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The Argentine Civil Wars were a series of
civil conflict A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
s of varying intensity that took place through the territories of
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
from 1814 to 1853. Initiation concurrently with the Argentine War of Independence (1810–1820), the conflict prevented the formation of a stable governing body until the signing of the
Argentine Constitution of 1853 The Argentine Constitution of 1853 is the current constitution of Argentina. It was approved in 1853 by all of the provincial governments except Buenos Aires Province, which remained separate from the Argentine Confederation until 1859. After ...
, followed by low frequency skirmishes that ended with the
Federalization of Buenos Aires Federalization, in Argentine law, is the process of assigning federal status to a territory with the purpose of making that territory the national capital. Federalization of Buenos Aires politically separated the city from the Buenos Aires Provinc ...
. The period saw heavy intervention from the
Brazilian Empire The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil and (until 1828) Uruguay. Its government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Dom P ...
that fought against state and provinces in multiple wars. Breakaway nations, former territories of the viceroyalty such as the
Banda Oriental Banda Oriental, or more fully Banda Oriental del Uruguay (Eastern Bank), was the name of the South American territories east of the Uruguay River and north of Río de la Plata that comprise the modern nation of Uruguay; the modern state of Rio Gra ...
,
Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...
and the Alto Peru were involved to varying degrees. Foreign powers such as
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
and French empires put heavy pressure on the fledging nations at times of international war. Initially conflict arose from tensions over the organization and powers of the
United Provinces of South America United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
. The May 1810 revolution sparked the breakdown of the Viceroyalty's Intendencies (regional administrations) into local
Cabildos Cabildo can refer to: * Cabildo (council), a former Spanish municipal administrative unit governed by a council * Cabildo abierto, or open cabildo, a Latin American political action for convening citizens to make important decisions * Cabildo (Cuba ...
. These rejected the notion that the central government should be able to instate and remove governors of the new provinces; a general opposition to
centralism Centralisation or centralization (see spelling differences) is the process by which the activities of an organisation, particularly those regarding planning and decision-making, framing strategy and policies become concentrated within a particu ...
. Escalation resulted in the dissolution of the Directorship and the
congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
leaving the Argentine provinces under the leadership of
personalist Personalism is an intellectual stance that emphasizes the importance of human persons. Personalism exists in many different versions, and this makes it somewhat difficult to define as a philosophical and theological movement. Friedrich Schleierm ...
strongmen called
Caudillos A ''caudillo'' ( , ; osp, cabdillo, from Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise definition of ''caudillo'', which is often used interchangeably with ...
, leading to sporadic skirmishes until the reestablishment of relative peace after the war between the League of the Interior and the
Federal Pact The Federal Pact ( es, Pacto Federal) was a treaty first signed by the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe on 4 January 1831, for which a Federal military alliance was created to confront the Unitarian League. Other p ...
. However, conflicting interests did not permit the creation of a governing body until the Pact's defeat during the
Platine War The Platine War (, ; 18 August 1851 – 3 February 1852) was fought between the Argentine Confederation and an alliance consisting of the Empire of Brazil, Uruguay, and the Argentine provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes, with the parti ...
. Later conflicts centered around commercial control of the riverways in the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers and the country's only
port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...
, which saw the secession of
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
from the Argentine Confederation, its unification and subsequent de-escalation of hostilities as the battleground moved from mutinies to debates within the political system of the
Argentine Republic Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
.


