguay has become a self-sufficient state showing a fast pace of development.
I must say that Francia was not a liberal, various conspirators, separatists, criminals, enemies of the regime were mercilessly persecuted. However, the regime of the Supreme Dictator was not "bloody"; many "democracies" were distinguished by greater cruelty. During the reign of the dictator, about 70 people were executed and about 1,000 more went to prisons. Therefore, the death of France was a real tragedy for the country, he was sincerely mourned.
After the death of Francia, power passed to his nephew Carlos Antonio Lopez. Until 1844, he ruled along with Mariano Roque Alonso, they were elected consuls by a popularly elected congress. Lopez, who was a mestizo from a family of poor parents of Indian and Spanish descent (Francio pursued a policy of mixing Spaniards and Indians in demography), ruled until 1862. He pursued a more liberal policy. Paraguay was already a strong country, ready to "discover". Lopez was distinguished by his desire for profit, but did not forget the interests of Paraguay. For the development of the national economy and the armed forces, European artisans and military specialists were invited to the country. The army was modernized according to European standards, its number was increased to 8 thousand people, a river fleet and several fortifications were built. Diplomatic relations were established with many states. Paraguay was opened to foreigners, the protective customs tariff was replaced with a more liberal one. Pilar harbor (on the Parana River) was opened to foreign trade. We continued to develop communication routes, science and education. The country withstood a seven-year war with Argentina, which did not agree to recognize the independence of Paraguay.
Lopez died in 1862, the country was taken over by his son, Francisco Solano Lopez. The new people's congress approved his power for 10 years. Under Francisco Lopez, Paraguay reached its peak. The first railway was built. Foreign specialists continued to be invited to the state. They began to develop the steel, textile, paper industries, organized the production of gunpowder and shipbuilding, and built artillery factories.
Catastrophe
Neighboring Uruguay, which had access to the sea, began to look closely at the successful experience of Paraguay. The main trade of Paraguay went through the Uruguayan ports. A prerequisite arose for the unification of the two states. Other countries could also join the union. The Paraguayan model of economy and social development was very effective and could spread to large parts of Latin America. And there was something to envy. A self-sufficient economy was built in Paraguay, imports were minimized, and exports of goods consistently exceeded imports. The country had no external debts, the national currency was stable. Due to the absence of capital outflow and government support, a powerful economic recovery took place, and the transport and communication infrastructure developed rapidly. Large-scale public works for irrigation, construction of canals, dams, bridges and roads have led to a major boom in agriculture.
In Paraguay, illiteracy was completely defeated, there was a free secondary education and medicine. Maximum prices were set for basic foodstuffs. The country, and this was surprising even for modern Latin America, forgot about poverty, hunger, mass crime and corruption of officials. All capital was directed to development, and not taken out of the country, not burned out by a narrow layer of parasitic capitalists and their servants (military, intellectual, etc.) Paraguay was in many ways ahead of its time, became an example country, a model. Paraguay showed the way that could bring Latin America and the countries of Africa and Asia from the rule of the "financial international", the western elite clans that parasitized on the planet.
There was a reason to be alarmed by neighboring Argentina and Brazil, as well as Great Britain, London bankers. I must say that the then Argentina and Brazil were financially and economically dependent on Britain, their policies were under control. First, Brazil occupied the Uruguayan port of Montevideo, and a puppet leader was put at the head of Uruguay. Paraguay's trade was blocked. Then an alliance was concluded between Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil against Paraguay.
Paraguay, allied with the Uruguayan National Party and Uruguayan President Atanasio Aguirre, was forced to go to war with Brazil and Argentina. It was a matter of survival - Montevideo was the only way out to the ocean. The Paraguayan War, or the War of the Triple Alliance, began - from December 1864 to March 1870. Initially, a small but well-trained and patriotic Paraguayan army was successful, invaded foreign territory, captured a number of Brazilian cities and fortifications.
But time and resources were on the side of the opponents. The Triple Alliance had an overwhelming superiority in human and material resources. In addition, Brazil and Argentina were supported by the then "world community" and were well supplied with modern weapons and ammunition. Paraguay was cut off from arms suppliers, and the weapons that had been ordered before the war were resold to Brazil. The Triple Alliance received interest-free loans from London banking houses, including the Bank of London and the Rothschilds.
In 1866, the enemy army broke into Paraguay. It was an unusual war - the population fought to the last opportunity. This was the first total war of the modern era (later this experience will be used in the war against the USSR). The enemy had to break through the lines of defense, each settlement was taken by storm. Not only men, but women and children took part in the battles. The Paraguayans did not surrender; some positions were able to take only after all their defenders had fallen. On March 1, 1870, the last Paraguayan detachment was destroyed, and the president of the republic, Francisco Solano Lopez, fell in this battle.
Outcomes
- The Paraguayan people were completely drained of blood: the population decreased by 60-70%, nine out of ten men died. Some sources cite even more terrible figures - out of about 1, 4 million people, no more than 200 thousand people remained, of which men - about 28 thousand. Part of the population was not killed, people were sold into slavery. It was a real genocide.
- The Paraguayan national economy was completely destroyed, all social benefits were eliminated. Most of the villages were devastated and abandoned. The remnants of the population settled in the vicinity of Asuncion, or went to hard-to-reach places, switched to subsistence farming. Most of the land passed into the hands of foreigners, mainly Argentines, who created private estates. The Paraguayan market was open to British goods. The new government immediately took out a loan and went into debt. Paraguay was completely devastated, plundered, destroyed and thrown to the sidelines of world development.
- The territory of Paraguay has been severely curtailed. Argentina generally proposed liquidating Paraguay and dividing all the lands. But the Brazilian government gave up on such an undertaking, it wanted to have a buffer between Argentina and Brazil.
However, the territorial acquisitions of the "winners" could not compensate for the huge debts that the Argentines and Brazilians had done. The real winners were the "financial international", which killed two birds with one stone: 1) the bold and successful Paraguayan experiment was drowned in blood; 2) the “victorious countries”, the leading powers of Latin America, fell into financial bondage for almost a century. Brazil and Argentina were able to pay off their debts only for the Paraguayan War - in the 1940s. In addition, valuable experience was gained - with an all-out war and almost universal destruction of people, it is possible to defeat an entire nation.
They also used in this war the method of information warfare, which is very often used in modern history, when white is turned into black and vice versa. So Paraguay was presented in the form of an aggressor, a dictatorial regime, which itself got involved in a suicidal war and got nuts.
