Editing History of Paraguay (section)

===Legionnaires===
[[File:Paraguayan Legion 1866.jpg|thumbnail|left|Paraguayan Legion soldiers in 1866]]
The post-war political vacuum was initially dominated by survivors of the anti-López [[Paraguayan Legion]]. This group of exiles, based in Buenos Aires, had regarded Solano López as a mad tyrant and fought on the Allied side during the war. This group signed the 1870 [[peace accord]]s, which guaranteed Paraguay's independence and free river navigation. Believing that more freedom would cure Paraguay's ills, they abolished slavery and founded a [[constitutional government]] as soon as they came to power. They based the new government on the standard classical liberal prescriptions of free enterprise, free elections, and [[free trade]].

The Legionnaires, however, had no more experience in the principles of republics than other Paraguayans. The 1870 constitution quickly became irrelevant. Politics degenerated into factionalism, and cronyism and intrigue prevailed. Presidents still acted like dictators, elections did not stay free, and the Legionnaires were out of power in less than a decade.

Free elections were a startling, and not altogether welcome, innovation for ordinary Paraguayans, who had always allied themselves with a ''patrón'' (benefactor) for security and protection. At the same time, Argentina and Brazil were not content to leave Paraguay with a truly free political system. Pro-Argentine militia chief [[Benigno Ferreira]] for a short time emerged as ''de facto'' dictator until his overthrow by [[Bernardino Caballero]] with Brazilian help in 1874. Ferreira later returned to lead the 1904 Liberal uprising, which ousted the Colorados. Ferreira then served as President between 1906 and 1908.