Juan Peron’s Argentina

Topic 3 origin of authoritarian and single party states

Paper 2

Conditions producing ASPS

• General popular discontent with the government (20’s-30’s)

• Corrupt government run by the oligarchy up to the late 1930’s

• Political unrest generated by the above• World War II affecting Argentina: Pro Allies vs. Pro

Axis; increased poverty due to higher cost of living driven by the War

• Military Dictatorship

What options are available?

Liberal Democracy

• Formalist and conventional• Wanting a return to the 1930’s

but with the appropriate corrections

Peron• Profound national sentiment• Open attitude in terms of

social improvements.• Appeals to the masses

How did Peron rise to power?• Earned the support of the lower classes through

the publication of several documents that clearly improved the living conditions of the masses:

• Some examples are: «the statute of the worker», «the rights of the woker», «the rights of the elderly», «collective work covenants», «law of social prevision», «law of work accidents», «law of workers’ housing», «union schools», «retirement schemes» «rules on working conditions and rest»

How did Peron rise to power? Continued.

• 1943 – became Secretary of War and then Secretary of Labor

• 1944-45 Vice President under Farrell• Conservatives exiled him in 1945 but mass

protests forced the military to restore him to office.

• Successfully gained power legally in the February 1946 elections (1946-1951) (1951-1955)

What was Peron’s aim?• To Increase employment, economic growth and

international sovereignty• In the Cold War context: national determination• To nationalize industries in hopes of increasing the

sense of patriotism (banks, railways, grain industry)• To become self-sufficient and satisfy internal

demands before exporting anything• To free Argentina from foreign economic dominance

to create independence from other countries

What was Peron’s ideology?• «For us justicialists, the world today is divided into capitalists and

communists in conflict: we are neither one nor the other one. We hope to be ideologically outside of that conflict of world interests[…] We believe that capitalism, as well as communism are obsolete systems. We consider capitalism to be the exploitation of man for capital and communism as the exploitation of the individual for the state. Both intensify the person through different systems.»

• Peronism, a.k.a. Justicialism revolved around 3 issues:– 1. economics– 2. politics– 3. social justice

• See the 20 truths: instilled nationalist tendencies to promote a strong government

• Allowed him to claim a 3rd way, not L or R• Brought more freedom to his country

Who supported Peron?

• After the Labor reforms made as a Secretary of Labor the working class supported him.

• The 1944 nicaraguan earthquake gave him a platform to gain more followers from the poor masses.

• 1945 received support from the «descamisados» and the «cabezitas negras».

• The Labor Party was the backbone for his election.

Method used to establish the ASPS

• Used Evita as the head of labor unions (CGT)• Used Evita as the link between the leader and

the masses• Constitutional reforms, to include social

justice and to allow presidential re-election twice in a row: legal way of establishing absolute rule

Form of Government

• Justicialismo – Third Way to keep good diplomatic relations with both sides during the time of the Cold War

• Authoritarian – any attempts of opposition would be crushed violently

• He appointed the members of the supreme court

Who was the opposition?• Grl. Eduardo Avalos and the Anti-Peronists (all

conservatives) Union Democratica• Wealthy landowners, cattle owners and business

owners• Roman Catholic Church (after 1952)• UCR, Socialist, Progressive Democrat and Communist

parties, unofficial unions• USA (embassy) – Peron claimed they were imperialists• Marine force, intellectuals and newspapers• Prison for anyone speaking against Peron

Domestic Policies• Labor reform– 8 hour day established and Sunday’s off– Workers received paid vacations– Retirement law was established!!– Maternity leave for women: 3 months!– Workers’ recreation centers constructed all over

Argentina and available for a small fee• Forming of trade unions in every industry• Payment of Argentina’s foreign debt• Public works’ schemes: hospitals, schools

Workers’ recreation centers (social tourism)

Economic Policies• Were the basis of Peron’s rule.• Wanted a free economy, independent from

foreign influence they were in a good position for this as they had huge reserves from the nationalizing of the Central Bank

• Nationalized industries through his 5YP – Transportation/railways

(UK/France)/Telecomunications– Opened employment opportunities at state’s expense

Economic policies … continued

• Helped with the industrialization of Argentina hoping to achieve autarchy– Airplane industry– Marine industry– Automotive industry (Argentina was 2nd in the

world to use glass fiber in a Porsche!)• However, by ‘47, 32% of reserves were gone!• Economic stagnation plagued his 2nd term:

workers began to lose faith after Eva died in ‘52.

Social Policies• Instill a strong sense of Nationalism• Allow for a more social democracy through his social

policies:– Equal redistribution of the wealth, retirement laws– Wages’ improvement, family salary, paid vacations– This showed Peron’s support for the working class

• These were the basis during his first presidency, Argentina went from exploited in the 1930s to a «solidary Argentina» by 1955.

• Medical care: maternity, dental, other consultations• Low-income housing projects were created and carried out

during both 5YPs• Interest rates were frozen

Low income housing

Religious Policies• Argentina was Catholic and gave him initial

support, however, upon realizing their being used to gain him support:

• 1954 – Peron wants the separation of the Church and state

• He passes laws that eliminated religious holidays

• Pope Pius XII excommunicated Peron and all Peronistas after passing a law to legalize prostitution and divorce

Constitutional reform of 1949

• Aim: to eliminate social injustice. • Reformed in March 1949 from 1853 and it

includes all the social policies mentioned before (family, elderly, education, etc.)

• See article 39 and 40 about the use of property for the good of the Nation.

Foreign Policy

• Self determination of countries and solidarity with smaller countries were the basis of his foreign policy.

Role of education• More access to the masses through the

creation of the Ministry of Education and Union Schools with free education for all.

• Removal of university fees• Universities were aiming to educate those

who deserved it and worked to obtain more knowledge

• Indoctrination of youth in schools

Role of propagandaBooks for school aged children, see the handout on Propaganda for an example of such stories published by his regime.

More Propaganda

Role of media

• Controlled Radio, press, TV, Film and theatre by censorship

• Evita had her own newspaper: Democracias where loads of propaganda was published

Status of Women• Due to Evita’s support, the role of women and

their rights changed drastically in Argentina. • Women were given political rights:– 1947 right to vote and hold office

• The also maintained traditional roles:– Raising children to be great Peronistas– Women belong in the home

Status of other minority groups

• Youth• Union of Secondary Students• Early childhood

End of his 1st and 2nd rule• He ran for elections in 1952 and won. The next period

went up to 1955.• 1952 issued the austerity plan due to lack of resources

and wealth in Argentina; the result was reduced inflation.

• The economy of the country was exhausted and could no longer take high growth rates.

• Peron adopts a more classic economy during his second rule

• The Oil crisis made Peron get foreign investments, marking his downfall.

End to his rule (2nd period) … continued

• 1954 – opposed the Church due to lack of any other opposition (he had eliminated them!)

• June 1955 – Bomb at the presidency• September 15, 1955 army attack, coup to remove

peron from power. • Peron resigns to stop the emerging violence and

leaves in power an emerging Junta on september 20• Exiled from 1955 to 1973 in Spain• Reconciled with the church

Peron’s 3rd period• The 70’s started as a decade with serious economic

problems:– Drastic Increase in the cost of living– Inflation due to the budgetary deficit, to an excessive

investment by state enterprises, clientelism • Hector Campora, a stand in for Peron won the

presidential election of 1973 but stepped down after the tragedy of Peron’s return

• Ruled until he died in 1974• His legacy was to improve the life of Argentines

Sources

• http://www.portalplanetasedna.com.ar/gobiernoperonista.htm

• http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?action=read&artid=65