| Aftermath |
| Before the final blow at Cerro-Cora, Paraguay was a destroyed and occupied country. Lopez' determination not to give up had a high cost for Paraguay. The estimates of the deaths toll vary widely. Notwithstanding the most recent books present a figure of some 15% to 20% of Paraguay's population was killed by bullet, disease or famine. The number of those who were severe harmed or injured is not knwon. The Guarani Republic would be an occupied nation until 1876, when the last Brazilian troops left the country. The Allies also paid a high price, not only in lives, but also in political estabilization.. While Uruguay and Argentina gained national identidies, this led to conflicts in the short and mid terms. In Brazil, for the first time, the army became a political force. While before the war the civilians kept the officers out of politics with success due, in part, to the wickness the land force when compared to the National Guard (a force under command of the landowners), after it the army resisted to the maneuvers of the politics to reduce it to it previous situation. In Brazil's case, it was also noted that slavery was a drain to the country efforts. The army and the incipient middle-class began to claim for reforms they believe would enable Brazil's to stand on the same ranks the modernized world. For the monarchy was not able to undertake such task. |
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