Feliciano Viera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Feliciano Viera
President of Uruguay
In office 1 March 1915 – 1 March 1919
Preceded by	José Batlle y Ordóñez
Succeeded by	Baltasar Brum
Personal details
Born	8 November 1872 Salto, Uruguay
Died	13 November 1927 Salto, Uruguay
Political party	Colorado Party

Feliciano Alberto Viera Borges (born November 8, 1872 – died November 13, 1927) was an important political leader in Uruguay. He served as the country's president.

Early Life and Political Start

Feliciano Viera belonged to the Colorado Party. He was a close follower of former president José Batlle y Ordóñez. Batlle was a very influential leader in Uruguay for a long time.

Before becoming president, Viera worked in Batlle's government. He was the interior minister, which means he was in charge of internal affairs. He also served as the President of the Senate of Uruguay from 1907 to 1912.

President of Uruguay (1915-1919)

Feliciano Viera was the President of Uruguay from 1915 to 1919. During his time as president, Baltasar Brum was a key figure in his government. Brum served as the interior minister and later as the foreign affairs minister.

Uruguay During World War I

During World War I, Uruguay supported the Allied countries more than its neighbor, Argentina. Uruguay ended its diplomatic ties with the German Empire in late 1917.

In September 1917, Viera received a special award from France. It was called the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor.

Continuing Reforms and Social Progress

When Viera became president, he promised to continue the reform plans of his predecessor, Batlle. He told lawmakers that he wanted to pass laws to help workers. He aimed to prevent conflicts between businesses and their employees.

Viera wanted laws about workplace accidents and working hours. He also pushed for laws on women's and children's work. Other goals included old-age pensions, child protection, and a minimum wage.

Some people thought Viera was more careful than Batlle. In 1916, he suggested slowing down new reforms. This happened after a vote on a new constitution, where Batlle's party lost. Viera felt they had moved too fast with changes.

His finance minister, M.C. Martinez, explained Viera's view. He said the president felt they needed to pause because things were moving too quickly. But this did not mean stopping all progress. It just meant being careful not to harm private businesses or the country's finances.

Key Reforms During Viera's Presidency

Despite the pause, many important changes happened under Viera.

Worker Protection and Safety

A law passed in late 1915 set an eight-hour workday for many workers. This included people in shipyards and factories. The law said that daily work could be longer sometimes. But it could never go over 48 hours in six days. Also, workers could not work in two places for more than the legal hours.

In 1918, a law stopped night work in places that made food, like bakeries. There were fines for breaking this rule.

Social Welfare and Support

The "Derecho a la Vida" (Right to Life) law was very important. It made sure that people who had no money or food received help. A law from July 1916 said that police stations or barracks should provide food. This was for anyone in the country who was jobless and had no way to get food.

In 1919, a law set up minimum yearly pensions. This helped people who were poor or had disabilities.

Improvements in Public Health

A 1916 presidential message talked about improvements in public assistance. A new Maternity Pavilion and shelter for pregnant women opened. This helped mothers who were alone or could not care for themselves.

Hospitals also saw improvements. Land was bought for the Eermín Ferreira Hospital. Repairs were made at Maciel Hospital and Pereira Rosell Hospital. New surgical tools were also added.

In the countryside, new pavilions were built at the Santa Lucía Colony. This helped ease overcrowding at the Vilardebó Hospital. Other hospitals also received upgrades and expansions.

Education and Learning Opportunities

In 1916, two new secondary schools were opened in Montevideo. Another law allowed high school students to enter schools for business, farming, and veterinary medicine.

A 1916 law removed tuition and exam fees for many secondary school students. The government could also extend this benefit to all students if finances allowed. In 1918, the first law for protecting employed women and children was passed. It required employers to provide seats for these workers.

The government also created ten night industrial courses for workers. They also set up courses to train industrial education teachers. Three primary industrial schools were established, along with a library.

Financial and Economic Support

A 1916 law protected up to $5,000 in capital and $1,200 in yearly income. This applied to popular operations with the State Insurance Bank.

To help stevedores (dockworkers), a central office was created in 1916. This office registered all stevedores and assigned them work in turns.

A law from March 1918 allowed for "prenda agraria" operations. This was a type of credit for cattle ranchers. It allowed them to pay off loans as they sold their animals. This helped prevent them from selling at very low prices when the market was bad.

In February 1919, a postal savings system was created. Deposits could not be taken away by others. Women could deposit and withdraw money without their husbands' knowledge. This service was also available in small towns without a bank branch.

Workplace Safety Rules

The president also set rules to prevent accidents for workers. Motors and dynamos in factories had to be fenced off. Only authorized people could enter these areas.

In the wood packing industry, workers whose eyes could be hurt by wood shavings had to wear glasses. This rule also applied to foundry workers who faced danger from sparks or sand.

Art and Public Services

A tuition-free School of Modelling was established. It aimed to promote art and was open to anyone with drawing or modeling skills.

In 1919, the government authorized important sanitation work in 15 cities. This helped improve public health.

Healthcare Expansion

New clinics were opened to fight diseases. These clinics helped the poor and encouraged families to see doctors. This helped catch diseases early and spread hygiene knowledge.

Surgical clinics were created at Máciel Hospital and other clinics. The city was divided into areas, and sick people went to the clinic for their area. A medical-surgical clinic for children was also created at the Hospital del Salto.

Agriculture and Livestock

The National Inspection of Livestock and Agriculture did important work. They provided agronomic inspection services and chemical laboratories. They also conducted experiments and offered advice to farmers.

Agricultural inspectors taught farmers about growing flax, corn, and potatoes. They shared practical lessons and publications. This helped improve working conditions and increase production.

Viera's View on His Presidency

Viera believed his government worked to follow the Colorado Party's goals. He said they passed many social laws. These included the Working Day law, Night Work law, Old Age Pensions, and the Right to Life. He felt these laws were urgent and helped the working class.

He also mentioned improving divorce laws and helping children born outside of marriage. He wanted a more humane approach to criminal justice.

After the Presidency

In 1919, Feliciano Viera finished his term as president. He was followed by Baltasar Brum. After his presidency, Viera became the chairman of the National Council of Administration. He held this important position until 1921.

Feliciano Viera passed away on November 13, 1927, at the age of 55.

See also

In Spanish: Feliciano Viera para niños

• Politics of Uruguay