Overview


The Federal League and The Anarchy of the 1820s

Regionalism had long marked the relationship among the numerous provinces of what today is Argentina, and the wars of independence did not result in national unity. José Artigas' establishment of the
Federal League The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that played its first season as a minor league in 1913 and operated as a "third major league", in competition with the e ...
with Banda Oriental Province,
Entre Ríos Province Entre Ríos (, "Between Rivers") is a central province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires (south), Corrientes (north) and Santa Fe (west), and Uruguay in the east. Its capital is Paraná ...
,
Corrientes Province Corrientes (, ‘currents’ or ‘streams’; gn, Taragui), officially the Province of Corrientes ( es, Provincia de Corrientes; gn, Taragüí Tetãmini) is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by (fr ...
,
Misiones Province Misiones (, ''Missions'') is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes ...
, and Córdoba Province, in June 1814 marked the first formal rupture in the
United Provinces of South America United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
that had been created by the 1810
May Revolution The May Revolution ( es, Revolución de Mayo) was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This Spanish colony included roughly the terri ...
. The Banda Oriental was
invaded An invasion is a military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitical entity aggressively enter territory owned by another such entity, generally with the objective of either: conquering; liberating or re-establishing con ...
in June 1816 by
Portuguese Empire The Portuguese Empire ( pt, Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas (''Ultramar Português'') or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (''Império Colonial Português''), was composed of the overseas colonies, factories, and the ...
, a conflict that tied Artigas' army to the defense of the region. Nonetheless, he ordered an armed response against the Directorship of the United Provinces' declaration of the centralising Argentine Constitution of 1819. The Federal League victory at the Battle of Cepeda (1820) effectively dissolved the government, leaving caudillos as the highest regional authorities for the remainder of the decade. The
Treaty of Pilar The Treaty of Pilar (in Spanish, ''Tratado del Pilar'') was a pact signed among the rulers of the Argentine provinces of Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires, which is recognized as the foundation of the federal organization of the country. I ...
between Buenos Aires, Sante Fe and Entre Ríos, and the subsequent refusal of fellow Federal members to aid the occupied Banda Oriental marked the dissolution of the Federal League. Armed conflict between Littoral governors soared in the beginning of the 1820s, immediately following the downfall of the Federal League. Artigas rejected the Pilar treaty and signed the Avalos Treaty with the governments of Corrientes and Misiones. In May 1820 he marched his army towards
Concepción del Uruguay Concepción del Uruguay is a city in Argentina. It is located in the Entre Ríos province, on the western shore of the Uruguay River, some 320 kilometers north from Buenos Aires. Its population is about 80,000 inhabitants (). History The city ...
in Entre Ríos, but was ultimately defeated at Misiones by September, and exiled to
Asunción Asunción (, , , Guarani: Paraguay) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of ...
. The governor of Entre Ríos, Francisco Ramírez effectively occupied the provinces of Corrientes and Misiones. The signing of the
Treaty of Benegas The Treaty of Benegas was a peace treaty signed by the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires and Santa Fe on 24 November 1820. History After the Batlle of Cepeda, on 1 February 1820, where the ''caudillo'' of Santa Fe Province, Estanislao Lópe ...
in November 1820 between Buenos Aires and Santa Fe led to the breakdown of relations between Ramírez and Santa Fe's governor
Estanislao López Estanislao López (26 November 1786 – 15 June 1838) was a ''caudillo'' and governor of the , between 1818 and 1838, one of the foremost proponents of provincial federalism, and an associate of Juan Manuel de Rosas during the Argentine Civ ...
. By 1821 a war between the Buenos Aires-Santa Fe alliance and Corrientes ended in the death of Ramírez and the signing of the defensive
Quadrilateral Treaty The Quadrilateral Treaty was a pact between the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Corrientes, signed on 25 January 1822. The treaty was intended to be an offensive-defensive pact between the signatories, in front of a ...
between Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Corrientes against the Brazilian-Portuguese.


