Editing History of Paraguay (section)

====Foreign relations====
Despite being ''de facto'' independent since 1811 and having proclaimed a Republic in 1813, Paraguay formally declared independence only on 25 November 1842 and in 1844 adopted a new Constitution that replaced the Constitution of 1813.<ref name="encyclopedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Carlos_Antonio_Lopez.aspx|publisher=encyclopedia.com|title= Carlos Antonio López |access-date=2017-01-07}}</ref> Based on this, Paraguay started to gain official international recognition.

Foreign relations began to increase in importance under López, who retained Paraguay's traditional mistrust of the surrounding states, yet lacked Francia's diplomatic skills. Initially, López feared an attack by the [[Buenos Aires]] dictator Rosas. With Brazilian encouragement, López dropped Francia's policy of neutrality and began meddling in Argentine politics. Using the slogan "Independence or Death", López declared war against Rosas in 1845 to support what was ultimately an unsuccessful rebellion in the Argentine province of [[Corrientes]]. Although Britain and France prevented him from moving against Paraguay, Rosas established a trade embargo on Paraguayan goods.

[[File:The Paraguay Squadron.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Paraguay expedition|Paraguay Squadron]] (''[[Harper's Weekly]]'', [[New York City|New York]], 16 October 1858)]]
After Rosas fell in 1852, López signed a treaty with Buenos Aires that recognized Paraguay's independence, although the porteños never ratified it. In the same year, López signed treaties of friendship, commerce, and navigation with France and the United States. On 1 October 1853, the US warship {{USS|Water Witch|1851|6}} arrived on a visit in Asunción.

Nonetheless, growing tensions with several countries, including the [[United States]], characterized the second half of López's rule. In 1858 the United States sent a [[flotilla]] to Paraguayan waters in a successful action to claim compensation for an American sailor who had been killed three years earlier when USS ''Water Witch'' had entered Paraguayan waters despite prohibition from Lopez.<ref name="google4">{{cite book|title=United States–Latin American Relations, 1850–1903: Establishing a Relationship|last1=Leonard |first1= T.M.|last2=Coerver |first2= D.M.|last3=Perez |first3= L.A.|last4=Delpar |first4= H.|last5=Harris |first5= W.L.|last6=Clayton |first6= L.A.|last7=Tulchin |first7= J.S.|last8=Smith |first8= J.|last9=Fernandez |first9= J.B.|last10=Zimnoch |first10= J.M.|date=2014|publisher=University of Alabama Press|isbn=9780817358235|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BjThBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|page=226|access-date=2017-01-07}}</ref>

López had recklessly dropped his policy of neutrality without determining where his allegiances lay. He allowed controversies and boundary disputes with Brazil and Argentina to smolder. The two regional giants had tolerated Paraguayan independence, partly because Paraguay served to check the expansionist tendencies of both opponents. Both were satisfied if the other could not dominate Paraguayan affairs. At the same time, a Paraguay that was antagonistic to both Brazil and Argentina would give these countries a reason for uniting.