The only inhabitants of Uruguay before European colonization of the
area were the Charrua Indians, a small tribe driven south by the
Guarani Indians of Paraguay. The Spanish discovered the territory of
present-day Uruguay in 1516, but the Indians' fierce resistance to
conquest, combined with the absence of gold and silver, limited
settlement in the region during the 16th and 17th centuries. The
Spanish introduced cattle, which became a source of wealth in the
region. Spanish colonization increased as Spain sought to limit
Portugal's expansion of Brazil's frontiers.
Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in the early 18th century as a
military stronghold; its natural harbor soon developed into a
commercial center competing with Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires.
Uruguay's early 19th century history was shaped by ongoing conflicts
between the British, Spanish, Portuguese, and colonial forces for
dominance in the Argentina-Brazil-Uruguay region. In 1811, Jose
Gervasio Artigas, who became Uruguay's national hero, launched a
successful revolt against Spain. In 1821, the Provincia Oriental del
Rio de la Plata, present-day Uruguay, was annexed to Brazil by
Portugal. The Provincia declared independence from Brazil in August
25, 1825 (after numerous revolts in 1821, 1823, and 1825) but
decided to adhere to a regional federation with Argentina.
The regional federation defeated Brazil after a 3-year war. The 1828
Treaty of Montevideo, fostered by the United Kingdom, gave birth to
Uruguay as an independent state. The nation's first constitution was
adopted in 1830. The remainder of the 19th century, under a series
of elected and appointed presidents, saw interventions by
neighboring states, political and economic fluctuations, and large
inflows of immigrants, mostly from Europe. Jose Batlle y Ordoñez,
president from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915, set the
pattern for Uruguay's modern political development. He established
widespread political, social, and economic reforms such as a welfare
program, government participation in many facets of the economy, and
a plural executive. Some of these reforms were continued by his
successors.
By 1966, economic, political, and social difficulties led to
constitutional amendments, and a new constitution was adopted in
1967. In 1973, amid increasing economic and political turmoil, the
armed forces closed the Congress and established a civilian-military
regime, characterized by repression and widespread human rights
abuses. A new constitution drafted by the military was rejected in a
November 1980 plebiscite. Following the plebiscite, the armed forces
announced a plan for return to civilian rule. National elections
were held in 1984. Colorado Party leader Julio Maria Sanguinetti won
the presidency and served from 1985 to 1990. The first Sanguinetti
administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated
democracy following the country's years under military rule.
Sanguinetti's economic reforms, focusing on the attraction of
foreign trade and capital, achieved some success and stabilized the
economy. In order to promote national reconciliation and facilitate
the return of democratic civilian rule, Sanguinetti secured public
approval by plebiscite of a controversial general amnesty for
military leaders accused of committing human rights violations under
the military regime, and sped the release of former guerrillas.
The National Party's Luis Alberto Lacalle won the 1989 presidential
election and served from 1990 to 1995. Lacalle executed major
structural economic reforms and pursued further liberalization of
the trade regime. Uruguay became a founding member of MERCOSUR in
1991 (the Southern Cone Common Market, which includes Argentina,
Brazil, and Paraguay). Despite economic growth during Lacalle's
term, adjustment and privatization efforts provoked political
opposition, and some reforms were overturned by referendum.
In the 1994 elections, former President Sanguinetti won a new term,
which ran from 1995 until March 2000. As no single party had a
majority in the General Assembly, the National Party joined with
Sanguinetti's Colorado Party in a coalition government. The
Sanguinetti government continued Uruguay's economic reforms and
integration into MERCOSUR. Other important reforms were aimed at
improving the electoral system, social security, education, and
public safety. The economy grew steadily for most of Sanguinetti's
term, until low commodity prices and economic difficulties in its
main export markets caused a recession in 1999, which continued into
2003.
The 1999 national elections were held under a new electoral system
established by constitutional amendment. Primaries in April decided
single presidential candidates for each party, and national
elections on October 31 determined representation in the
legislature. As no presidential candidate received a majority in the
October election, a runoff was held in November. In the runoff,
Colorado Party candidate Jorge Batlle, aided by the support of the
National Party, defeated Frente Amplio candidate Tabaré Vázquez.
The legislative coalition of the Colorado and National parties that
held during most of Batlle's administration ended in November 2002,
when the Blancos withdrew their ministers from the cabinet.
Throughout most of his administration, President Batlle had to
handle Uruguay's largest economic crisis in recent history, which
impacted on poverty and led to increased emigration. Aside from
successfully addressing the crisis, Batlle increased international
trade, attracted foreign investment and tried to resolve issues
related to Uruguayans who disappeared during the military
government.
The two traditional political parties, the National ("Blanco") and
Colorado parties, which were founded in the early 19th century, in
the past garnered about 90% of the vote but have seen their share
decline over the past decades. At the same time the share of the
Frente Amplio, a coalition of various left-of-center factions that
became the largest political force in 1999, was on the rise. In
October 2004 presidential elections, Tabare Vazquez ran against the
Blanco candidate Jorge Larranaga, a former state governor and
senator who got 34.3% of votes, and against the Colorado candidate,
former Interior Minister Stirling who got 10.4%. President Vazquez
won the elections in the first round, with 50.5% of ballots, and his
party achieved parliamentary majority. The Frente Amplio has ruled
Montevideo since 1990.
During its first 3 years in power, the Vázquez administration made
good on its campaign promise to re-examine the human rights abuses
committed during the period of military dictatorship and uncovered
important forensic evidence. Bilateral relations with Argentina were
strained by an ongoing dispute over the construction in Uruguay of a
large wood pulp mill on a shared river. Legislation, including a
controversial tax reform bill, tended to pass easily as the Frente
Amplio enjoyed majorities in both houses of congress. |
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