Federal Congress of the United Provinces

Fear of further Brazilian aggression led the provinces to agree for a federal congress in 1824. In a number of sessions, the congress drafted a "Fundamental law" temporarily appointing the
governor of Buenos Aires Province The Governor of Buenos Aires Province ( es, Gobernador de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) is a citizen of the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina, holding the office of governor for the corresponding period. The governor is elected alongside a vic ...
as
head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...
until the formal establishment of such an office. Subsequent sessions saw reinvigorated support of the Banda Oriental's resistance against Brazil, culminating in the formal reintegration of the province after the Uruguay's declaration of independence at the congress of Florida on 25 August 1825. In response, Brazil declared war on the United Provinces on 10 December 1825, prompting the enactment of the presidency and the election of
Bernardino Rivadavia Bernardino de la Trinidad González Rivadavia (May 20, 1780 – September 2, 1845) was the first President of Argentina, then called the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, from February 8, 1826 to June 27, 1827. He was educated at t ...
as its first president in order to coordinate the new Argentine army, despite objections from the representatives of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe over port rights. Rivadavia and his followers heavily pushed for reforms intended to set up the basis of a federal level government and successfully passed the Argentine Constitution of 1826, denounced by congress representatives as centralist in nature. Although initially successful, the war stagnated and poorly led negotiations in 1827 discredited the central government. Facing opposition on all fronts, Rivadavia resigned and vice-president
Vicente López y Planes Alejandro Vicente López y Planes (May 3, 1785 – October 10, 1856) was an Argentine writer and politician who acted as interim President of Argentina from July 7 to August 18, 1827. He also wrote the lyrics of the Argentine National Anthe ...
soon followed his example. Elections were held in Buenos Aires where the opposition leader
Manuel Dorrego Manuel Dorrego (11 June 1787 – 13 December 1828) was an Argentine statesman and soldier. He was governor of Buenos Aires in 1820, and then again from 1827 to 1828. Life and politics Dorrego was born in Buenos Aires on 11 June 1787 to José An ...
was elected Governor of Buenos Aires as the only candidate contesting. His peace negotiations with Brazil faced heavy pressure from the
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...
who saw continued war as a threat to its trade networks. Mediated through Britain, the August 1828 Preliminary Peace Convention affirmed the independence of the Banda Oriental, a result not expected by the local population. The ensuing outrage prompted returning officer
Juan Lavalle Juan Galo Lavalle (17 October 1797 – 9 October 1841) was an Argentine military and political figure. Biography Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires to María Mercedes González Bordallo and Manuel José Lavalle, general accountant of rents and t ...
to stage a coup on behalf of the Unitarians in December 1828, executing Dorrego and dissolving the second republic of the United Provinces. Federalist rancher Juan Manuel de Rosas rose in revolt and defeated the coup.


