ARGENTINA BACKGROUND

1. ARGENTINA BACKGROUND

2. A Century Before Perón • The age of Caudillos • Juan Manuel de Rosas (1793-1877) • Independence (1810): Elimination of the Spanish king led to competing interests • Emergence from colonialism as a frontier society • Bitter struggles over political economy • Anarchy threatened to split Argentina

3. 19th Century Liberal Policies • Tensions within liberalism • Liberals favored rural areas for potential to help Argentina enter the world economy • Elites exposed to Enlightenment favored ideology of progress, supported capitalism based on U.S., British, French models • Intellectuals regarded countryside outside of Buenos Aires as primitive & in need of civilizing

4. Domingo Sarmiento • Facundo Quiroga: Civilization & Barbarism • Progress of Europeanized city vs. barbarism of countryside • “The level of civilization of a people can be judged by the social position of its women” • He envisioned a major role for women as primary school teachers • Was forced into exile

5. Esteban Echeverria • Men of reason should govern rationally to avoid the despotism of the masses • Forced into exile • Camila avidly read these foreign authors

6. Juan Manuel de Rosas • Supported by gauchos • Portrayed as mongrels & barbarians • The sharpest rivalry was between Buenos Aires & the interior provinces

7. Two Primary Factions • Federalists – Interior • Interior provinces favored a federal government with provincial autonomy • Challenged Buenos Aires’ right to control export & import duties • Unitarians – Province of Buenos Aires • Advocated a centralized government with political control over the rest of the country • Breaking down trade barriers • Was also a cultural conflict (Civilization vs. Barbarians)

8. 1820 Federalists triumphed • Provinces dissolved into independent republics ruled by caudillos • 1826 Centralists won – Unitary Constitution • Rivadavia encouraged liberal reforms, opposed Rosas • 1828 Rivadavia went into exile

9. Caudillismo • Emerged to prevent anarchy • Filled vacuum left by Spanish crown • Inability to enforce liberal constitutions • Caudillo was arbiter of competing groups • Use of power & force • Political opportunist—supported whatever gave him power • Changed positions while in power • Declines in 1900 as institutions develop, political parties form, communication improves

10. Juan Manuel de Rosas • Governor of Buenos Aires Province 1829-1852 • Ardent federalist • Aristocrat, cattle rancher, friend of gauchos Note red ribbon

11. Rosas Elected in 1832 • Rosas’ economic policies favored the landed aristocracy • He maintained church privileges • Embodied both civilization & barbarism • Claims federalism, but runs the country as a centralist with dictatorial powers • Created a network of alliances with provincial caudillos

12. No constitution • Muzzled the press, destroyed dissidents • Used MAZORCA as a terrorist organization to attack opponents • “Mas Horca” • 6,000 murdered, 30,000 exiled • Opponents who escaped death went into exile • Official documents: “Death to the savage, filthy Unitarians!” • Even horses had to display ribbons as symbol of federalist loyalty

13. María de la Encarnación de Ezcurra y Arguibel • She was the driving force behind a revolution and president of the Mazorca while Rosas was engaged in the Conquest of the Desert • She was given the title of Heroína de la Santa Federación (Heroin of the Holy Federation) at a time when there was much prejudice against women participating in politics • Her death at age 43 caused much grief among the population

14. Battle of Caseros • 1852 Rosas fought vs. Urquiza (a caudillo) • Liberals criticized Rosas for centralized control • Interior provinces opposed free trade competition • Lesser caudillos wanted their own power

15. Urquiza defeated Rosas who went into exile • Urquiza implemented the 1st constitutional government • But conflict continued • Liberal governments gradually held sway • Competition & material progress • Industrialization & laissez-faire economics • Integration into the world economy

16. A Key Task was Unification • 1853 Constitution • Federal system • No re-election • State support of church • Central control • Nationalized Buenos Aires • Buenos Aires refused to attend convention, became independent state

17. Era of Economic Growth • 1880-1914 Agriculture contributed to economic development • Meat & grain exports from the fertile pampas • Frigoríficos, railroads, ports • Infrastructure financed by Britain • Lack of labor, thus stimulated European immigration • 2.6 million came in 40 years • 30% of the population was foreign born • Thus nationhood was ill-defined

18. 20th Century Social & Political Reforms • Gained political stability • 1920-30s Argentina was one of most prosperous countries in the world • Yet democracy was compromised by central political control

19. Radical Party • Formed in the 1890s • Challenged the oligarchy • Was influenced by European labor ideas brought by immigrants • Opposed the liberal elite & European model of progress

20. Hipólito Yrigoyen • 1916-30 became president, was Radical • Difficulties balancing interests of oligarchy & middle class • WW I brought inflation, reduced buying power • Strikes, labor disputes, class warfare broke out • This was seen as a threat to order • During the “Tragic Week” Yrigoyen crushed the labor movement

21. 1930 Depression • Juan Perón played a minor role in a military coup • 1932 Agustín Justo took power • Supported by a military dictatorship • Returned to conservative government • Implemented ISI (protectionist policies) that stimulated the economy

