Argentina's History: Industry, Politics, and Social Unrest

Industries in Argentina

Argentina was a major exporter of agricultural products and imported much of the manufactured products it consumed from Europe. The increase in population and the possibility of importing machinery from Europe favored the emergence of local industry, which took advantage of the raw material that was produced in the country. Many settled in Buenos Aires: large refrigerators, flour mills, food factories, the production of footwear, etc.

The Impact of the Global Crisis in Argentina

The main countries closed their economies, reduced their imports, and defaulted. Furthermore, international prices of primary products fell sharply. The fall in revenues from commodities and the state reduced the level of economic activity.

President Yrigoyen

As the leader of the UCR, the advent of radicalism in government aroused high expectations for change. Although he lacked support from the upper class, radicalism had triumphed. The political situation facilitated the implementation of reforms.

Conservatives and Fraud

Roca became president of the country, supported by a league formed by the majority of the governors of the provinces, the National Autonomist Party (PAN). They decided who was going to be a candidate for each of the offices of government. This conservatism made possible PAN control of elections. The presidents and governors were appointed in elections, and electoral events were marred by fraud. The vote was neither secret nor compulsory.

The Occupation of Indigenous Territories

The Conquest of the Desert was designed to incorporate new lands for livestock production and establish sovereignty over Argentine Patagonia. Commanded by General Julio A. Roca, troops moved south and conquered the lands that were under indigenous rule. Many were evicted from their land, separated from their families, and sent to work in faraway places.

The Federalization of the City of Buenos Aires

Between 1862 and 1880, the national government was seen as a guest of the province and had no authority over the city. In 1880, Avellaneda requested that the city of Buenos Aires be declared the capital of the republic. The city ceased to belong to the province and passed to the authority of the federal government.

The End of Election Fraud

In 1905, the UCR organized a new revolution. This also failed. There was a feeling that there would be no peace if there was no party to integrate into the national political life. The proposed electoral reform was a means of decompressing social and political threats.

The government of President Saenz Pena did enact an electoral law that established universal, secret, and compulsory suffrage.

Tragic Week and Massacres in Patagonia

In January 1919, there was a strike in the Vasena metal shops that was harshly repressed by the police. Organizations of trade unionists held protests, and the repression provoked hundreds of deaths. These episodes are known as the Tragic Week. Afterward, repression was also used to face a strike by farm laborers who were demanding improvements in living conditions and work in Patagonia.

Conflicts in the Radical Party

Within radicalism, discussions began to occur between a sector that supported Yrigoyen and another that was critical of his personal character. The anti-personalist group had a greater presence in the Alvear government, which removed almost all of Yrigoyen's faithful from his government. While Alvear's presidency progressed, the differences in the match between personalist and anti-personalist radicals deepened. The anti-personalist president trimmed the state budget and reduced the number of public employees. In recent years, a minority group, albeit a noisy one, with an undemocratic nationalist ideology and sympathy for the fascist movement, has become ascendant in Italy.