South America has, since the wars of liberation (1810 - 1820), been dominated by its three largest countries (in land and population), Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Following the death of Simon Bolivar in 1830 the three-nation alliance began to fall apart. The 1st Argentine - Brazilian war of 1825 - 1828 came about following the Uruguayan declaration of independence from Brazil. Argentina supported Uruguay from 1826 (when it seemed that the Uruguayans would be defeated). The war dragged on for another two years but ultimately emperor Pedro sued for a peace. Paraguay and Peru Bolivia and Brazil