The worldwide depression of 1873 had virtually…

The worldwide depression of 1873 had virtually sealed Peru's fate, and as Manuel Pardo's term draws to a close in 1876, the country is forced to default on its foreign debt.

With social and political turmoil once again on the rise, the Civilistas find it expedient to turn to a military figure, Mariano Ignacio Prado (1865-67, 1876-79), who had rallied the country against the Spanish naval attack in 1865, then served as president.

He is reelected president in 1876 only to lead the country into a disastrous war with its southern neighbor Chile in 1879.