brief history
Peru was once part of the great Incan Empire and later the major vice-royalty of Spanish South America. It was conquered in 1533 by Francisco Pizarro. On July 28, 1821, Peru proclaimed its independence, but the Spanish were not finally defeated until 1824. For a hundred years thereafter, revolutions were frequent; a new war was fought with Spain in 1864–1866, and an unsuccessful war was fought with Chile from 1879 to 1883 ,which as called the War of the Pacific.
Peru emerged from 20 years of dictatorship in 1945 with the inauguration of President José Luis Bustamente y Rivero after the first free election in many decades. But he served for only three years and was succeeded in turn by Gen. Manuel A. Odria, Manuel Prado y Ugarteche, and Fernando Belaúnde Terry. On Oct. 3, 1968, Belaúnde was overthrown by Gen. Juan Velasco Alvarado. In 1975, Velasco was replaced in a bloodless coup by his prime minister, Gen. Francisco Morales Bermudez, who promised to restore civilian government. In elections held on May 18, 1980, Belaúnde Terry, the last civilian president, was elected president again.
The government under President Alejandro Toledo, who took office on July 28, 2001, restored a high degree of democracy to Peru following the authoritarianism and corruption of mathematician-turned-politician Alberto Fujimori. In 2006, former president Alan Garcia returned to the presidency with promises to improve social conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.
Peru emerged from 20 years of dictatorship in 1945 with the inauguration of President José Luis Bustamente y Rivero after the first free election in many decades. But he served for only three years and was succeeded in turn by Gen. Manuel A. Odria, Manuel Prado y Ugarteche, and Fernando Belaúnde Terry. On Oct. 3, 1968, Belaúnde was overthrown by Gen. Juan Velasco Alvarado. In 1975, Velasco was replaced in a bloodless coup by his prime minister, Gen. Francisco Morales Bermudez, who promised to restore civilian government. In elections held on May 18, 1980, Belaúnde Terry, the last civilian president, was elected president again.
The government under President Alejandro Toledo, who took office on July 28, 2001, restored a high degree of democracy to Peru following the authoritarianism and corruption of mathematician-turned-politician Alberto Fujimori. In 2006, former president Alan Garcia returned to the presidency with promises to improve social conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.