>>213537509>>213537555Uruguay was part of the United Provinces of Río de La Plata (currently a good chunk of the older Argentine provinces). But the north part of Uruguay was under the sphere of influence of Brazil during the colonial times. There was a war between Brazil and the United Provinces, usually because of who should enact influence around Uruguay (Montevideo usually wanted to stay independent because of their rivalry with Buenos Aires). Some parts of Uruguay were often occupied by Brazil, while local uruguayan caudillos supported by the Argentine Provinces tried multiple times to take power in Montevideo. In the end Great Britain intevened a proposed an independent state, both countries agreed, at least for a time to avoid future wars and as a way to enact indirect influence on Montevideo's politics. Like with the coup that sparked the Paraguayan war