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South America and South Atlantic Islands
Argentina |
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Last Reviewed: 20 August 2009 |
Country information
HISTORY
Argentina is thought to have been one of the last countries in Latin America to be settled. Its earliest inhabitants are believed to have arrived from the north some 25,000 years ago.
1516 Juan Diaz de Solis explores Rio de la Plata estuary but is repelled by indigenous people
1536 First foundation of Buenos Aires by Pedro de Mendoza but settlers are struck by famine and most starve or return to Spain
1550-1600 Colonisation of Argentina's interior by the Spanish based in Peru and Paraguay
1810 On 25 May, Buenos Aires revolutionary council declares freedom from Spain
1816 On 9 July, formal declaration of Argentine independence
1853 Argentine Constitution is agreed
1880 Buenos Aires becomes capital of Argentina
1916 First universal male suffrage in Presidential elections; Hipolito Yrigoyen (UCR) is elected
1930 Hipolito Yrigoyen ousted from his second presidency by the first military coup in the 20th century (lasted 2 years)
1946 General Juan Peron elected President
1951 General Peron re-elected President
1952 Death of General Peron's wife Eva Duarte (Evita)
1955 General Peron ousted in military coup (lasting 3 years) and went into exile. Peronism banned.
1973 General Peron returned from exile and elected President for the third time
1974 General Peron dies; succeeded as President by widow Isabel
1976 Military government takes over amid political chaos and internal terrorism
1982 General Galtieri sends troops to invade Falkland Islands; British task force liberates them 2 months later
1983 Military government falls: Raul Alfonsin elected President
1989 Alfonsin resigns amid economic chaos and hyper-inflation and hands over to President-elect Carlos Menem
1994 Pacto de Olivos: New constitution approved, allowing President to serve 2 consecutive terms
1995 President Menem re-elected for second term
1999 Fernando De La Rua elected President
2001 President De La Rua resigns in December following widespread civic unrest and protests against his economic policies. Adolfo Rodriguez Saa chosen as President by Congress but resigns a week later
2002 Eduardo Duhalde is selected as interim President by Congress in January with a mandate to finish De La Rua's term.
2003 Nestor Kirchner elected President in April and inaugurated on 25 May.
2007 Cristina Kirchner elected President in October and inaugurated on 10 December.
