The Sociedad Independencia Electoral, which later became the
Civilista Party, was founded by Pardo on 24 April 1871. Electoral clubs supporting Pardo were organised in 156 towns and villages. The SIE had 15,000 members by June 1871. Pardo personally led his campaign across the country and sent 634 letters from 1 May to 5 July, and 381 letters from 12—27 July. Pardo spent 60,000 soles, worth one-tenth of his fortune, on the campaign and two-thirds of this was spent in October 1871 alone. Printing presses were acquired in major cities to support Pardo's campaign. The city of Cuzco had four printing presses, with three controlled by Pardo's opponents and one that was difficult to rent. Pardo bought a printing press and had it transported to Cuzco by mule. Voters elected delegates in October 1871, who would then go on to elect congressmen in November, and then the president in May 1872. For the
presidential election the delegates met in the capital of their province. Balta opposed Pardo, but Pardo was supported by the majority of Congress. Pardo received 69% of the delegate vote in the election. He received 83% of the vote in the north, 86% in the centre, and 52% in the south. Pardo was the first civilian to serve as president of Peru. The Gutiérrez brothers, who controlled the 7,000 strong Peruvian army, attempted to overthrow the government and appoint
Tomás Gutiérrez as chief of the Republic. Congress, including opponents of Pardo, passed a resolution condemning the coup and calling for the population to fight against it. The Peruvian navy opposed the coup and gave Pardo refuge on a ship. The coup failed on 27 July 1872, after clashes between armed civilians and the army. Pardo was inaugurated on 2 August. ==Presidency==