Bolivia's Historic Events: A Timeline Of Pivotal Moments

Bolivia has a long and turbulent history, from its brutal colonisation by the Spanish in the 16th century to its numerous wars and a series of unstable governments and dictatorships. Here is a brief overview of some of the most important events in Bolivian history.

Bolivian colonisation by the Spanish

The colonisation of Bolivia by the Spanish began in 1532 when Spanish ships first sailed along the coast of Peru with the intention of colonising the entire continent. Led by Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish forces soon took control of the Inca stronghold of Cuzco and eventually branched out into Bolivia. The conquest of the Incas was remarkably easy due to the empire's internal weakness and the susceptibility of the indigenous population to European diseases.

The Spanish brutally repressed the native inhabitants, slaughtering many and forcing others to work as slaves. The Spanish were primarily interested in the silver mines discovered in the area, and they exploited the region and its inhabitants mercilessly for the next 300 years. The city of Potosí, where the Cerro Rico ("Rich Mountain") is located, was the largest city in the Western Hemisphere during the colonial era and, for a time, the most populated city in the world. The silver mines found in Potosí are the largest ever found in the Western Hemisphere, and the city was a major commercial hub of the Spanish colonies.

During the colonial era, the Spanish established the cities of La Paz, Sucre, and Santa Cruz. The area now known as Bolivia was historically a part of the Viceroyalty of Alto Peru (Upper Peru), which was established by the Spanish in 1538 and governed by the Viceroy of Lima. Locally, the area was governed from La Plata in the region known as Chuquisaca (the modern-day city of Sucre).

The Spanish conquest and colonial rule were traumatic experiences for the indigenous peoples of Bolivia. The native population decreased rapidly due to European diseases, and they were forced to work in deplorable conditions in the mines and as labourers in agriculture. They were denied access to education, economic opportunities, and political participation. Despite this, the indigenous inhabitants of Bolivia fared better than most during the colonial period, which is why the country has the highest proportion of natives in South America today.

Bolivian independence from Spain

The Bolivian War of Independence began in 1809 and lasted for 16 years until the country gained independence in 1825. The fight for independence was a long and arduous process that involved numerous battles and countless deaths.

The first wave of nationalist uprisings in Bolivia occurred in 1809 when the government juntas of Charcas and La Paz were formed as a reaction to the events in Spain. The country was in a state of chaos and political unrest, mirroring the situation in its coloniser. The juntas in Charcas and La Paz were short-lived, however, as they soon fell back under Spanish control due to the intervention of the Viceroy of Peru and the better-equipped Royalists who easily defeated the nationalists.

Despite this setback, the independence movement persisted and was kept alive by six guerrilla armies that formed away from the cities and took control of various regions of Bolivia. In 1810, these six breakaway regions became known as "republiquetas" or "little republics", each led by a caudillo, a military leader or dictator. These regions had little to no influence in the surrounding areas but were strong enough to withstand any interference by royalist forces for more than 15 years.

In 1821, Venezuelan freedom fighter Simon Bolivar, after whom Bolivia is named, joined the fight for independence in Bolivia. After liberating Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, Bolivar set his sights on Upper Peru (modern-day Bolivia). On December 9, 1824, the rebel forces under the command of Antonio Jose de Sucre defeated the royalist army in the Battle of Ayacucho. The remaining royalist forces were easily defeated, except for one last military obstacle: General Olañeta. As the last holdout, he attempted to surrender Upper Peru to Brazil in a desperate attempt to maintain Spanish control in the area, but to no avail. In one final battle on April 9, 1825, Olañeta and Sucre met on the battlefield. Olañeta's troops, knowing that defeat was inevitable, mutinied and murdered Olañeta before surrendering to the rebel army.

On August 6, 1825, a constitutional congress was convened to create a new constitution and name the newly independent country. The country was named Bolivia in honour of Simon Bolivar, the military and political leader who changed the course of Colonial South America. Bolivar became the first president of Bolivia and led the country on the path to democracy and independence.

Bolivian National Revolution

The Bolivian National Revolution, also known as the Revolution of '52, was a series of political demonstrations that took place in April 1952. It was led by the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR), which sought to overthrow the ruling Bolivian oligarchy and implement a new socioeconomic model in the country. The MNR was a powerful national opposition party that emerged in the 1940s, with a fascist orientation.

The revolution was a response to the military junta that had taken power in May 1951, refusing to recognise the victory of Víctor Paz Estenssoro in the 1951 presidential election. On April 9, 1952, supporters of the revolution announced on state radio that they had successfully overthrown the junta. The La Paz police force, under the direction of General Seleme and Donato Millán, played a crucial role in the revolt, taking control of the city. However, they faced the challenge of defending it against the 8,000 troops led by General Torres Ortiz, who was bringing to La Paz. The revolutionaries also encountered a setback when they found that the supply of weapons and ammunition they had expected from the state arsenal was not there.

Despite these challenges, the revolution succeeded due to deeper support from armed worker militias, who fought the army effectively. The young army conscripts, who had no real allegiance to the government, were persuaded to change sides or simply defected. As a result, the Bolivian army was either defeated or defected within a few days of fighting.

The MNR leaders, Víctor Paz Estenssoro (president) and Hernán Siles Zuazo (vice president), assumed power in 1952 and remained in office for twelve years until a coup in 1964. During their rule, the MNR implemented significant reforms, including the nationalisation of mines, the extension of suffrage to women and indigenous people, and the redistribution of land from landowners to peasants. These transformations placed the Bolivian Revolution among the great social revolutions of 20th-century Latin America.