Liga del Interior and Pacto Federal

Beginning from 1829, two cliques that came to be named by contemporaries as
Federalists The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...
and Unitarians took shape. In that year Juan Manuel de Rosas assumed governorship of Buenos Aires after forcing Lavalle's surrender. In Cordoba, the pro-Lavalle minister
José María Paz Brigadier General José María Paz y Haedo (September 9, 1791 – October 22, 1854) was an Argentine military figure, notable in the Argentine War of Independence and the Argentine Civil Wars. Childhood Born in Córdoba, Argentina, the son ...
began a campaign of subjugation against the interior provinces. In his writings he denounced provincial governors, especially those of the littoral, calling them
Caudillos A ''caudillo'' ( , ; osp, cabdillo, from Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise definition of ''caudillo'', which is often used interchangeably with ...
, and accused the anti-centralising interior provinces of a colonial mindset, holding them responsible for the country's disorganized state and ultimately the stagnation of the independence war efforts and the collapse of the
Army of the North The Army of the North ( es, link=no, Ejército del Norte), contemporaneously called Army of Peru, was one of the armies deployed by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata in the Spanish American wars of independence. Its objective was fre ...
. His campaign against settlements in western Argentina found little opposition with the exception of Mendoza's Caudillo
Juan Facundo Quiroga Juan Facundo Quiroga (November 27, 1788 – February 16, 1835) was an Argentine caudillo (military strongman) who supported federalism at the time when the country was still in formation. Early years Quiroga was born in San Antonio, La Rio ...
, who he defeated in a series of skirmishes. Paz set his sights on removing Caudillo influence from the cities, ordering a series of purges and expropriations of deposed governors such as the Quiroga family. On July 5, 1830, the Unitarian Liga del Interior was formally entreated as a military alliance, albeit with all local governors supplanted with Paz's followers. In response, on January 4, 1831, the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Corrientes and Entre Ríos established the
Federal Pact The Federal Pact ( es, Pacto Federal) was a treaty first signed by the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe on 4 January 1831, for which a Federal military alliance was created to confront the Unitarian League. Other p ...
, in reference to Artigas' original proposal for a federal system to replace the viceroyalty system. Hostilities between the two alliances began in May that year, ending with the defeat of the Unitarian League at the Battle of La Ciudadela.
Juan Lavalle Juan Galo Lavalle (17 October 1797 – 9 October 1841) was an Argentine military and political figure. Biography Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires to María Mercedes González Bordallo and Manuel José Lavalle, general accountant of rents and t ...
continued the conflict through a series of rebellions with different alliances against Rosas and the Federal Pact until Lavalle's defeat and assassination in 1841. The Federal Pact made no attempt at creating a centralized government. Provinces such as Corrientes considered the pact dissolved by 1834, having attained its goals. Representation on foreign affairs was assumed by the far larger Buenos Aires province with provincial governors formally delegating to Rosas' government. In addition, Rosas was symbolically granted the "Sum of public power", suspending the separation of powers. These powers also enabled Rosas to participate in the protracted
Uruguayan Civil War The Uruguayan Civil War, also known in Spanish as the ''Guerra Grande'' ("Great War"), was a series of armed conflicts between the leaders of Uruguayan independence. While officially the war lasted from 1839 until 1851, it was a part of armed c ...
in favor of Blancos leader Manuel Oribe, though unsuccessfully; Oribe, in turn, led numerous military campaigns on behalf of Rosas, and became an invaluable ally in the struggle against Lavalle and other Unitarians. Beginning with Rosas' 1835 governorship mandate, this arrangement began to be called the Argentine Confederation, albeit amid ongoing conflicts, interventionism and rising local and international tensions. The
Peru–Bolivian Confederation The Peru–Bolivian Confederation was a short-lived state that existed in South America between 1836 and 1839. The country was a loose confederation between the states of Peru, divided into the Republic of North Peru and the Republic of South Pe ...
declared the
War of the Confederation The War of the Confederation ( es, Guerra de la Confederación) was a military confrontation waged by Chile, along with Peruvian dissidents, and the Argentine Confederation against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation between 1836 and 1839. As ...
against Chile and Argentina.
Justo José de Urquiza Justo José de Urquiza y García (; October 18, 1801 – April 11, 1870) was an Argentine general and politician who served as president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860. Life Justo José de Urquiza y García was bo ...
, governor of Entre Ríos, led the other provinces to demand the drafting of a constitution and sharing of customs authority and export income. The
Platine War The Platine War (, ; 18 August 1851 – 3 February 1852) was fought between the Argentine Confederation and an alliance consisting of the Empire of Brazil, Uruguay, and the Argentine provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes, with the parti ...
saw a Brazilian-led alliance of
Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...
Uruguayan, dissident Federalist and Paraguayan elements defeating the Argentine-Uruguayan army in 1852 at the
Battle of Caseros The Battle of Caseros ( es, Batalla de Caseros) was fought near the town of El Palomar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on 3 February 1852, between the Army of Buenos Aires commanded by Juan Manuel de Rosas and the Grand Army (''Ejército ...
, when Rosas was deposed and exiled.


