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<font size=5 color="#ff9900"><a href="indexingles.html" target=_top>A
Journey into the Past</a><br>
<font size=4> <a href="../pagina3ingles.html" target=_top> </a>
<b><font size=5 color=#97002f>Modernization</b>
<b>W</b>hen the War of Paraguay (<b>1865-1870</b>) ended (a war in which
the alliance of Argentina with Uruguay and Brazil was named the <b>Triple
Alliance</b>), the country began a stage of economic growth based on the <b>export
of livestock</b> and <b>agricultural products</b>. This took place in a political
background characterized by a long-awaited calm, which was crowned by a triumph:<b>
the federalization of Buenos Aires in</b> <b>1880</b>. <br>
<br>
The advent of modernity in the country brought new values and its own problems.
Thus, for instance, there was a rise of <b>new social sectors</b>: the <b>working
classes</b>, the <b>industrial bourgeoisie</b> and the middle classes, with
the addition of large quantities of <b>European</b> (mostly Italian and Spanish)<b>
immigrants</b>. <br>
<b>Democracy</b> supervised the whole process although sometimes circumstances
and governments had little to do with democratic policies. The<b> confrontation
between conservatives and radicals</b> marked this stage, until, in <b>1930</b>,
the government came to a violent end due to a coup d'état led by <b>General
José Félix Uriburu</b>.
<IMG WIDTH=15 HEIGHT=10 vspace=0 hspace=0 border=0 align=BASELINE src="../iconos/b88p.gif">Since
then, institutional instability and the alternation of civil and military
governments marked the political situation of the country. The crisis also
impinged on economy and confrontations between the agricultural and livestock
sectors and industrialists had a leading role in the disruption of stability.
In such conditions, in <b>1946</b> <b>President Juan Domingo Perón</b>
took office, with the support of vast popular masses. The implementation of
new economical and social policies characterized Perón's two first consecutive
mandates. In <b>1955</b>, however, a new coup d'état put an end to the
Peronist government.<br>
<IMG WIDTH=15 HEIGHT=10 vspace=0 hspace=0 border=0 align=BASELINE src="../iconos/b88p.gif">Between
<b>1976</b> and <b>1983</b>, Argentina lived its most heart-rending period.
The <b>military dictatorships</b> which succeeded each other during those years
were the most violent and agonizing. The systematic violation of the Human Rights
and the accumulation of a monstrous foreign debt were the legacies of the military
governments. <br>
<IMG WIDTH=15 HEIGHT=10 vspace=0 hspace=0 border=0 align=BASELINE src="../iconos/b88p.gif">At
last, in <b>1983</b>, the country recovered democracy, which is still in force
nowadays.
<font size=5><a href="indexingles.html" target=_top>A Journey
into the Past</a><br>
<font size=4> <a href="../pagina3ingles.html" target=_top> Table of contents
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