South America saw a lot of change in the early 1800s, Bolivia became independent from Peru in 1825 and soon after joined with Peru to form the Peru-Bolivian Confederation in 1836. This confederation took the president of Bolivia, Andrés de Santa Cruz, years to form. Sadly, it only lasted a few years before Chile and Argentina attacked defeated the confederation because they saw the Confederation as a threat. Before the fall, Santa Cruz did his best to field the issues of those against the Confederation, but he kept those who agreed with him close and powerful. How did Santa Cruz’s actions shape the treaty of the Confederation as well as turn Santa Cruz into a generous dictator? This website sets out to show how Andrés de Santa Cruz became the Supreme Protector of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation. This position allowed him to control both countries, shaping them to his wants and ridding the country of those who fought against him. His enemies called him a dictator and wanted him gone, but Santa Cruz did not gain control by force or destroy the economy of the Confederation. Santa Cruz controlled the government of the Confederation, but he still cared for the people and wanted the best for Peru and Bolivia.