This timeline details the main wars that have taken place in South America
1502 – 1600
Spanish Conquest of the Chibchan Nation
Fought between: Spain and The Chibchan
Result: Spain conquered the lands of the Chibchan people (Colombia).
Result: Spain conquered the lands of the Chibchan people (Colombia).
16th November 1532 – 24th September 1572
Spanish Conquest of the Inca People
Fought between: Spain and The Incan Empire
Result: Spain made the Incan Empire part of the Spanish Empire.
Result: Spain made the Incan Empire part of the Spanish Empire.
18th September 1810 to 5th April 1818
Chilean War of Independence (Part of the South American Wars of Independence)
Fought between: Spain and Chile
Result: Chile gained independence from Spain
Result: Chile gained independence from Spain
20th June 1811 to 9th December 1824
Peruvian War of Independence (Part of the South American Wars of Independence)
Fought between: Spain and Peruvian Royalists and a United Liberating Army made up of Argentines, Chileans, Peruvians, Colombians
Result: Peru gained independence from Spain
Result: Peru gained independence from Spain
5th July 1811 to October 1823
Venezuelan War of Independence (Part of the South American Wars of Independence)
Fought between: Venezuela, Gran Colombia, New Grenada against Spain
Result: Venezuela gained independence
Result: Venezuela gained independence
Autumn 1811 to 5th April 1818
Argentine War of Independence (Part of the South American Wars of Independence)
Fought between: Argentine Patriots against Spain and Argentine Royalists
Result: Independence for Argentina
Result: Independence for Argentina
June 1814 to 1880
Argentine Civil Wars
Fought between: Federalist Party and the White Party against the Unitarian Party and the Colorado Party
Result: Argentina became a federal state with Buenos Aires as the capital city.
Result: Argentina became a federal state with Buenos Aires as the capital city.
7th September 1822 to early 1824
Brazilian War of Independence
Fought between: Brazil and Portugal
Result: Brazil gained independence from Portugal.
Result: Brazil gained independence from Portugal.
10th December 1825 to 27th August 1828
Cisplatine War/ Brazil War
Fought between: Brazil and the United Provinces of the Rio Plata
Result: Uruguay gained independence and Brazil gained rights to the Plata river for 15 years.
Result: Uruguay gained independence and Brazil gained rights to the Plata river for 15 years.
12th October 1864 to March 1870
Paraguayan War
Fought between: Paraguay against Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay
Result: Paraguay was defeated, land was ceded to Brazil and Argentina.
Result: Paraguay was defeated, land was ceded to Brazil and Argentina.
1879, 14th February to 1883, 20th October
War of the Pacific/ Saltpeter War
Fought between: Peru and Bolivia against Chile
Result: Chilean victory resulted in land gains and Bolivia became land-locked
Result: Chilean victory resulted in land gains and Bolivia became land-locked
9th September 1932 to 12th June 1935
Chaco War
Fought between: Paraguay against Bolivia
Result: Paraguay victory, Paraguay made land gains.
Result: Paraguay victory, Paraguay made land gains.
5th July 1941 to 31st July 1941
Ecuadorian-Peruvian War/ War of 1941
Fought between: Ecuador and Peru
Result: Ecuador renounced land claims against Peru and Peru agreed to withdraw troops from Ecuador
Result: Ecuador renounced land claims against Peru and Peru agreed to withdraw troops from Ecuador
9th April 1948 to 1958
La Violencia (Colombian Civil War)
Fought between: Colombian Conservative Government and Colombian army against the Colombian Liberal party
Result: Stalemate, the Conservatives and Liberals agreed to rotate power.
Result: Stalemate, the Conservatives and Liberals agreed to rotate power.
19th March 1982 to 14th June 1982
Fought between: United Kingdom and Argentina
Result: United Kingdom prevented Argentina from taking the Falkland Islands.
Result: United Kingdom prevented Argentina from taking the Falkland Islands.
First published 2015; Updated and re-published Sept 21 @ 2:05 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2015 – 2020). Wars Fought in South America 1910 to 1982. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/wars-fought-in-south-america-1910-to-1982. Last accessed [date]