Latin American Studies ETDs

Publication Date

5-31-1968

Abstract

The revolt which overthrew Perón exceeded the scope of an ordinary military coup so common in Latin America; it brought an end to an important era in Argentine history. Perón’s government had, for the first time in Argentine history, attempted to give to the masses the social legislation which had become common in the more developed countries. He had based his government on the country's military, religious, and labor institutions. Of these three, Perón succeeded in alienating the first two and had serious disagreements with the latter. By aiding and cooperating with the opposition, the Church and military influentially precipitated the overthrow of Perón's establishment. The Church was alienated by the direct attack he began in November 1954. Perón's inability to provide strong, effective leadership to his country resulted in an alienation of military support he had previously possessed. Perón's downfall was the result of his failure to solve economic problems facing the nation, his brutal attack on the Church, and his inability to maintain peace. He was unable or unwilling to take the necessary measures to halt the runaway inflation which constantly plagued the country. Perón's industrial policy left him little money to develop agriculture, which was the economic basis of the country. Even the industrial workers, who were the most pampered group in the country, were not producing enough to deserve their high salaries. Perón's doctrine of economic independence was negated in 1953 when he negotiated for foreign investments, principally in petroleum. The Church conflict began when it reactivated its own labor unions after a serious dispute between Perón and his unions. Concerned with his control over his unions, Perón denounced the Church for trying to attract the workers away from him. The conflict began as a war of words which grew more serious until June 11, 1955, when the Peronists joined a Church crowd to damage buildings in downtown Buenos Aires and to burn the national flag. The use of violence by the government and by the opposition left the country without a true peace. There were frequent bombing raids or assasinations attempted by the opposition while the government disrupted the opposition's rallies or acted in vengence as witnessed in the burning of the Jockey Club. The military enjoyed the highest esteem from the people in the history of the country for supporting Perón in the 1940s, but by 1955, the military’s prestige had fallen for supporting a government which made so many serious mistakes. Thus Perón's fall was primarily due to his alienating those institutions which had supported him since 1946. Perón had enough backing from these supporting institution that it would have been unlikely that the opposition could have overthrown him without some outside aid.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Latin American Studies

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Latin American Studies

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ronald Howard Dolkart

Second Committee Member

Martin Cyril Needler

Third Committee Member

Lawrence Littwin

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