Battles & Campaigns · 1903
Treaty of Petrópolis
Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
What happened
Brazil, represented by José Paranhos and Assis Brasil, and Bolivia, represented by Fernando Guachalla and Claudio Pinilla. In the treaty, signed in Brazil's old imperial summer city, Bolivia gave Acre to Brazil. In return Brazil gave Bolivia some land, paid two million British pounds and promised to build a railway around the Madeira River rapids.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Acre War peacefully and settled the border. Acre became part of Brazil.
What came next
The Madeira-Mamoré railway was built between 1907 and 1912, but it declined after rubber prices fell. It closed in 1972.
Did you know?
Petrópolis, where the treaty was signed, was the summer home of Brazil's emperors, and their palace is now the Imperial Museum.
Timeline
- 17 November 1903The Treaty of Petrópolis is signed.
- August 1907Construction of the Madeira-Mamoré railway begins.
- 15 July 1912The railway is completed.
- 1972The railway closes.