THE RIO GRANDE DO SUL AND THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR OF THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE (1860-1864)The article proposes an investigation into the formation of Brazilian foreign policy for the La Plata region during the period preceding the War of the Triple Alliance (1860-1864), focusing on the role played by the Rio Grande do Sul provincial space in this context. The specialized literature on the conflict suggests that pressure and interests from the south of the Empire had a decisive influence on the imperial decision to militarily intervene in the Oriental Republic in 1864, triggering a regional war. Among the highlighted factors are complaints from Brazilian landowners and ranchers, many of whom were established in Uruguay, about violence, property attacks, cattle theft, and persecutions promoted by the Blanco government then in power. However, this dimension has been treated in an abstract and superficial manner in the literature, mainly based on imperial parliamentary debates and speeches by representatives of the Rio Grande do Sul province. The article’s objective is therefore to deepen the understanding of this issue by examining the themes and strategies used to pressure the central government. The research will draw on various sources from the imperial and provincial governments, including correspondence between Rio Grande do Sul authorities and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as documents from legations in the La Plata region. Analyzing these sources will allow for an investigation into how these pressure mechanisms were employed and received, contributing to a better understanding of the causes of the war.
KEYWORDS:
La Plata Region; War of the Triple Alliance; Rio Grande do Sul; Provincial Space