However, the revolution also faced criticism. Some scholars pointed out the MNR's close relationship with the US State Department, and the top-down nature of the revolution that suppressed indigenous and peasant political projects and demands. Additionally, the MNR's governing body, the Political Control, was criticised for its brutality and strong repression of opponents, with the use of concentration camps and torture.

Military rule in Bolivia

Bolivia has had a tumultuous history, enduring a series of military dictatorships and coups from the 1960s to the 1980s. This period was characterised by political and economic instability, social unrest, human rights abuses, corruption, and drug trafficking.

1964–1969: The Barrientos Regime

On November 4, 1964, Víctor Paz Estenssoro, the elected leader of the Bolivian National Revolution, was overthrown by a military junta under Vice President General René Barrientos. Barrientos, a Quechua-speaking general, ruled from 1964 until his death in 1969. He continued the process of conservative economic reform and attempted to demobilise all popular groups except the peasants, who had gained some power following the National Revolution. Barrientos encouraged foreign investment and gave the Gulf Oil Company permission to export petroleum and natural gas from Bolivia. However, his attempt to impose taxes on peasants resulted in a violent backlash and a loss of support in rural areas. Barrientos' regime was also marked by the suppression of labour unions and the massacre of miners and their families at the Catavi-Siglo XX mines in 1967.

1969: The Siles Salinas Regime

After Barrientos' death in a helicopter crash in 1969, his vice president, Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas, assumed the presidency. However, he was forcibly replaced in the same year by General Alfredo Ovando Candía, marking the beginning of a period of frequent leadership changes through coups and counter-coups.

1969–1970: The Ovando Regime

General Ovando annulled the 1970 elections, dismissed Congress, and appointed a cabinet of independent reformist civilians. He attempted to gain civilian and military support with a program of "revolutionary nationalism", but failed to gain lasting worker support due to broken promises and the massacre of miners in Catavi in 1967. Ovando's regime was short-lived, ending in October 1970 when he was overthrown by General Rogelio Miranda.

1970: The Miranda Regime

General Rogelio Miranda's rule lasted only a few days before he was overthrown by General Juan José Torres, marking the frequent leadership changes and political instability of this period.

1970–1971: The Torres Regime

General Juan José Torres' presidency was characterised by a lack of authority and an inability to satisfy the demands of various opposition groups. He nationalised some US property and ordered the Peace Corps out of Bolivia, increasing cooperation with the Soviet Union and its allies. However, his lack of a clear strategy and political experience soon alienated all sectors of Bolivian society. Torres attempted to placate conservative opposition by avoiding radical change, but this failed to win the support of the right, especially the powerful business community. The military also became increasingly polarised due to discontent with Torres' chaotic leadership.

1971–1978: The Banzer Regime

Colonel Hugo Banzer Suárez, a highly respected officer, ruled for six years—one of the longest continuous presidential terms in recent Bolivian history. Banzer's presidency was marked by relative political stability and unprecedented economic growth, with increased exports of petroleum, natural gas, and tin. However, Bolivia also reverted to the repression of earlier regimes, with the suppression of labour unions, closure of universities, and the brutal suppression of a general strike against the devaluation of the Bolivian peso in 1972. The Banzer regime was also marked by divisions within the military and growing civilian opposition, particularly from the labour sector.

1978–1982: Transition to Democracy

Bolivia entered a period of crisis and political fragmentation, with nine civilian and military presidents in just four years. Social unrest increased, with peasants agitating on a large scale and workers becoming more radical. The military was also divided, with the emergence of paramilitary groups reflecting institutional decay. In 1982, a third Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces appointed General Guido Vildoso Calderón as de facto president, marking the beginning of the country's transition back to democratic rule.

Election of Evo Morales

Evo Morales, born in 1959, is a Bolivian politician, trade unionist, and former cocalero activist. Morales is ethnically Aymara and is regarded as the country's first president to come from its indigenous population.

Morales entered electoral politics in 1995 and was elected to Congress in 1997. In 2002, he came second in the presidential election. Morales was then elected president in 2005, winning 53.7% of the vote.

Morales' presidency focused on the implementation of left-wing policies, with a particular emphasis on the legal protections and socioeconomic conditions of Bolivia's previously marginalized indigenous population. He also sought to combat the political influence of the United States and resource-extracting multinational corporations.

During his presidency, Morales increased taxation on the hydrocarbon industry to bolster social spending, with a focus on projects to combat illiteracy, poverty, and racial and gender discrimination. He also oversaw strong economic growth and reduced Bolivia's dependence on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Morales' supporters laud him as a champion of indigenous rights, anti-imperialism, and environmentalism. They credit him with overseeing significant economic growth, poverty reduction, and increased investment in schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

However, critics point to democratic backsliding during his tenure and argue that his policies sometimes failed to reflect his environmentalist and indigenous rights rhetoric. They also criticise his defence of coca, which they claim contributed to illegal cocaine production.

In 2019, Morales was declared the winner of the presidential election but resigned weeks later after protests triggered by reports of irregularities in the vote count. He went into exile but returned to Bolivia in 2020.

Morales is currently seeking to make a political comeback and is leading a protest march against the government of his former ally, Luis Arce, ahead of the 2025 presidential election.

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