Juan Peron

Thursday, October 27, 2011 5:26 PM

EARLY CAREER Entered military at 16 Served as military observer in Europe in 1938 Became familiar with Fascist Italy and Benito Mussolini Colonel Peron a participant in a military coup d'tat in 1943 Becomes Sec. of Labor where he develops alliances with socialist and labor unions Promotes labor laws to strengthen unionspopular with workers

RISING POPULARITY Fund raising efforts after major earthquake led to public approval and introduction to second wife, Eva Duarte Rivalry among military officers and Peron (VP at the time) led to arrest and brief imprisonment Mass protests led by Eva won his freedom They were married days after release FIRST TERM (1946-1952) Won with huge support of organized labor Would have permanent opposition of big business 2 Main goals Social injustice Economic independence Carefully avoided aligning with US or USSR in early Cold War ECONOMIC Nationalized banks, railroads, shipping, etc. owned by foreign nations Paid off foreign debts National control of universities, public utilities, transportation, major agricultural export sectors Saw some major advances before inflation struck in 1950s Ironically, Marshall Plan that helped Europe undermined Argentine markets that had opened after the war SECOND TERM (1952-1955) Faced economic troubles including high trade deficits with foreign investors Highest standard of living in Latin America led foreign manufacturers, especially auto makers, to build plants in Argentina Many saw Peron as unpatriotic for allowing so much foreign investment

CONTROVERSIAL REFORMS Legalized divorce and prostitution Drew anger of conservation elements Pope Pius XII excommunicated Peron from Catholic Church After death of Eva, reportedly had relationship with 13 yr old girl-didn't deny Regime's control of media suppressed critics Charges that he was a dictator grew A coup attempted drove him to exile in Spain and resulted in the death of over 800 civilians REPRESSION OF OPPOSITION Upper class students vocal in opposition to Peronists- resulted in mass firing of university professors "Long Live Cancer"-student chant-referring to Eva's battle with cervical cancer Meat packer Union leader Cipriano Reyes tortured in prison after organizing an anti-Peron strike Was implicated in plot to kill Peron Torture by police became common MEDIA CONTROL Peron preferred control of media over torturing opposition Intimidation of press 110 publications closed down during 40s alone Caused remaining outlets to self-censor Peron imprisoned/exiled numerous artists and intellectuals Actors, film makers, musicians who ran afoul of Peron PROTEECTION OF NAZI WAR CRIMINALS Nazis allowed to enter Argentina to escape prosectution Josef Mengel (Auschwitz "doctor"), Eichmann (architect of Holocaust), Barbie (butcher of LyonGestapo) Secret routing of Nazis to Argentina called "ratline" Peron an admirer of Fascist Italy and Spain Peron not anti-semetic Argentina first Latin American country to recognize new state of Israel Peron sympathized with Axis, but believed in rights of the Jews

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