Government Junta of Bolivia (1861) facts for kids
The Government Junta of Bolivia was a special group of leaders who ruled Bolivia for a short time in 1861. This group was made up of both military and civilian people. It had three main leaders, called a triumvirate: José María de Achá, Manuel Antonio Sánchez, and Ruperto Fernández. They took control after a sudden change in government, called a coup d'état, on January 14, 1861. They removed the president they used to work for, José María Linares. The junta's rule ended on May 4, 1861, when a new assembly chose Achá to be the temporary president.
Contents
How the Government Junta Started
The 1861 Coup d'État
On January 14, 1861, two important government ministers, Ruperto Fernández and José María de Achá, teamed up with Manuel Antonio Sánchez, who was a local leader in La Paz. They rebelled against President José María Linares. This sudden takeover of power is known as a coup d'état.
The new leaders, forming the junta, explained their actions to the country. They said it was a "regenerative revolution." They claimed it was needed to fix problems caused by President Linares's rule, which they called a dictatorship.
Creating a New Government
Right after taking power, on January 15, 1861, the junta called for a special meeting. This meeting was for a "constituent assembly." The assembly's main jobs were to:
- Write a new constitution for Bolivia. This would be the seventh constitution in the country's history.
- Choose a temporary president from the three leaders of the junta.
Elections for this assembly were held in a fair way. People from many different backgrounds were elected. When the assembly officially began on May 1, the junta gave its power to the assembly. Adolfo Ballivián led this new assembly. On the same day, the assembly asked the junta to keep leading for a little longer. This was until they could decide who would be the new temporary president.
Choosing a New Leader
One of the junta members, Manuel Antonio Sánchez, had passed away in April. So, the assembly had to choose between Achá and Fernández. The fact that Fernández was from Argentina was considered. The assembly decided to declare him a Bolivian citizen.
However, on May 4, the assembly voted for Achá. He became the temporary president with 860 votes, while Fernández received 16 votes.
Who Was Part of the Junta?
The Government Junta was led by three main people. They also had ministers who helped run different parts of the government.
Job in Government | Minister | Group | Prof. | Started | Left | Time in Office | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government Junta of the Republic |
José María de Achá | Mil. | Mil. | 14 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 110 | ||
Ruperto Fernández | Ind. | Law. | 14 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 110 | |||
Manuel Antonio Sánchez | Mil. | Mil. | 14 January 1861 | 9 April 1861 | 85 | |||
Minister of Foreign Affairs | Ricardo José Bustamante | Ind. | Wri. | 21 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 103 | ||
Minister of Government and Justice |
Manuel Morris | Ind. | Law. | 21 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 103 | ||
Minister of War | Pedro Cueto | Mil. | Mil. | 21 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 103 | ||
Minister of Finance | Juan José Ibargüen | Ind. | – | 21 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 103 | ||
Minister of Public Instruction and Worship |
Jacinto Villamil | Ind. | Law. | 21 January 1861 | 4 May 1861 | 103 |
See also
In Spanish: Junta Gubernativa de 1861 para niños