Secession of Buenos Aires

The central figure in the overthrow of Rosas, Entre Ríos Governor
Justo José de Urquiza Justo José de Urquiza y García (; October 18, 1801 – April 11, 1870) was an Argentine general and politician who served as president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860. Life Justo José de Urquiza y García was bo ...
, failed to secure Buenos Aires' ratification of the 1852 San Nicolás Agreement for a new constitution. Following this, Buenos Aires Unitarians launched the
Revolution of 11 September 1852 In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
, and the
State of Buenos Aires The State of Buenos Aires ( es, Estado de Buenos Aires) was a secessionist republic resulting from the overthrow of the Argentine Confederation government in the Province of Buenos Aires on September 11, 1852. The State of Buenos Aires was nev ...
was declared. The secessionist state rejected the 1853
Constitution of Argentina The Constitution of the Argentine Nation ( es, Constitución de la Nación Argentina) is the basic governing document of Argentina, and the primary source of existing law in Argentina. Its first version was written in 1853 by a constitutional ...
, and promulgated its own the following year. The most contentious issue remained the
Buenos Aires Customs The Buenos Aires Customs House (''Aduana'') is a government building and architectural landmark in the Montserrat section of Buenos Aires. Overview The French neoclassical building housing the Argentine General Customs Directorate (DGA) was commi ...
, which remained under the control of the city government and was the chief source of public revenue. Nations with which the Confederation maintained
foreign relations A state's foreign policy or external policy (as opposed to internal or domestic policy) is its objectives and activities in relation to its interactions with other states, unions, and other political entities, whether bilaterally or through m ...
, moreover, kept all embassies in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
(rather than in the capital, Paraná). The State of Buenos Aires was also bolstered by its numerous alliances in the hinterland, including that of
Santiago del Estero Province Santiago del Estero (), also known simply as Santiago, is a province in the north of Argentina. Neighboring provinces, clockwise from the north, are Salta, Chaco, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca and Tucumán. History The indigenous inhabita ...
(led by Manuel Taboada), as well as among powerful Unitarian Party governors in
Salta Salta () is the capital and largest city in the Argentine province of the same name. With a population of 618,375 according to the 2010 census, it is also the 7th most-populous city in Argentina. The city serves as the cultural and economic ce ...
,
Corrientes Corrientes (; Guaraní: Taragüí, literally: "Currents") is the capital city of the province of Corrientes, Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about from Buenos Aires and from Posadas, on National Route 12. It ha ...
, Tucumán and San Juan. The 1858 assassination of San Juan's Federalist governor,
Nazario Benavídez José Nazario Benavídez (27 July 1802 – 23 October 1858) was an Argentine soldier who rose to the rank of Brigadier General and played a leading role in the Argentine Civil Wars. He was Governor of San Juan Province, Argentina, for almost twe ...
, by Unitarians inflamed tensions between the Confederation and the State of Buenos Aires, as did a
free trade agreement A free-trade agreement (FTA) or treaty is an agreement according to international law to form a free-trade area between the cooperating states. There are two types of trade agreements: bilateral and multilateral. Bilateral trade agreements occ ...
between the chief Confederate port (the
Port of Rosario The Port of Rosario is an inland port and a major goods-shipping center of Argentina, located in the city of Rosario, province of Santa Fe, on the western shore of the Paraná River, about 550 km upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. Overview ...
) and the
Port of Montevideo The Port of Montevideo ( es, Puerto de Montevideo), in the northern part of the Old City of Montevideo, Uruguay, is one of the major ports of South America and plays a very important role in the economy of Uruguay. Notably the port includes a nu ...
, which undermined Buenos Aires trade. The election of the intransigent
Valentín Alsina Valentín Alsina (December 16, 1802 – September 6, 1869) was an Argentine lawyer and politician. Biography Early life Alsina was born in Buenos Aires and studied law at the University of Córdoba. He occupied diverse posts in government, an ...
further exacerbated disputes, which culminated in the Battle of Cepeda (1859). Buenos Aires forces, led by General Bartolomé Mitre, were defeated by those led by the President of Argentina,
Justo José de Urquiza Justo José de Urquiza y García (; October 18, 1801 – April 11, 1870) was an Argentine general and politician who served as president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860. Life Justo José de Urquiza y García was bo ...
. Ordered to subjugate Buenos Aires separatists by force, Urquiza instead invited the defeated to a round of negotiations, and secured the
Pact of San José de Flores The Pact of San José de Flores (''Pacto Unión San José de Flores'', or ''Pacto de Unión Nacional'') was a treaty signed between the Argentine Confederation and the State of Buenos Aires on November 11, 1859, on the aftermath of the Battle of ...
, which provided for a number of constitutional amendments and led to other concessions, including an extension on the province's customs house concession and measures benefiting the
Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires The Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires ( es, Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires), better known as Banco Provincia, is a publicly owned bank in Argentina and the second-largest in the country by value of assets and deposits. History The prog ...
, whose currency was authorized for use as legal tender at the customs house (thereby controlling much of the nation's foreign trade). Mitre ultimately abrogated the Pact of San José, leading to renewed civil war. These hostilities culminated in the 1861
Battle of Pavón The Battle of Pavón, a key battle of the Argentine Civil Wars, was fought in Pavón, Santa Fé Province, Argentina on 17 September 1861 between the Army of the State of Buenos Aires, commanded by Bartolomé Mitre, and the Army of Republic of t ...
, and to victory on the part of Mitre and Buenos Aires over Urquiza's national forces. President
Santiago Derqui Santiago Rafael Luis Manuel José María Derqui Rodríguez ( Córdoba June 21, 1809 – Corrientes November 5, 1867) was president of Argentina from March 5, 1860 to November 5, 1861. He was featured on the 10 australes note, which is now ...
, who had been backed by Urquiza, resigned on November 4, 1861. Mitre's forces captured more than half of the interior provinces, and replaced their Federalist governments with Unitarians. Mitre, who despite victory reaffirmed his commitment to the 1860 constitutional amendments, was elected the republic's first president in 1862.


