History of Argentina (1916–1930)

The period spanning from 1916 to 1930 in Argentina is known as the Radical Phase (Spanish: Etapa Radical), as it began with the election of the Radical Civic Union candidate Hipólito Yrigoyen, ending the conservative Generation of '80's domination on politics. Yrigoyen's second term, which started in 1928, was interrupted by Argentina's first military coup, which established José Félix Uriburu in power and initiated the Infamous Decade.

The First Yrigoyen Administration (1916–22)

Conservative forces dominated Argentine politics until 1916, when their traditional rivals, the Radicals, led by Hipólito Yrigoyen, won control of the government through the first national elections made at universal male suffrage, due to the 1912 Sáenz Peña Law. 745,000 citizens were allowed to vote, on a total population of 7.5 million (immigrants, who constituted much of the population, were not allowed to vote), of which 400,000 abstained themselves.^[1] Yrigoyen, however, only obtained 45% of the votes, which did not allow him a majority in Parliament, where the conservatives remained the first force. Thus, on 80 draft laws proposed by the executive, only 26 were voted by the conservative majority.^[2] The moderate agricultural reform was refused by the Parliament, as well as a tax on interests and the creation of a Bank of the Republic (which was to have the missions of the current Central Bank).^[2]

Despite this conservative opposition, the

May '68, French students recalled the Córdoba movement.^[4]

Thus, on one hand, the

Luis delle Piane marched on Buenos Aires to re-establish civil order. Despite being called for by some to initiate a coup against Yrigoyen, he remained loyal to the President, at the sole condition that the latter would allow him a free hand on the repression of the demonstrations. Social movements thereafter continued in the Forestal British company, where about 600 people (workers and their families) were massacred,^[6] and in Patagonia, where Hector Varela headed the military repression, assisted by the Argentine Patriotic League, killing 1,500.^[7]

On the other hand, Yrigoyen's administration enacted the

class struggle and vouched for social conciliation.^[8]

World War I and Foreign Relations

Meanwhile, the Radicals continued Argentina's neutrality policy during World War I, despite the United States' urge to push them into declaring war on the

Sandino's resistance in Nicaragua.^[9]

In September 1922, Yrigoyen's administration refused to follow the cordon sanitaire policy enacted against the Soviet Union, and, basing itself on the assistance given to Austria after the war, decided to send the USSR 5 million pesos in assistance.^[10]

The Alvear Administration (1922–28)

The same year, Yrigoyen was replaced by his rival inside the UCR,

Agustín P. Justo at the War Ministry, Manuel Domecq García at the Marine and Rafael Herrera Vegas at the Haciendas. Alvera's supporters founded the Unión Cívica Radical Antipersonalista

, opposed to Yrigoyen's party.

Alvear retroceded many of Yrigoyen's social reforms and labor laws, as well as the University Reform.

In 1922, the poet

Black shirts in Italy. The Argentinian Right found its major influences in the 19th-century Spanish writer Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo and in the French royalist Charles Maurras.^[11]

On the other hand, of the political spectrum, the

Fascist Italy

's interests in Argentina. He was executed in 1931, after having perpetrated the most important bombing in Argentina, against the Italian consulate in May 1928.

Yrigoyen's return to power (1928–30)

Yrigoyen was re-elected in 1928, and toppled by a military coup in 1930.

References

^ Felipe Pigna, Los Mitos de la Historia Argentina, 3, 2006, ed. Planeta, p. 38.
^ ^a ^b Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 42.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 39.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 51.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 88.
^ Clarín.com (2020-12-22). "La Forestal, a un siglo de la revuelta y la represión". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-03-22.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 100.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 44.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 58.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 59.
^ Felipe Pigna, 2006, p. 125-128.

v t e Radical Civic Union
Related parties or alliances	Civic Union Intransigent Radical Civic Union Franja Morada Alliance for Work, Justice and Education Broad Front UNEN Cambiemos Juntos por el Cambio
Radical presidents of Argentina	Hipólito Yrigoyen (1916-1922) Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear (1922-1928) Hipólito Yrigoyen (1928-1930) Arturo Frondizi (1958-1962) Arturo Umberto Illia (1963-1966) Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989) Fernando de la Rúa (1999-2001)
Other Radicals	Leandro N. Alem Arturo Jauretche Ernesto Sanz Ricardo Balbín Eduardo Angeloz Rodolfo Terragno Julio Cobos Ricardo Alfonsín Ramón Javier Mestre
Key events	Revolution of the Park Revolution of 1893 Revolution of 1905 1916–30 period Trial of the Juntas

The First Yrigoyen Administration (1916–22)

World War I and Foreign Relations

The Alvear Administration (1922–28)

Yrigoyen's return to power (1928–30)

References

See also