An Era of Change

Under Presidents Bartolomé Mitre (1862–68) and Domingo F. Sarmiento (1868–74), the consolidation of the republic continued. Beginning in mid-century, masses of immigrants came to Argentina, Europeanizing society and challenging the dominance of the criollos (native Argentines of Spanish culture who lived in the interior). From 1857 to 1909, about 3,500,000 people came to Argentina. During this period, agriculture was brought to the Pampas, industrialization and urbanization spread, and a middle class developed.

A conservative, landed minority controlled the government. However, opposition to corruption and to lack of political freedom grew. An antigovernment party (later the Radical party) was formed to seek representative government and economic re-form. Although a Conservative, President Roque Sáenz Pena (1910–14) introduced electoral reforms in 1912, which included universal and compulsory male suffrage and secret balloting.

In 1916 the Argentine people elected Hi-pólito Irigoyen, a Radical, president. He served 1916–22 and 1928–30. Some social legislation was enacted during the period of Radical rule, but the government fell in 1930 in a coup led by General José F. Uriburu. Conservative domination was reestablished.

Prior to the elections scheduled for 1943, the repressive and unpopular government of Ramón S. Castillo was overthrown by the military, and army dictators ruled for several years. Juan D. Perón, an army colonel and an ultranationalist, was elected president in 1946 and was reelected in 1951 with the support of labor. As his regime became increasingly dictatorial and the Argentine economy faltered, discontent spread. In 1955 Perón was overthrown by the armed forces and fled the country.

A provisional government ruled until the 1958 election. Economic problems, the power of the Peronists (supporters of Perón), and military intervention threatened succeeding governments. Fearing a rise to power by the Peronists, the heads of the armed services seized control in 1966. As the cost of living continued to rise, labor strikes and riots broke out. There also were anti-government acts of terrorism by various radical groups of the right and the left.

Civilian government was reinstated in 1973, with the election of a Peronist candidate for president. He soon resigned, however, to allow for a new election and Perón's return. In that election, Perón—with his third wife, Isabel, as vice-presidential candidate—was victorious. When Perón died in 1974, Isabel succeeded him. Political strife, labor unrest, and inflation created instability, and, in 1976, military leaders seized power. The military crushed all dissent, murdering at least 9,000 people whom it considered to be subversives.

In 1982 Argentine forces invaded the British colony of the Falkland Islands (called Malvinas by the Argentines). Argentina had claimed the islands since 1883. Britain retook the islands after a 74-day undeclared war. In 1983 the military stepped down, and Raúl Alfonsin was elected president. To control inflation and a growing foreign debt, austerity measures were introduced in the late 1980's.

After a period of prosperity in the early 1990's, the economy suffered four years of recession and finally collapsed in December 2001. By mid-January, after three officials had been named to the presidential office, Eduardo Duhalde, a Peronist, was named president and given a two-year term. Nestor Kirchner, who had previously governed Santa Cruz Province, was elected president in May 2003.