During the Amazon rubber boom, the region had experienced enormous economic growth, making the city of Iquitos, one of the most important centres of latex export, to the detriment of the department's capital, Moyobamba.

[1][3] During the electoral campaign during the 1895 Peruvian presidential election, the candidate, Nicolás de Piérola had expressed his support in implanting the federalist system in the country.

Nicolás de Piérola, the president of Peru, had ordered to organize three expeditions to counterattack the insurgents.

The third expedition of 292 men, had traveled on board of Constitución gunboat, crossing the Strait of Magellan and then entering the Amazon River on 29 June.

The insurgent forces lacked local support and had been defeated by the land expeditions on 10 July 1898.