The Demise of Democracy

1
The Demise of Democracy

• Prelude to the Coup of 1930

2
The Rise of the Modern Military

• Origins of the Modern Military
• Poor performance in the War of the Triple
  Alliance 1864-1870
• Establishment of Colegio Militar in 1870 to
  train young officers, but not recruits
• 1890 boundary dispute with Chile led to
  formation of Escuela Superior de Guerra (War
  Academy), promotion of officers now based on
  education

3
Role of German Officers

• 1890s Argentina purchased munitions and weapons
  from Prussia
• 1899 German officers invited to organize War
  Academy
• 1900-1914, Germans dressed in Argentine uniforms
  taught officersbest students did advanced
  studies in Germany
• During World War I not all army officers in favor
  of the Germans

4
Social Origins of Army Officers

• Military became new avenue for middle-class
  mobility. Earned promotions by merit, not
  ascription. Perón among poor students helped by
  grades
• By 1928 40 of generals were 2nd Generation
  Argentines, including 1 Slav and 1 Jew
• Many middle class and most openly supported
  Yrigoyen before 1916
• After 1905, military statutes openly discouraged
  military participation in politics

5
Prelude to the Coup of 1930

• Argentina in the early Twentieth Century
• Important trade links with Great Britain
• Loans, cattle, and wheat
• Traditional animosity towards the US in Pan
  American Congresses
• Important industrial investments by Germany in
  electricity and chemicals
• Argentina and World War I
• Declared neutrality like US continued
  neutrality, unlike the US after 1916
• Under Yrigoyen administration, Argentina refused
  to join the League of Nations
• Impact of World War on Argentine economy
• Establishment of petroleum monopoly, 1922
• Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF)

6
Prelude to the Coup of 1930

• Domestic politics under Yrigoyen
• PAN in control of Congress most legislation
  thwarted
• Yrigoyens political style federal style, Klan
  Radical
• Labor relations mostly good until Semana Trágica,
  1919
• Positive aspects of first administration
• Limited labor reform
• University reform, 1918
• General economic boom due to neutrality
• Giant increase in literacy due to public
  education
• By 1922, only 14 illiteracy

7
Yrigoyen and Military

• Many military men offended by federation
  interventionthey were too professional to be
  used by police
• After WWI, army wanted to modernizeY reluctant
• Yrigoyen gave special rewards to those military
  working in YPF, and those who supported military
  intervention
• Military men felt they were being pushed into
  politics

8
Formation of Logia San Martin

• Founded as a secret organization in 1920 to
  oppose Yrigoyen
• Wanted to remove political influences from the
  military, lobby for greater budget
• Dissolved in 1926 after Marcelo T. Alvear
  appointed Col. Augustín P. Justo, very
  anti-Yrigoyen Minister of War
• Army received first large military appropriation
  in 1923--78 million

9
Prelude to the Coup of 1930

• Elections of 1922
• Who would replace Yrigoyen?
• He wanted to be reelected
• Radicals selected Marcelo T. Alvear
• Patrician family
• Father was a founder of Unión Cívica Radical
  Party (UCR)
• Had been ambassador to France under Yrigoyen
• Yrigoyen thought he would be a puppet
• Alvear and the Anti-Personalists
• Reversed Argentinas neutral international
  position
• Gave oil contracts to foreign companies
• Challenged Yrigoyens dominance of the party
• Treated the military more favorably and
  professionally

10
Prelude to the Coup of 1930

• Rise of Argentine nationalist movement
• Definition neutrality, anti-Semitic,
  anti-liberal, authoritarian, corporatist,
  pro-Hispanic tradition, pro-Rosas, and
  pro-Catholic
• Reaction to rise of middle class to politics and
  fear of the working classes
• Wanted military coup to relieve Argentina of its
  democratic burden
• Looked to Primo de Rivera government of Spain in
  1920s
• Anti-democratic, authoritarian, and anti-labor
• Promoted important reforms of infrastructure
• Totally opposed to return of Yrigoyen in 1928

11
Prelude to the Coup of 1930

• The Return of Hipólito Yrigoyen
• Most member of Logia San Martín horrified.
• Yrigoyen in his 70s seen as senile
• Big disputes about provincial rights for
  drilling for petroleumopposed by YPF
• Impact of depression
• All led to military coup led by General Uriburu