National unification

President Mitre instituted a
limited suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to v ...
electoral system known as the '' voto cantado'' ("intoned vote"), which depended on a pliant electoral college and would be conditioned to prevent the election of secessionists to high office through electoral fraud, if necessary. The 1874 election victory of the
National Autonomist Party The National Autonomist Party ( es, Partido Autonomista Nacional; PAN) was the ruling political party of Argentina from 1874 to 1916. In 1880, Julio Argentino Roca assumed the presidency under the motto "peace and administration". History The ...
's Catamarca Province-born
Nicolás Avellaneda Nicolás Remigio Aurelio Avellaneda Silva (3 October 1837 – 24 November 1885) was an Argentine politician and journalist, and President of Argentina from 1874 to 1880. Avellaneda's main projects while in office were banking and education ...
, who had been endorsed by an erstwhile Buenos Aires separatist,
Adolfo Alsina Adolfo Alsina Maza (January 4, 1829 – December 29, 1877) was an Argentine lawyer and Unitarian politician, who was one of the founders of the Autonomist Party and the National Autonomist Party.Ione S. Wright and Lisa M. Nekhom, ''Histori ...
, led to renewed fighting when Mitre mutinied a
gunboat A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies. History Pre-ste ...
to prevent the inaugural. He was defeated, however, and only President Avellaneda's commutation spared his life. Vestigial opposition to the new order continued from Federalists, notably
La Rioja La Rioja () is an autonomous community and province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, an ...
leader
Chacho Peñaloza Chacho is a male nickname in Spanish-speaking countries, often a diminutive form of " muchacho". It may refer to: People * Chacho Peñaloza (1796–1863), Argentine military officer and politician * Chacho (footballer) Eduardo González Valiñ ...
, who was killed in 1863 following a long campaign of
internecine war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polici ...
fare, and Entre Ríos leader
Ricardo López Jordán Ricardo Ramón López Jordán (1822–1889) was an Argentine soldier and politician, one of the last influential "''caudillos''" (Spanish for "leaders", or military or political strongmen) in the history of Argentina. He thrice rebelled against ...
, whose Jordanist rebellion of 1870 to 1876, starting with the assassination of former Federalist president
Justo José de Urquiza Justo José de Urquiza y García (; October 18, 1801 – April 11, 1870) was an Argentine general and politician who served as president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860. Life Justo José de Urquiza y García was bo ...
(whom he blamed for the Federalist defeat), marked the last Federalist revolt. The 1880 election of the National Autonomist leader of
Conquest of the Desert The Conquest of the Desert ( es, Conquista del desierto) was an Argentine military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca in the 1870s with the intention of establishing dominance over the Patagonian Desert, inhabited primar ...
, General
Julio Roca Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz (July 17, 1843 – October 19, 1914) was an army general and statesman who served as President of Argentina from 1880 to 1886 and from 1898 to 1904. Roca is the most important representative of the Generation ...
, led to a final armed insurrection by Buenos Aires Governor Carlos Tejedor, a die-hard opponent of the
Federalization of Buenos Aires Federalization, in Argentine law, is the process of assigning federal status to a territory with the purpose of making that territory the national capital. Federalization of Buenos Aires politically separated the city from the Buenos Aires Provinc ...
and the resulting lost of privileges. Its quick defeat and a truce brokered by Mitre quieted the last source of open resistance to national unity (Buenos Aires
autonomists The Autonomists (french: Autonomistes; it, Autonomisti) was a Christian-democratic Italian political party active in the Aosta Valley. It was founded in 1997 by the union of the regional Italian People's Party with For Aosta Valley, and some ...
), and resulted in the
Federalization of Buenos Aires Federalization, in Argentine law, is the process of assigning federal status to a territory with the purpose of making that territory the national capital. Federalization of Buenos Aires politically separated the city from the Buenos Aires Provinc ...
, as well as the hegemony of Roca's PAN and pro-modernization
Generation of '80 The Generation of '80 ( es, Generación del '80) was the governing elite in Argentina from 1880 to 1916. Members of the oligarchy of the provinces and the country's capital, they first joined the League of Governors (''Liga de Gobernadores''), a ...
policy makers over national politics until 1916.


