Argentina’s Generation of ’80 and the Mexican Revolution: A Comparative Analysis
Argentina’s Generation of ’80
The Crucial Year of 1880
The year 1880 marked a turning point in Argentina’s history. Two critical issues had been resolved: the question of the capital city and the conquest of the desert.
With the state sufficiently consolidated, internal conflicts subsided, and Buenos Aires was declared the capital. However, in 1882, Buenos Aires Governor Dardo Rocha established La Plata as a separate provincial capital.
During General Avellaneda’s presidency, Julio Argentino Roca led the Conquest of the Desert (1878-1879), which involved the displacement or elimination of indigenous populations and the incorporation of their land for agriculture and livestock.
Political, Economic, and Social Project of the Generation of ’80
The Generation of ’80’s project aimed to integrate Argentina into the international division of labor. Economically, this meant focusing on raw material and food production while importing most manufactured goods. Socially, it involved transforming native populations through European immigration and cultural assimilation. Politically, the goal was to establish a modern state with institutions modeled after late 19th-century Europe to attract foreign capital investment.
The economic focus on livestock led to the improvement of cattle breeds for frozen meat export and sheep for wool production. Agriculture favored cereals, particularly wheat and corn. England, the primary consumer of these raw materials, became the main investor (building railroads and refrigeration facilities) and supplier of manufactured goods.
The Sáenz Peña Project (1910-1912)
In 1910, Roque Sáenz Peña’s presidency brought hope for electoral reform. He convened parliament, where various positions on reform were debated, including those of José Figueroa Alcorta, Carlos Pellegrini, socialists, and radicals.
Sáenz Peña’s project advocated for free elections. In 1912, a new electoral law was passed, establishing universal, compulsory, and secret voting. It also proposed the creation of a voter registry based on military records and introduced a system for designating and supervising election officials.
The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a significant social and political upheaval that began in 1910 and officially ended in 1917, although internal conflicts and armed rebellions persisted until the early 1930s. It originated as an armed rebellion against the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz.
Porfirio Díaz and the Rise of Opposition
Porfirio Díaz, a political and military leader from Oaxaca who had participated in major national wars, had held dictatorial power for over 30 years. While the country experienced economic growth, the situation deteriorated in the early 20th century with economic crises and the suppression of political, social, and cultural rights, leading to widespread discontent with Díaz and his associates.
After Díaz hinted at retirement in an interview, political activity intensified, and opposition groups emerged. Francisco I. Madero, a politician from Coahuila, toured the country to form a political party and compete in elections. However, Díaz decided to run again, and Madero was imprisoned on charges of sedition.
Madero’s Presidency and the Ten Tragic Days
Madero escaped prison and fled to the United States, where he issued the Plan de San Luis Potosí, calling for an armed uprising against Díaz’s government on February 20, 1910. The conflict initially erupted in northern Mexico and eventually spread nationwide. Following the capture of Ciudad Juárez, Díaz resigned and went into exile in France.
Madero won the 1911 presidential election but faced opposition from other revolutionary leaders, including Emiliano Zapata and Pascual Orozco, who rebelled against his government. In 1913, a counter-revolutionary movement led by Félix Díaz (Porfirio’s nephew), General Bernardo Reyes, and Victoriano Huerta staged a coup known as the Ten Tragic Days, ending Madero’s presidency.
Huerta’s Regime and the Constitutionalist Revolution
Huerta assumed the presidency, but several revolutionary figures, including Venustiano Carranza and Francisco Villa, rose against his government. After over a year of fighting and the U.S. occupation of Veracruz, Huerta resigned and fled the country.
During this phase, known as the Constitutionalist Revolution, serious divisions emerged among the factions that had opposed Huerta, leading to further armed conflicts. Ultimately, Venustiano Carranza emerged victorious and became president in 1917.
Despite Carranza’s victory, lasting peace in Mexico was not achieved until the 1920s.