The prevailing political idea in Uruguay until…

The prevailing political idea in Uruguay until 1865 is fusion (fusion), meaning unity among Uruguayans, the putting aside of the colors and banners that have divided them in the past.

This idea had inspired the administrations of Juan Francisco Giro (1852-53), Gabriel Pereira (1856-60), and Bernardo Berro (1860-64).

Hatred and rivalry had flared up, however, preventing harmony.

Giro hasd been forced to resign. Pereira suppressed almost six coup attempts, and Berro, the last Blanco president until 1958, confronts a revolution led by Colorado Venancio Flores, who takes power with the support of Brazil and Buenos Aires.

However, General Flores, who has been commanding the armed forces instead of governing the country since that March, is assassinated in Montevideo in 1868, on the same day that Berro is assassinated.