Main conflicts

* War between the
Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata The Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata ( es, Director Supremo de las Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata) was a title given to the executive officers of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata according to the f ...
and
José Artigas José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...
' League of the Free Peoples (1814–1820) * Battle of Cepeda (1820) * Conflicts with La Rioja leader Facundo Quiroga (1826–1835) * Federalist war against the
Unitarian League The Unitarian League ( es, Liga Unitaria) also referred to as the League of the Interior () was a league of provinces of Argentina led by José María Paz, established in 1830, aiming to unite the country under Unitarian Party, unitarian princip ...
(1831) *
Revolution of the Restorers The Revolution of the Restorers ( es, Revolución de los Restauradores) was a rebellion that took place in Buenos Aires in 1833. The governor Juan Ramón Balcarce was ousted from office and replaced by Juan José Viamonte. The rebellion was motiv ...
against Buenos Aires Governor
Juan Ramón Balcarce Juan Ramón González de Balcarce (16 March 1773 – 12 November 1836) was an Argentine military leader and politician. Biography Juan was the older brother of Antonio González de Balcarce and of Marcos González de Balcarce. He fought agai ...
(1833) * Conflicts with La Rioja leader
Chacho Peñaloza Chacho is a male nickname in Spanish-speaking countries, often a diminutive form of " muchacho". It may refer to: People * Chacho Peñaloza (1796–1863), Argentine military officer and politician * Chacho (footballer) Eduardo González Valiñ ...
(1835–1845; 1860–1863) *
French blockade of the Río de la Plata The French blockade of the Río de la Plata was a two-year-long naval blockade imposed by July Monarchy, France on the Argentine Confederation ruled by Juan Manuel de Rosas. It closed Buenos Aires to naval commerce. It was imposed in 1838 to sup ...
(1838) * Free Men of the South revolt, quelled at
Chascomús Chascomús is the principal city in Chascomús Partido in eastern Buenos Aires Province of Argentina, located south of the capital Buenos Aires. In 2001, the city had a population of 30,670. History The city was founded as a fort (the ''Fortí ...
in 1839 * Pedro Ferré's Corrientes revolt (1839–1842) * Involvement in the
Uruguayan Civil War The Uruguayan Civil War, also known in Spanish as the ''Guerra Grande'' ("Great War"), was a series of armed conflicts between the leaders of Uruguayan independence. While officially the war lasted from 1839 until 1851, it was a part of armed c ...
by Rosas on behalf of Manuel Oribe (1839–1851) * War with the Northern Coalition (1840–1841) *
Juan Lavalle Juan Galo Lavalle (17 October 1797 – 9 October 1841) was an Argentine military and political figure. Biography Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires to María Mercedes González Bordallo and Manuel José Lavalle, general accountant of rents and t ...
's revolt against Juan Manuel de Rosas (1841) * Battle of Caaguazú and defeat of Unitarian forces in Corrientes (1841) * Joaquín Madariaga's Corrientes revolt (1843–1847) *
Battle of Vuelta de Obligado The naval Battle of Vuelta de Obligado took place on the waters of the Paraná River on 20 November 1845, between the Argentine Confederation, under the leadership of Juan Manuel de Rosas, and a combined Anglo-French fleet. The action was part o ...
(1845) and
Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata The Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata was a five-year-long naval blockade imposed by France and Britain on the Argentine Confederation ruled by Juan Manuel de Rosas. It was imposed in 1845 to support the Colorado Party in the Urugu ...
