History: A Country's Beginnings (Chapter 1, Part II)

The struggle between Federalists and Unitarians divides the new country. The eastern provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Corrientes are dominated by the Federalists while the rest, the “interior” of the country, is Unitarian. Eventually, by the early 1830s, the Federalists win out and all (now) fourteen provinces sign the “Federalist Agreement”. In theory, all provinces share equal power. However, by the mid 1830s, the governer of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas, begins to dominate the governments of the other provinces. Through diplomacy, or where this fails, sheer and sometimes brutal force, he manages to get sympathetic governors in strategic positions throughout the country. By 1851, he’s the “Supreme Chief of the Argentine Confederation” and quite a dictatorial one. While his power grows, his opposition grows as well. In 1852, he’s overthrown by an anti-Rosist alliance and is forced to seek exile in England where he remains until his death.

With the end of Rosism (as it was called), the majority of provinces agree to compromise their sovereignty in favour of becoming a Nation. The anti-Rosists come together to form the Partido Liberal (or Liberal Party) which takes power. The main opposition, however, is a man named Justo José de Urquiza and his followers. Urquiza, once the governor of Entre Ríos province and a supporter of Rosas, had taken up the opposition and helped to overthrow him when Rosas made policies that were harmful to his province. Now, though he had helped overthrow Rosas, his bid for power was still seen as similar to his predecessor. Urquiza is chosen as president of the Confederation. Over the conflict, however, Buenos Aires separates from Confederation and the new capital of the country becomes Paraná.

A year later, in Santa Fe, the country finally gets a national Constitution, although without Buenos Aires. In the following years, Buenos Aires does quite well economically, thanks to a thriving export business in wool and leather. The Confederation, on the other hand, doesn’t do so well without its former capital.

Tension grows. There’s war in 1859. Urquiza and his troops win and Buenos Aires is reincorporated. But there’s war again in 1861. Buenos Aires wins under the leadership of a man named Bartolomé Mitre, who then becomes president. Buenos Aires, under Mitre’s leadership, dominates the country, once again.

In 1865, Mitre signs an important agreement called the Triple Alliance Treaty, with the neighbouring countries of Brazil and Uruguay which leads the three into a long and unpopular war against Paraguay. The latter is unable to resist against the three more powerful countries and loses much of its territory and most of its male population, as well as the war. For Argentina, however, this war marks an important step in its consolidation as a nation: for the first time, its troops from all provinces fight together as a national force, rather than distinct and divided provincial powers.

Under the later presidencies of Sarmiento and Avellaneda (more about them in future posts), the country becomes more united through the construction of a national railroad system, economic development and the arrival of more immigrants from Europe.

By 1880, the country looks pretty similar to the way it does today. Buenos Aires (city) becomes the “Federal Capital of the Republic of Argentina” and a couple of years later, La Plata, a small nearby city becomes the capital of Buenos Aires province. It has both a national currency and a national army. One could say that by 1880, the complex process of the founding and consolidation of the country has come to a close. However, much lies in store for this new nation...

Based on the series Historia de un país Argentina siglo XX.