Civic Union of the Youth
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The Civic Union of the Youth (in
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
, ''Unión Cívica de la Juventud'') was a youth-oriented Argentine political party founded on September 1, 1889 and dissolved on April 13, 1890 with the establishment of the Civic Union. Soon afterward its leaders originated the most important Argentine political parties of the early 20th Century: the Radical Civic Union, the National Civic Union, the
Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of t ...
, and the Democratic Progressive Party.


The national climate

In 1889 Argentina was in the second year of a severe economic crisis that had caused a sharp drop in wages, increased unemployment, and an unprecedented number of strikes. President
Julio Argentino 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 ...
was succeeded by his brother-in-law,
Miguel Juárez Celman --> Miguel is a given name and surname, the Portuguese and Spanish form of the Hebrew name Michael. It may refer to: Places * Pedro Miguel, a parish in the municipality of Horta and the island of Faial in the Azores Islands * São Miguel (disa ...
, whose administration was characterized by authoritarian tactics and denunciations of corruption. Among its opponents Celman's government was nicknamed ''el Unicato'', "the Autocracy".


Precursors

In his introduction to ''Unión Cívica, su origen, organización y tendencias'', published in 1890, Dr. Francisco Ramos Mejía described the genesis of the organization: ::"When did it begin? It would be difficult, if not impossible, to answer that, because there first arose a vague hope, which later grew along with the sentiment of disgust, and while Tomás Santa Coloma was preparing the ground with his patriotic solemnities at the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima, and Barroetaveña was raising the alarm with his courageous articles, the faithful were rallying opinion and building to an explosion. ''¡Unión Cívica!''" On August 20, 1889, Francisco Barroetaveña, a young lawyer from Entre Ríos, published an article in ''
La Nación ''La Nación'' () is an Argentine daily newspaper. As the country's leading conservative newspaper, ''La Nación''s main competitor is the more liberal '' Clarín''. It is regarded as a newspaper of record for Argentina. Its motto is: "''La Na ...
'' titled ''"Tu quoque juventud (en tropel al éxito)"'' — "You too, youth (in the rush to success)" — in which he challenged the youth who remained loyal to President Celman: ::''This affiliation is nothing more than the renunciation of civic life by the young, in favor of absorption into a superior will that converts them into the mere instruments of the Executive"''. The article produced a massive response. Diverse groups of youths and students, united only by their discontent towards Celman's government, looked to Berroetaveña for leadership. They soon organized themselves into a small interest group which met regularly. Apart from Berroetaveña himself, this group included Modesto Sánchez Viamonte, Carlos Zuberbüler, Carlos Videla, Emilio Gouchon, future president
Marcelo T. de Alvear Máximo Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear Pacheco (4 October 1868 – 23 March 1942), was an Argentine lawyer and politician, who served as President of Argentina, president of Argentina between from 1922 to 1928. His period of government coincid ...
, Juan B. Justo,
Manuel A. Montes de Oca Manuel may refer to: People * Manuel (name) * Manuel (Fawlty Towers), a fictional character from the sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' * Charlie Manuel, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies * Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of the Byzantine Empire * Manu ...
, Tomás le Breton, and many others. At one of their assemblies they resolved to convoke a great meeting "to awaken the national civic life".


