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| 1970–71 |
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| Pres. Torres briefly revived the revolutionary movement by nationalizing numerous foreign firms and expanding ties with the Soviet bloc. | 1 |
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| 1971, Aug |
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| Supported by the extreme rightist Socialist Falange, Col. HUGO BANZER SUÁREZ (b. 1926) overthrew Torres. Over the next seven years, Banzer used his U.S.-trained special forces to brutally repress all dissidents and opened the country to massive foreign investment. | 2 |
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| 1974, Nov. 9 |
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| Banzer outlawed all political parties and trade unions. His Department of Public Order (DOP) terrorized all dissenters. | 3 |
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| 1978, July 9 |
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| Banzer's handpicked successor was elected in fraudulent elections. In the turmoil that followed, Gen. Juan Pereda Asbun seized power and called for a democratic transition. Intense mobilization on the Left made Pereda's hold on power tenuous. | 4 |
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| Nov. 24 |
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| Through a coup, Gen. David Padilla seized power, promising elections for 1979. | 5 |
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