The war's background goes back to the events succeeding the War of South American Independence, where Brazil had become a very influential power in South America, but had a clear enemy, Argentina. The two had continuously been fighting against each other politically over territories such as Paraguay and Uruguay, but Brazil had remained clearly on top through a larger military and population. But Argentina had managed to excel in one category that Brazil often ignored, building up alliances with other nations. The Argentinians had built up a modest alliance with Chile and Paraguay. And each of them being republic's made this political stand-off a philosophical challenge between republicanism and imperialism.