History of Argentina (1916–1930) facts for kids

The period from 1916 to 1930 in Argentina is known as the Radical Phase (Spanish: Etapa Radical). It began when Hipólito Yrigoyen from the Radical Civic Union was elected president. This election ended the long rule of the conservative Generation of '80 in politics. Yrigoyen's second term, which started in 1928, was cut short by Argentina's first military takeover. This event brought José Félix Uriburu to power and marked the beginning of the Infamous Decade.

Hipólito Yrigoyen's First Term (1916–1922)

Before 1916, conservative groups mostly controlled Argentine politics. But that changed when the Radicals, led by Hipólito Yrigoyen, won the government. This happened in the first national elections where all men could vote, thanks to the 1912 Sáenz Peña Law. About 745,000 citizens were allowed to vote out of a total population of 7.5 million. Many immigrants, who made up a large part of the population, were not allowed to vote.

New Elections and Challenges

Even though Yrigoyen won, he only got 45% of the votes. This meant his party did not have a majority in Parliament, where conservatives were still very strong. Because of this, out of 80 new laws Yrigoyen suggested, only 26 were approved by the conservative Parliament. For example, a plan for moderate farming changes, a tax on earnings, and the idea of creating a national bank were all rejected.

Despite this opposition, the Radical Civic Union (UCR) welcomed Argentina's growing middle class. They also included other social groups who had not been part of the government before. The UCR believed in fair elections and democratic ways of governing. Yrigoyen wanted to "fix" the system by making important changes. He hoped these changes would help Argentina's economy, which relied on exporting farm products and other goods.

Social Changes and Reforms

Yrigoyen's government tried to balance moderate social reforms with sometimes strong responses to social protests. A student movement began at the National University of Córdoba in 1918. This led to the University Reform of 1918, which quickly spread to other universities across America. This reform gave students more say in how universities were run.

However, there were also difficult times. In January 1919, a general strike called by the Argentine Regional Workers' Federation (FORA) led to violence. Many people were hurt or killed. Later, there were other serious events involving workers, such as at the Forestal company and in Patagonia.

On the other hand, Yrigoyen's government also made important changes for workers. They passed a Labor Code in 1921, which included the right to strike. They also set up minimum wage laws and rules for group work agreements. In June 1922, they started the Dirección General de Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF), which was a state-owned oil company. The Radical party believed in bringing different social groups together, rather than having them fight each other.

Argentina and World War I

During World War I, the Radicals kept Argentina neutral. This meant Argentina did not take sides in the war, even though the United States wanted them to join the fight against the Triple Alliance. Being neutral allowed Argentina to keep exporting goods to Europe, especially to Great Britain. It also allowed them to lend money to the countries fighting in the war.

German submarines sank two Argentine civilian ships, the Monte Protegido and the Toro. This caused a diplomatic problem, but it ended with the German ambassador, Karl von Luxburg, being sent out of the country. Yrigoyen also organized a meeting of neutral countries in Buenos Aires. He wanted to show that American countries did not have to join the European war. He also supported Augusto Sandino's fight against the United States in Nicaragua.

In September 1922, Yrigoyen's government decided not to follow the "cordon sanitaire" policy, which was a way to isolate the Soviet Union. Instead, Argentina sent 5 million pesos in aid to the USSR, similar to the help they gave to Austria after the war.

Marcelo T. de Alvear's Presidency (1922–1928)

In 1922, Yrigoyen was replaced by Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear, another leader from the Radical Civic Union. Alvear was from a wealthy family. He won the election against Norberto Piñero's conservative party.

A Different Approach

Alvear brought many people from the traditional ruling classes into his government. His supporters formed a group called the Unión Cívica Radical Antipersonalista, which was against Yrigoyen's leadership style. During his time as president, Alvear reversed many of Yrigoyen's social reforms and labor laws. He also changed the University Reform.

During this period, some influential people in Argentina started to express ideas that supported military rule. For example, the poet Leopoldo Lugones gave a famous speech in 1922, suggesting that the military should take control.

Yrigoyen's Second Term and the End of an Era (1928–1930)

Yrigoyen was elected president again in 1928. However, his second term was cut short when a military coup removed him from power in 1930. This event marked the end of the Radical Phase and the beginning of a new period in Argentine history.

See also

• History of Argentina
• Generation of '80
• Infamous Decade
• 1924 Napalpí massacre