Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1908
After 20 years of construction, the second Teatro Colón opens with a presentation of Gi-
useppe Verdi's opera
Aida
.
1916
Hipólito Yrigoyen, leader of the Radical Party popular with the middle classes, is elected
president and introduces minimum wage to counter inflation; he's re-elected in 1928.
1930
Hipólito Yrigoyen is overthrown in a military coup led by General José Félix Uriburu, who
stays in power for two years, after which civilian rule is restored.
1946
Populist Lieutenant-General Juan Domingo Perón is elected president; Perón and his
young wife Eva Perón ('Evita') make sweeping changes to the political structure.
1952
Evita dies of cancer on July 26 at age 33, one year into Juan Perón's second term as presid-
ent. Her death severely weakes the political might of her husband.
1955
After the economy slides into recession, Perón loses further political clout; he is thrown
from the presidency and exiled to Spain after a military coup.
1976-83
Under the military leadership of General Jorge Videla, Argentina is launched into the Dirty
War. In eight years, up to 30,000 people 'disappear'.
1982
General Leopoldo Galtieri provokes the UK into a war over control of the Falkland Islands
(Las Islas Malvinas), but Argentina is easily defeated by the British.
1983
The military regime collapses, ending the Dirty War; civilian government is restored under
Radical leader Raúl Alfonsín, but he leaves office early due to growing inflation problems.
