Arianna Snchez

History Summary Juan Domingo

Pern
Part 1: Emergence of authoritarian states
- Conditions in which the authoritarian state
emerged: Economic, social division, impact of war,
weakness of political system

Argentina before Pern

Gained independence from Spain in 1818
Slow economic progress until the 1880s (railways, foreign
economic investment, open itself to large-scale immigration
from Europe)
Argentinian nationalists Concerned of 1. The scale of
immigration 2. Foreign monopolies controlling key aspects of
Argentinas economy 3. The evasion of tax by foreign
companies 4. Foreign manipulation of exchange rates to the
detriment of Argentina 5. US protectionism made it impossible
for Argentina to operate a free trade system.
Argentina remained in control of conservative landowning
oligarchy
Constitutional changes in 1920s introduction of universal
male suffrage governmental grip began to be challenged

Infamous Decade 1940-1943 (long term)

1930s Ruled by the landowning elite or estancieros,
enforced its control by violent means
Argentinian democracy Bribery and intimidation in
elections, results were falsified
Serious public disorder and oppression

Economic problems
Great Depression in 1930s Argentinas income depended
largely on exportations from the sale of manufactures and
food products
Fall of over 40% of exports
Foreign investments fell dramatically Reduced countrys
income leading to mounting deficit and increasing inflation

Arianna Snchez
Argentinian nationalists Wanted country to move towards
autarky
Self-sufficient economy to end dependence on other
countrys trade cycles
Allow Argentina to modernize at its own pace
Response to general uncertainties of national economy
Reaction against Britains dominance in its trade
relation with Argentina

Growing discontent
Migration of disposed land workers to cities Joined factory
workers who lost their jobs in the Depression
Government bought unsellable produce to keep landowners
wealth
Used force to contain disorder
Estancieros Gov. appealed to them to accept higher
levels of taxation and providing funds of their own resources
They decided not to cooperate
Led to protests from workers for putting their interests
before the ones of the nation

Some economic improvement in late 1930s Increased

demand of manufactures
Greater opportunity for the unions to press their
demands General Confederation of Labour (CGT)

Short term factors

Argentina and World War 2
Argentina declared its neutrality
Great Britain Approved because Argentina could continue
to sail and supply Allied Europe without facing attacks of
enemy
1941 USA puts pressure so Argentina breaks diplomatic
relations with Axis
Argentinians divided into two groups Neutrality or
take sides
June 4th 1943 military did a coup which overthrew
president Ramon S. Castillo ENDED INFAMOUS DECADE to
prevent compromising Argentinas position of neutrality
This was interpreted as supporting the Axis

The GOU

Arianna Snchez
Secret society
Juan D. Peron was a founding member
Young officers from middle, lower-class families
Anti communists
Ultra catholic
Ultra nationalist
Claimed they came to end corruption and fraud Restore
Argentine constitution
Argentina should develop its national industry and strengthen
its defenses
Fearful of communism Better to introduce improvements in
living and working conditions
International Resisted US pressure, wanted to remain
neutral

- Methods used to establish authoritarian states:

Persuasion and coercion, the role of leaders,
ideology, the use of force, propaganda

Rise to Power
Peron: Secretary of Labour and Welfare
Great migration to cities
Severe problems in housing and very poor living
conditions
Lack of jobs
Slums developed, little social assistance
Trade unions not prepared to absorb rural workers
Rural workers felt needs and wants were not met
THEY COULD VOTE
Military coup of 1943 placed Peron in Labour
department
He then unified different welfare agencies and putting them
under his own control he made an efficient Secretariat
1943-1945 Achieved more for the workers than the unions
had achieved since the 1930s
He not allowed the workers to be attracted by the left-wing
political parties
Peron listened to them
Improvement in labour legislation
Regulations against arbitrary job dismissal
The right to paid holidays for workers
Retirement benefits for workers

Arianna Snchez

Etc.
Fulfilled the demands of the unions Traditional left-wing
parties, claiming to represent workers interest, lost appeal
The way Peron was associated to all these new rights
Working class from potential threat to supporters
1944, San Juan earthquake Peron led, organized and
attended fundraising campaigns to assist victims. He met Eva
here

