Historic Events of Peru
Earthquake of 1687
On October 20, 1687, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake hit Lima, Ica, and Calla. About 5,000 people died. Most people died from the Tsunamis, and only about one thousand died from the actual earthquake. The earthquake occurred along the boundary between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. The port of Pisco was completely destroyed by the tsunami, with at least three ships being swept over the remains of the town. This earthquake also sent over small tsunamis to Japan. In the 16th and 17th century the principal wine growing area of the Americas was in the central and southern coast of Peru. In Peru the largest wine-making center was in the area of Ica and Pisco. The earthquake destroyed wine cellars and mud containers used for wine storage. This event marked the end of the Peruvian wine-boom.
Peruvian War of Independence
Jose de San Martin created the Army of the Andes and crossed the Andes in 21 days, after fighting for the independence of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata. Once in Chile, he joined forces with Chilean army and liberated the country in the battles of Chacabuco and Maipu in 1818. On September 7th 1820, a fleet of eight warships landed in the port of Paracas under the command of general Jose de San Martin and Thomas Cochrane of the Chilean Navy. Immediately on October 26, they took control of the town of Pisco. San Martin settled in Huacho on November 12, where he established his headquarters while Cochrane sailed north blockading the port of Callao in Lima. At the same time in the north, Guayaquil was occupied by rebel forces under the command of Gregorio Escobedo. Argentinian General, San Martin, sent representatives to Lima urging Viceroy Pazuela that Peru be granted independence, however all negotiations proved unsuccessful. The Viceroy of Peru, Joaquin de la Pazuela named Jose de la Serna commander-in-chief of the loyalist army to protect Lima from the threatened invasion of San Martin. De la Serna abandoned the city, and on July 12th 1821 San Martin occupied Lima and declared Peruvian independence on July 28th 1821. De la Serna was later named Viceroy of Peru. In order to avoid a military confrontation, San Martin met the newly appointed viceroy, Jose de la Serna, and proposed to create a constitutional monarchy; the proposal was turned down.
Arica Earthquake (1868)
The 1868 Arica earthquake struck on August 13, 1868, near Arica, a region of Peru and Chile. It was an estimated magnitude between of 9.0. There was a total of 300 million dollars in damage. It killed as many as many as 70,000 people along the South American coast. The earthquake started between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. Tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean were produced by the earthquake, which was recorded in Hawaii, Japan and New Zealand. About 400 aftershocks were recorded. The combined effect of the earthquake and tsunami had a dramatic impact, killing many people. Also, repairs were costly, wasting both time and money.
Ecuadorian–Peruvian War (1941)
Once Peru gained its independence, Ecuador lost many rivers, including the Amazon and the Rio Maranon. As a result of this, Ecuador lost access to the Pacific Ocean. The war started on July 1941 with Ecuador’s forces with 1,800 soldiers and Peru's with 13,000. In an effort to assert its territorial claims in a region near the Rio Maranon in the Amazon Basin, Ecuador occupied militarily the town of Zarumilla along its southwestern border with Peru. However, the Peruvian Army responded with a swift victory against the Ecuadorian Army. The Peruvian army used tanks, artillery, military parachutes, air support, and other weapons for the war. Their paratroop unit was used to seize the Ecuadorian port city of Puerto Bolivar on July 27, 1941. Ecuador requested a cease fire which went into action on July, 31 1941.
World War I and World War II
Major events happening in other countries also had a major impact on Peru’s economy and politics. For example, World War I, World War II, and the Great Depression all had Major effects on Peruvian history. During World War I, export markets were temporarily cut off, inciting recession. Inflation raised the cost of living by nearly double between 1913 and 1919. The growth and concentration of workers made a push for a labor movement. Consequently, violent strikes erupted on sugar plantations, beginning in 1910. Cotton and metal exports helped strengthen the economy during the Depression. Peru returned to the gold standard during this time. In 1931, Peru was barred from the United States capital market. The Allied victory in World War II reinforced the relative democratic affinity in Peru. The military overthrew the government and installed General Manuel A. Odria, hero of the 1941 war with Ecuador, as president. These events shaped the history and economy of Peru.