Carlos Antonio López

Carlos Antonio Lopez (November 4th, 1790 - September 10th, 1862). Paraguayan politician, president of the republic of the Paraguay of 1844 with its death.

Its life

Born with Asuncion, then capital and single city of the Intendance of Paraguay, administrative subdivision of the Viceroyalty of Río of Plata, it starts by studying there philosophy and theology with the royal seminar of Saint-Charles on the injunction of his parents. It quickly gives up despite everything this course to follow studies of right. After being become doctor in jurisprudence, it obtains a pulpit. It however remains in the shade during several years because of its disagreement with his uncle, the dictator Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. It however acquires a so major knowledge of the laws and a so great skill in the management of the businesses of the State that after the death of Francia, in 1840, and the short administration of the country by a provisional Junte until the following year, it is elected consul jointly with lieutenant Mariano Roque Alonso, that it finally manages to draw aside in 1844.

The Congress which it makes meet on March 14th, 1844 makes the decision to abolish the consular mode. The presidential load is instituted, and gift Carlos Antonio Lopez becomes the first constitutional president of the Republic of the Paraguay, for one ten years duration. He is re-elected thereafter twice: in 1854 for a three years mandate and finally in 1857 again for ten years. He dies before the term of this third mandate, on September 10th, 1862. His/her oldest son, Francisco Solano Lopez, succeeds the presidency of the Republic.

Its work

Although theoretically limited by a republican Constitution, its capacity was largely authoritative. Its style of government approached that of a enlightened Despote. It largely contributed to the economic development and social of its country, however one the most wedged of and isolated from the American continent. It equipped the Paraguay with a news Constitution, a modern army and first railway line of South America.

In the social domain, was the instigator of a land reform as well as in-depth reform of the administration. He made teaching free and obligatory and to this end imposed the construction of more than 300 schools. He granted the citizenship to the populations autochtones (the Indians Guarani). He moreover encouraged the creation of printing works as well as first national newspaper, El Paraguayo Independiente ( the independent Paraguayan ).

He largely has work for the recognition of the national identity of his country, so much inside (creation of a national anthem) that outside, obtaining its neighbors recognition of the independence of the Paraguay and layout of its borders.

He signed commercial treaties with the United States, France and the United Kingdom. He was the true instigator of the economic dynamism of his country at the time, with for example the creation of the foundries of Ybycui. It is inter alia grace steel produced to Ybycui that it could develop an arsenal and a fleet of war on the Rio Paraguay.

Its authoritarianism and its ambitions often put the Paraguay in diplomatic situation of serious attack with its neighbors as with the United States or England. Don Carlos Antonio Lopez however always managed to prevent that these crises do not degenerate into war.

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