Juan Domingo Perón Rise to Power

Argentina After World War II, Argentina and other Latin American countries saw a rise in dictatorships. Social and economic conditions allowed them to take tremendous power at the expense of people’s freedoms. Juan Peron rose to power following military coup, 1943 Had great deal of help from wife, Eva Proved to be populist, supporter of rights of common people, not the elite Peronism Wife Eva took charge of labor, social programs Peron created minimum wage, eight- hour workday, paid vacations Built schools, hospitals, shelters Radical Changes Tried, failed to boost industrialization Placed cattle, wheat industries under government control; farm production plunged Became dictator Downside

Overview Growth of nationalism Roca Runciman treaty (UK to buy Arg. Beef in return for special privileges in Argentina for UK companies.) Background of right wing nationalism from 1910 onwards (Argentina 1919 tragic week) and antisemitism New type of Historians attack UK and other foreign interference, give intellectual basis to nationalism (Rosas) World War 2 increases nationalism further: – Imports of tech & fuel stop, export – markets cut off = demands for self – sufficiency – US isolation of Argentina as Argentina refuses to side unequivocally with Allies. Brazil threatens, Army concerned All this made nationalists unhappy

Dissatisfaction with governments of 1930´s (post 1930 Coup Concordance governments) Electoral fraud common Middle classes unhappy with growing strength of urban masses as industry develops. To save spending, bureaucracy was cut = fewer middle class jobs Army growing unhappy Social conflict reappearing again Government seemed to be moving to pro Ally stance Army Coup of 1943 Army coup, Peron a member of coup Army oversees govt. Peron uses a succession of political positions to build up a power base Spain as Minister of Labor 1943 Uses this to make organized labor dependant on him: Settles disputes in favor of labor Organized labor behind him and by 1946 he is the most powerful member of the post coup governments. He then stands for President in 1946 elections. Obtains 54%

Peron: Philosophy - Justicialismo Not fully articulated at first. Main features: Anti foreign interests in economy = wins nationalist support Anti-estancieros of export led economy and for self sufficiency = wins industrialist support who want to protect Argentinean industry against foreign competition Anti communist. Saw control of labor and welfares as the key to stopping communism Belief in the need for a corporate state like in Italy under Mussolini organizing the economy using groups – or corporations- of non elected but government chosen influence groups like industrialists, unions to help organize Corporations to be guided through 5 Year plans, drawn up by Peron Ideas developed further as time progressed. By 1949 they were known as – Justicialismo – the belief in a just society, but one decided upon by a benevolent authority figure: Peron. – Peron believed this would end internal struggle. (Similar to early National Socialism)

1976 to 1983, government carried out “dirty war” against suspected dissidents Secret war carried out in middle of night Soldiers took people from homes to detention centers, tortured, sometimes killed 10,000 to 30,000 victims vanished during this time Dirty War Peron’s downfall, 1955, followed by decades of economic, political turmoil Right-wing military dictatorships ruled for many years Struggled with declining industry, rising unemployment, inflation, foreign debt Cracked down on dissent, limited personal freedoms Military Dictatorships

Victims of “dirty war,” critics of government and those falsely accused of being critics Desperate relatives tried to find out what happened to loved ones Plaza de Mayo – Square outside government buildings in Buenos Aires – Group of mothers of disappeared marched every week – Did not get wanted answers – Brought national, international attention to tactics of Argentina’s military dictatorship

Eva Peron and women in politics Argentina with Peron entered in a revolutionary inclusion of all members of a society in which women would have a central role. Peron’s plans included the groundwork for giving women not only equal rights in the workplace but also equal civil rights.