Foundation

On September 1, the great meeting was realized in Buenos Aires's Jardín Florida, attracting an audience of more than three thousand and the presence of the main opposition politicians. The ''Unión Cívica de la Juventud'' was founded, and its platform approved: it would seek to broaden the spectrum of opposition to the regime of Miguel Juárez Celman and his supporters in 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 ...
. The meeting ended with a march to the
Plaza de Mayo The Plaza de Mayo (; en, May Square) is a city square and main foundational site of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was formed in 1884 after the demolition of the Recova building, unifying the city's Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Armas, by that time kn ...
. The party was directed by those who seemed the natural leaders of the youth: Barroetaveña, accompanied by Emilio Gouchón, Juan B. Justo, Martín Torino, Marcelo T. de Alvear, Tomás Le Breton, and Manuel A. Montes de Oca, among others. The Civic Union of the Youth established "honorary" affiliations to certain opposition politicians deemed friendly to their cause, including
Leandro Alem Leandro Nicéforo Alem (born Leandro Alén; 11 March 1841 – 1 July 1896) was an Argentine politician, founder and leader of the Radical Civic Union. He was the uncle and political teacher of Hipólito Yrigoyen. He was also an active Freema ...
, Aristóbulo del Valle, Bartolomé Mitre,
Pedro Goyena Pedro Goyena (July 24, 1843, Buenos Aires – May 17, 1892) was an Argentine jurist, politician and writer. Pedro Goyena, along with other thinkers and politicians, followers of the ''Catholic Thinking'', as José Manuel Estrada and Emilio La ...
, Vicente Fidel López, and
Bernardo de Irigoyen Bernardo de Irigoyen (December 18, 1822 – December 27, 1906) was an Argentine lawyer, diplomat and politician. Biography Born in Buenos Aires, Irigoyen enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires and earned a ''juris doctor'' in 1843. He was ...
. Inspired by the ''Partido Republicano'' founded by Leandro Alem and Valle in 1877, members of the Civic Union of the Youth organized themselves into local "civic clubs".


Transformation into the Civic Union

On April 13, 1890, in a large meeting at the Buenos Aires '' Frontón'', the Civic Union of the Youth dissolved itself and a new party, the Civic Union, was formed. Leandro Alem was elected president, and leaders were drawn from all tendencies within the opposition to the administration of Celman, including Barroetaveña, the
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
politicians José Manuel Estrada and
Pedro Goyena Pedro Goyena (July 24, 1843, Buenos Aires – May 17, 1892) was an Argentine jurist, politician and writer. Pedro Goyena, along with other thinkers and politicians, followers of the ''Catholic Thinking'', as José Manuel Estrada and Emilio La ...
, Aristóbulo del Valle,
Bernardo de Irigoyen Bernardo de Irigoyen (December 18, 1822 – December 27, 1906) was an Argentine lawyer, diplomat and politician. Biography Born in Buenos Aires, Irigoyen enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires and earned a ''juris doctor'' in 1843. He was ...
, Juan B. Justo,
Lisandro de la Torre Lisandro de la Torre (6 December 1868 – 5 January 1939) was an Argentine politician, born in Rosario, Santa Fe. He was considered as a model of ethics in politics. He was a national deputy and senator, a prominent polemicist, and founde ...
, and the influential former President and general Bartolomé Mitre. Bartolomé Mitre would the following year found the
National Civic Union (Argentina) The National Civic Union (in Spanish ''Unión Cívica Nacional'') was a liberal political party in Argentina formed in 1891 as the result of a split in the Civic Union, and dissolved in 1916. It based largely on the personality of its leader, Ba ...
.
The Civic Union came into its own after the bloody
Revolution of the Park The Revolution of the Park (''Revolución del Parque''), also known as the Revolution of '90, was an uprising against the national government of Argentina that took place on July 26, 1890, and started with the takeover of the Buenos Aires Artille ...
, despite the fact that it had failed to bring about the fall of president
Miguel Juárez Celman --> Miguel is a given name and surname, the Portuguese and Spanish form of the Hebrew name Michael. It may refer to: Places * Pedro Miguel, a parish in the municipality of Horta and the island of Faial in the Azores Islands * São Miguel (disa ...
and his successor, his former vice president Carlos Pellegrini.


See also

* Radical Civic Union * National Civic Union *
Revolution of the Park The Revolution of the Park (''Revolución del Parque''), also known as the Revolution of '90, was an uprising against the national government of Argentina that took place on July 26, 1890, and started with the takeover of the Buenos Aires Artille ...
*
Leandro Alem Leandro Nicéforo Alem (born Leandro Alén; 11 March 1841 – 1 July 1896) was an Argentine politician, founder and leader of the Radical Civic Union. He was the uncle and political teacher of Hipólito Yrigoyen. He was also an active Freema ...


References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Civic Union Of The Youth Defunct political parties in Argentina Political parties established in 1889 1889 establishments in Argentina Political parties disestablished in 1890 1890 disestablishments in Argentina