Political System

 

• Early 1800s: Sectionalism, or excessive regard for sectional or local interests; regional or local spirit, prejudice, etc., was widespread throughout Argentina.

• 1826: There was a meeting in Buenos Aires about unity throughout Argentina. A new constitution was written, and Bernardino Rivadavia was elected president. However, the provinces were offended, so Rivadavia resigned and civil war continued from 1826-1828 (for two years).

• Juan Manuel de Rosas was the most influential person during the time of the civil wars.

• 1829: Rosas was elected to a 3 year term as a federalist. He was an advocate of a government sharing power between the national and provincial sectors, opposite of an unitario, supporters of a strong central government.

• He made an alliance with the Catholic Church and was successful in enacting laws to improve education.

• 1832: His term ended, and he helped drive out natives in the south to open up lands for civilization. This made him a hero.

• 1835: Rosas was elected for a 5-year term as president, and so he instituted a dictatorship. He killed or exiled his opponents, and children were taught about the “Great Rosas.”

• 1842-1851: Montevideo was blockaded.

• 1845-1847: Britain blockaded Buenos Aires because of disputes with Rosas.

• Because of the taxes during the blockades, Rosas lost more and more power over the country.

• 1851: Justo José de Urquiza, a large landowner from the province of Entre Riós, cultivated alliances with anti Rosas parties from Uruguay and Brazil and some Argentine exiles to take on Rosas.

• Rosas was defeated at the battle of Monte Caseros. He was forced into exile to England.

• At Santa Fé, a Federalist constitution was written. Urquiza was made the provisional governor.

• Bartolome Mitre led Buenos Aires into declaring itself independent and was the true Argentina, but in 1859 was defeated and lost to Urquiza’s forces. Buenos Aires joined the Federation.

• 1861: Fighting broke out, Mitre won, and was elected to a six year term.

• 1868-1874: Domingo Sarmiento was elected as president, and during this time, the government invested heavily in education, building new schools and improving the quality of Argentine teachers.

• After Sarmiento, two other presidents were elected. These elections were not exactly open and honest, and led to the rise of university students in politics at the turn of the century.

• This student movement created the Civic Union of Youth, and later split and founded the Radical Civic Union. It wanted free suffrage, and open and honest elections, led by Hipólito Yrigoyen.

• Allied with military dissent groups, they attempted to overthrow the government in 1890, 1892, and 1893. All efforts failed.

• However, it was a very powerful group in Argentine politics by the end of the 19th century.