(1845–1850) * Entre Ríos leader
Justo José de Urquiza Justo José de Urquiza y García (; October 18, 1801 – April 11, 1870) was an Argentine general and politician who served as president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860. Life Justo José de Urquiza y García was bo ...
's break with Rosas (1851) *
Battle of Caseros The Battle of Caseros ( es, Batalla de Caseros) was fought near the town of El Palomar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on 3 February 1852, between the Army of Buenos Aires commanded by Juan Manuel de Rosas and the Grand Army (''Ejército ...
(1852) *
Revolution of 11 September 1852 In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...
, creating the
State of Buenos Aires The State of Buenos Aires ( es, Estado de Buenos Aires) was a secessionist republic resulting from the overthrow of the Argentine Confederation government in the Province of Buenos Aires on September 11, 1852. The State of Buenos Aires was nev ...
* Siege of Buenos Aires (1852–1853) * Battle of Cepeda (1859) *
Battle of Pavón The Battle of Pavón, a key battle of the Argentine Civil Wars, was fought in Pavón, Santa Fé Province, Argentina on 17 September 1861 between the Army of the State of Buenos Aires, commanded by Bartolomé Mitre, and the Army of Republic of t ...
(1861) *
Felipe Varela Felipe Varela is a Spanish fashion designer. Early career Felipe Varela studied design and pattern design at Esmod, Esmod College in Paris. He went on to stud yHaute Couture and Textiles at the I.F.M., where he was awarded with the Oscar for You ...
's '' Revolución de los Colorados'' in Catamarca and other western provinces (1867) * Entre Ríos leader
Ricardo López Jordán Ricardo Ramón López Jordán (1822–1889) was an Argentine soldier and politician, one of the last influential "''caudillos''" (Spanish for "leaders", or military or political strongmen) in the history of Argentina. He thrice rebelled against ...
's rebellion (1870–1876) * Bartolomé Mitre's insurrection against
Autonomist Party The Autonomist Party ( it, Partito Autonomista; hr, Autonomaška stranka) was an Italian-Dalmatianist political party in the Dalmatian political scene, that existed for around 70 years of the 19th century and until World War I. Its goal was ...
and President-elect
Nicolás Avellaneda Nicolás Remigio Aurelio Avellaneda Silva (3 October 1837 – 24 November 1885) was an Argentine politician and journalist, and President of Argentina from 1874 to 1880. Avellaneda's main projects while in office were banking and education ...
(1874) * Buenos Aires Governor Carlos Tejedor's rebellion against President-elect
Julio Roca Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz (July 17, 1843 – October 19, 1914) was an army general and statesman who served as President of Argentina from 1880 to 1886 and from 1898 to 1904. Roca is the most important representative of the Generation ...
(1880)


See also

* Rise of the Republic of Argentina *
United Provinces of the Río de la Plata The United Provinces of the Río de la Plata ( es, link=no, Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata), earlier known as the United Provinces of South America ( es, link=no, Provincias Unidas de Sudamérica), was a name adopted in 1816 by the Co ...
* Argentine Confederation


References

*Levene, Ricardo. ''A History of Argentina''. University of North Carolina Press, 1937. * Luna, Félix. ''Los caudillos''. Buenos Aires: Editorial Peña Lillo, 1971. *''Historical Dictionary of Argentina''. London: Scarecrow Press, 1978. {{Argentina topics Wars involving Argentina Civil wars involving the states and peoples of South America Civil wars of the Industrial era