Peron: Minister of War and Vice-President

January 1944 Argentina abandons position of
neutrality and breaks relations with Axis
President Ramirez resigned General Edelmiro Farrell as
president
Peron took office in war ministry
Launches massive expansion on armed forces Increased
both army size and budget
Ordered purchase of new military equipment
Expanded local factories for the production of military
material
Raised officers pay
Improved military barracks and living headquarters
July 1944 Peron becomes Vice-President of
Argentina

The Peronist Ideology

The influence of the army
Life in the army Peron saw harsh conditions in provinces
Became aware of conditions of inequality in the country
If those conditions werent fixed, a revolution following the
example of the Bolsheviks could occur
Discipline and sense of spiritual unity One single
thought should dominate an entire group, disagreement
shouldnt be tolerated
Influence of Catholicism
GOU Catholics

Arianna Snchez

Remedying social injustice prevent expansion of

revolutionary ideologies: Marxism, strongly antireligious
Echoing Catholic doctrine Ideas of solidarity
Highly catholic society

The influence of contemporary ideas

Perons trip to Europe 1939 1942 come into contact
with Nazi regime and fascism in Italy
Imitated some aspects of right-wing ideology Attracted
to European fascism
Rejected Marxist ideas and liberalism
THIRD WAY Nor right or left, OPPORTUNIST
The Twenty truths
List of assertions No developed philosophy
No economic programme
Ascribed high ideas to Justicialismo
Who called themselves Peronists imparted to the term their
own expectations and beliefs, rather than slaving
themselves to Peronist ideas

Social Justice: The integration of working classes

Made constant reference to idea of social justice
Wealth had to be distributed in fairer order
In order to avoid gaps between social classes Share and
distribute wealth with discipline
Work at Secretariat and Labour of Welfare Attempts to create
social justice

Political Sovereignty

Great importance to role of state

Previous governments Represented only landowners
Peron proposed to represent other social classes
Role of the state to determine aims and mobilize all resources to
achieve them

Economic independence: An appeal to nationalist elements

Needed to become economically independent
Achievement of autarky
Nationalization of foreign companies operating in
Argentina

Arianna Snchez

Centralize economic activity in hands of the state

Peron Model in which Argentina would develop national
industry to satisfy domestic needs and wants
Protectionist policies

The road to the presidency: October 1945 to

February 1946

March 1945 President Pharell declares war on Germany and Japan

Peron becomes president of Argentina February
1946 (universal male suffrage)

Who opposed Peron and why?

Industrialists and businessmen Disliked labour legislation,
claimed they raised the costs of production
Disliked state interference in the economy and feared gov.
intervention
Landowners Peasant statue
Socialist and communists Losing influence
Intellectuals, teachers and newspapers that had suffered
censorship and bans questioned growing power of Peron
Accused him of fascism
Pressure from within and outside the armed forces 8
October 1945 Peron resigned from all his positions

Events of 17 October
Peron did not appease the opposition Get his followers to
oppose the measure
October 12 Civilian protest Power from military to Supreme
Court of Justice
Armed forced demanded arrest of Peron Sent to an island
CGT announces general strike for 18 October No specific
reference to Peron, only to labour legislation
17 October thousands of workers abandon their posts and
began to march in Perons name
Moved towards more residential places in Bs. As.
Lower classes emerged
Government ordered release of Peron Gave a speech in
Plaza de Mayo
Sealed his relationship with the workers

The Elections of February 1946

Arianna Snchez

Peron began campaign for presidency

Did not have own party Obtained support from Labour
party, Peronist trade unions and of the Union Civil Radical
The opposition to Peron, Union Democratica, had problems of
unity. Although it had lots of different groups (businessmen,
industrialists, landowners) couldnt agree on specific
proposals
Spruille Braden (US ambassador) Against Peron
Publicly opposed Peron Nazi agent
Peron responded saying he was: Oligarchic, interfering
in the domestic policies, related to imperialists
Two months before elections UD gives bonus to all workers
for Christmas
It appeared that if Peron lost elections, this would stop
Weakened appeal of socialist and communist countries As part of UD,
became associated with denial of rights of workers

Part 2: Consolidation and maintenance of

power
-

Use of legal methods, use of force, charismatic

leadership, dissemination of propaganda + Nature,
extent and treatment of opposition

The rule of Juan Peron

Perons consolidation of power
Peron obtained a majority in Argentine parliament
His victory was legitimate One of the cleanest elections

