The Caudillo of the Andes: Andres de Santa Cruz - Essay Example

A country which was handed over to him was in a distress by the widespread governmental chaos and internal conflicts such as bankruptcy. He took several measures to eradicate these problems from Bolivia such as amplification of the arms troops, reformation of military services, abolition of the conspirators, modification of bureaucracy, reorganization of public finances, a new Constitution, issuance of new currency, a novel Civil Code of Conduct relied on the Code of Napoleon and establishment of a free port at Cobijia.

This autocratic rule obligated by Santa Cruz was quite beneficial for Bolivia in times of turmoil for the Latin American nations. Additionally, a solid base was formed at Bolivia for Santa Cruz to focus on his main motto- The Confederation of Peru and Bolivia. 2 Andres de Santa Cruz initiated many plots to accomplish a political unison with Peru in his presidency but was unsuccessful. In 1835, came the best chance for Andres de Santa Cruz to take benefit of the unremitting political outburst at Peru.

The President of Peru, Luis Jose de Orbegoso asked Santa Cruz for his help to fight against the Felipe Santiago Salaverry army. On 13th August, 1835, Santa Cruz, at Yanacocha Battle, was able to defeat Agustin Gamarra. Furthermore, he defeated the Salaverry on 4th February, 1836 at Uchumavo Battle which marked the execution of Salaverry.3 As a beginning for Andres de Santa Cruz, the Congress of all southern departments of Peru including Cuzco, Puno, Ayacucho, and Arequipa met at Sicuani where they officially declared the founding of Republic of South Peru on 17th March, 1836.

Following this establishment, another assembly comprising of northern departments of Peru including Junin, Lima, La Libertad, and Amazonas met at Huaura on 11th August, 1836 to form the republic of North Peru. Both North and South Peru acknowledged Andres de Santa Cruz as their sole protector from outside unrest who had broad powers, which allowed him to establish the Peru-Bolivian Confederation on 29th October, 1836. He sent for the representatives of both North and South legislatures along with the representatives of Bolivian Congress in the city of Tacna to formulate a new Constitution for this new regime at Tapacari.

Under his supervision and guidance, a pact was signed on 1st May, 1837 at this newly-established state which recognized him as ‘Supreme Protector’ for a period of ten years. 4 Empowered with great powers in Peru now, Andres de Santa Cruz tried to came up with his old ideal autocratic rule he obligated in Bolivia. Here, he came up with a Trade Regulation, a Penal Code, a Customer Regulation, a Civil Code, and efficient procedures of collection of tax permitting the revenues to increase revenues, and at the same time preventing the excessive expenditures.

Obviously, these authoritarian and strict policies rage anger and conflict among many groups of people in both Bolivia and Peru, especially the political mobs. The political parties and some nationalist people did not like the idea of mitigating their national identity. Many politicians in Peru who resented this Confederation idea went