night of May 14 and May 15 the rebels succeeded and were able to force governor Velasco to surrender. Today, Lara's home is known as Casa de la Independencia (House of the Independence) and serves as a museum and historical building.
After Paraguay became independent, there was significant change in Asunci�n. Under the presidency of Gaspar Rodr�guez de Francia roads were built throughout the city and the streets were named. However, it was during the presidency of Carlos Antonio L�pez that Asunci�n (and Paraguay) progressed, as the new president implemented new economic policies. More than 400 schools, metallurgic factories and the first railroad service in South America were built during the L�pez presidency. After L�pez died, his son Francisco Solano L�pezbecame the new president and led the country through the disastrous Paraguayan War that lasted for five years. After the end of the armed conflict, Asunci�n was occupied by Brazilian troops until 1876.
Many historians have claimed that this war provoked a steady downfall of the city and country, since it massacred two thirds of the country's population. Progress slowed down greatly afterwards, and the economy remained stagnated.
After the Paraguayan War, Asunci�n began a slow recovery attempt. Towards the end of the 19th Century and during the early years of the 20th Century, a flow of immigrants from Europe and the Ottoman Empire came to the city. This led to a change in the appearance of the city as many new buildings were built and Asunci�n went through an era more prosperous than any since the war