Arianna Snchez
Peron owed the CGT and labour party
Did not have full support of army
Dissolves all supporting forces and creates Partido Unico de
la Revolucion
Some opposition of leaders of Labour Party Peron removed
them, some tortured and arrested
Peron appointed supporters to positions of power
Unions
Ordered all trade unions to become official members of
CGT
Opposition was persecuted and imprisoned
Emphasized on benefits: Greater freedom of workers to
negotiate, state protection of workers against
employers
Higher wages
Improved working conditions
By 1948, Peron had consolidated his leadership over
the party and the trade unions had been united under
the CGT
Peron created a secret police to take care of opposition

The impact of the success and/or failure of foreign

policy on the maintenance of power

Part 3: Aims and results of policies

- Aims and impact of domestic economic, political,
cultural and social policies

Political Policies
State grew in size and influence Became very difficult for
opposition to influence
Radical party struggled to overcome UCJCR created by Peron
1946
Opposition Limited access to media and press,
struggled to meet

Arianna Snchez
Mostly composed by experienced politicians
Some radical leaders who voiced their anti-Peronist
ideas were expelled from the legislative body and even
jailed
New judges were appointed and the Court was Peronized
Secretariat of Information established aim to control
output of journalists
Socialist newspaper La Vanguardia
National newspapers La Nacion and La Prensa
Government bought newspapers, magazines and radio station
to use for propaganda
Civil servants had to become members of Peronist party to
keep their jobs
Parliamentary elections 1948 Won with 62%

The 1949 Constitution

New rights and reinforced role of the state had to be included
Reform of Article 77 Allow for immediate reelection
Approval of new constitution Attempts to limit Peron were
ineffective
Radicals stepped out from debates to express
disagreement Convention only populated by
Peronists passed agreement
Nationalist and emphasized strong role of the state
Had right to intervene or monopolize certain economic
areas, such as foreign trade (state could decide what
should be imported and exported and fix the prices)
Gave important place to family (Catholics) Protect
institution of marriage, assist mothers and children. Elderly,
legal responsibility of families
Public services were owned by the state
Sources of energy National property, couldnt be sold
Property and capital Fulfill a social role and owned by those
who worked them

Social Policies
Aimed to redressing existing gaps between rich and poor
Independent charitable institutions + trade unions
channeled social work to reach where the state didnt offer
solutions
Peron wanted to centralize social policies and aims Trade
Unions didnt want to lose control of the money

Arianna Snchez

This

1948 New parallel organization Eva Peron

Foundation (EFP)
Welfare of children and the elderly
Healthcare
Housing
Recreation
Hospitals
Etc
Not only a charity but restored peoples self-esteem
built on the cult of Eva Peron lady of hope

Economic policies
Wanted to turn Argentina into socially and economically selfsufficient nation
The First Five Year Plan (1946-51)
Large proportion of national income distributed amongst
workers Real income rose over 1/3
Social Welfare programme Included the provision of
medical services and unemployment and sickness benefits
Levies imposed on Argentinas main exports
Institute for the Promotion of Argentine Commerce
(IAPI) Bought grain in bulk
Foreign-owned enterprises (railways, telephone system, etc)
nationalized
Restrict imports to promote domestic consumption and
production
Schemes adopted for improvement of Argentine infrastructure
Peron declined to join GATT + IMF

- The impact of policies on women and minorities

The Role and Status of Women

Arianna Snchez
1943-45
As minister of labour, Peron creates Department of
womens labour
1944
Minimum wage was introduced for piece-work done at
home
1947
Franchise was extended to women
Measures adopted to improve the rights of girls and
women in secondary + higher education
Steps taken to ensure better conditions for female
workers
1949
Females made up to 46% of workforce
Equal pay granted to female textile workers
1950
Number of women in university doubled in six years
1951
Women vote for first time 65% supported Peron
24 women in congress and 7 in senate

Evita as a role model

Came from humble origins
Breaking conventions of a male-dominated society
Aggressive style in her speeches justified by personal
experience with poverty
Series of foreign tours (Europe 1947)
Established womens Peronist party in 1947
Represented feminism in Peronism

The Eva Peron Foundation

Established in 1948 Programme to relieve lives of the poor

Established + managed 8,000 + schools
Set up 4,200 clinics, hospitals and care homes for elderly
25,000 homes for poor Eva city
Failed to run as vice-president due to health
Military attempted a coup in 1946 and failed
Perons popularity was attached to Eva

- Authoritarian control and the extent to which it was

achieved