Treaty of Petrópolis

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of Petrópolis?

Subject:

Treaty of Petrópolis

Known for:

1903 treaty ending the Acre War between Bolivia and Brazil over the Acre territory.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Treaty of Petrópolis, signed on November 17, 1903, in the Brazilian city of Petrópolis, ended the Acre War between Bolivia and Brazil over the then-Bolivian territory of Acre (today the Acre state), a desirable territory in Bolivia-Brazil border during the contemporary rubber boom. The treaty, drafted by Brazilian foreign affairs minister José Maria da Silva Paranhos, gave Brazil the territory of Acre (191,000 km2), in exchange for over 3,000 km2 of Brazilian territory between the Abuna River and Madeira River, a monetary payment of two million British pounds, paid in two installments, and a pledge of a rail-link between the Bolivian city of Riberalta and the Brazilian city of Porto Velho, which would bypass the rapids on the Madeira.

Career & Major Achievements

The rail line was called the Madeira-Mamoré Railway. It was supposed to go as far as Riberalta, on the Rio Beni, above that river's rapids, but had to stop short at Guajará-Mirim.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This was the third such attempt. In the 1870s, during the rubber boom, the American George Church was defeated twice by the heat, the difficulty of the terrain, and the appalling loss of life from fever.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1903: 1903 Milestone — The Treaty of Petrópolis, signed on November 17, 1903, in the Brazilian city of Petrópolis, ended the Acre War between Bolivia and Brazil over the then-Bolivian territory of Acre (today the Acre state), a desirable territory in Bolivia-Brazil border during the contemporary rubber boom.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of Petrópolis

True or False: “True or false: The Treaty of Petrópolis only involved a simple border exchange and did not include significant monetary payments or infrastructure pledges.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The treaty was highly complex, involving the cession of Brazilian land, a massive monetary payment of two million British pounds, and the pledge for the Madeira-Mamoré Railway.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alan Paton — Historical peer (Born in 1903) (1903): Pioneering South African author and anti-apartheid activist.
• Treaty of Phoenice — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A 205 BC peace treaty concluding the First Macedonian War between Philip V and Rome.
• Treaty of Picquigny — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: 1475 Franco-English peace treaty ending the Hundred Years' War.
• Treaty of Pipton — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A 1265 treaty forming an alliance between Simon de Montfort and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.
• Treaty of Plessis-les-Tours — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A 1580 treaty establishing the Duke of Anjou as Protector of the Dutch Republic.

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