22. How Argentina Differed(1940-43) • Nationalism – to demonstrate neutrality during WW II • Ramón Castillo elected (pro-ally) • Many in the military were pro-German, had German military training • 1943 Military coup – Military officers formed the GOU (Group of United Officers)

23. Juan Perón • Member of Military Junta • Dissolved Congress • Banned political parties • Censured the press • Imprisoned 100s • Restored church education • When Eva Perón came onto the scene – Polarization & disintegration of the power structure

24. Background for Eva Perón • Note the important relationship between... • History • Politics • Class Structure • Col. Juan Perón became Secretary of Labor • With industrialization, the urban working class was growing & more mobile • Populist policies: • Increased wages • Created minimum wage • Supported labor unions • Policies increased support for Perón

25. 1945 Perón became Minister of War & Vice President • The military resented his growing power • This fear emerged in Anti-Peronism • 1945 the military forced Perón to resign & imprisoned him • Perón won support of workers who became the base of his political power Demonstration to Release Perón from prison

26. Descamisados • In 1946 workers (“descamisados”) demonstrated in the capital & Perón was released • 1946 Perón won the presidential election • 1st term 1946-55 • 2nd term 1973-76

27. Perón & the U.S. • The U.S. condemned Perón for pro-fascist sympathies & as a Nazi collaborator • Perón accused the U.S. of Yankee imperialism • Policies: • Populist, nationalist, economic independence • Organized a corporate State • Incorporated industrialist, labor, agrarian sectors • Created political alliances with these sectors • Workers were his pillar of support

28. NOTE: Eva Perón’s role • Eva Perón played a fundamental role in organing popular support of the working class • She was more radical than Perón & more sensitive to the needs of the masses • Social Aid Foundation • Peronist Women’s Party • 1947 Women’s suffrage & equal rights • 1951 elections: women voted for the 1st time • 6 women senators, 24 women deputies

29. Eva’s Popularity • Spoke to wives on the radio – how to fight inflation • Gave audiences to anyone with a complaint • Served as a channel to present grievances to the government • Related well to the lower classes • Distributed money to the poor in Washington, D.C., other countries

30. Eva Nominated for Vice-President • Themilitaryrejectedthissince Eva wouldhavebecomecommander in chief of thearmedforcesif Perón died • Butshedied in 1952 • Nationalmourning – whenherbodywastransferedfromthepresidentialhousetotheMinistry of Labor, 2,000 wereinjured & 8 peopledied in thecrushtoseeher

31. Juan Perón’s Government • Used state policy to promote industrial development & Argentine economic independence • Economic nationalism (ISI) – nationalized British RRs, ITT (U.S.), French docks Industries (1946-54): 85,000 150,000 Workers: 890,000 1,000,000 Wages (1000s pesos): 2,500,000 13,700,000

32. Perón paid off the country’s foreign debt in 1947 • But the cost of ISI & welfare programs & decline in beef exports led to a new economic crisis • This forced him to allow wages to decline & to increase political control • Export prices dropped in 1949 & imports increased • Perón initiated an austerity program • Workers had to accept a 2 year freeze on wages • Perón became less populist & appealed for foreign capital investments

33. Undermining Popularity • Limited freedom of the press • Required registration with the police & carrying ID cards • Controlled the legislature • New law made it a crime to be disloyal or speak against the government • Replaced opposition university professors • Impeached Supreme Court members • Limited elections

34. Attempted Military Coup • In 1951 Perón suppressed an attempted coup • Accused priests of infiltrating unions • Passed anti-clerical laws • Divorce & prostitution legalized • Suspended religious education, holidays • Separation of Church & State • Parochial schools placed under control of the Ministry of Education • Labor leaders burned churches • The Church ex-communicated Perón

35. 1955 Military Coup • Juggling Act: • Labor, middle class, landed elite, conservatives, port city, interior provinces, military, church • Economic crisis fostered a multi-class coalition of oligarchy, military, & church • Eva’s death in 1952 deprived Perón of popularity & support • Perón was forced to resign & went into exile in Spain • The Peronist Party was banned

36. Latin American Military Regimes • After 1965 military regimes came to dominate Latin America • 1955-73 Argentina experienced struggles between Peronists and the military, resulting in a series of military coups • 1970s Argentina was on the brink of civil war

37. Perón’s Return • In 1973 Perón returned to Argentina & was allowed to run again • His new wife, Isabelle, became Vice-President • Perón died n 1974 & she became President of Argentina • 1st Woman to govern in the Western Hemisphere in the 20th Century

38. Isabelle Perón’s Government • Divisions between right & left in the Peronist movement • Economic crisis • Isabel’s government was accused of financial irregularities • 1976 Jorge Videla staged a coup • This began Argentina’s dirty war (re: Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo)

39. 2 Formulations of Political History(Peronist vs Anti-Peronist) • Both versions drew on conflicts originating in the time of Rosas (traced lineages to Rosas or Rivadavia) • Rosas—nationalist approach to unify the country • Rivadavia (Rosas’ opponent)—1st Argentine president, drew on ideals of Europe • Both factions traced lineage to San Martín

40. San Martín Rosas Rivadavia Yrigoyen Perón Federalists, Conservatives, Anti-Peronists Unitarians, Liberals, Peronists Coat of Arms