The
Revolution of the Park was an uprising against the national government of
ArgentinaArgentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico,...
that took place in 1890 and started with the takeover of the
Buenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital, and largest city, of Argentina, currently the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the eastern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
Artillery Park. It was led by members of the Civic Union (which would later give rise to the modern
Radical Civic UnionThe Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party in Argentina...
) against the presidency of Miguel Juárez Celman (of the
National Autonomist PartyThe National Autonomist Party was an Argentine political party during the 1874-1916 period. Created on March 15, 1874 by the union of the Autonomista Party of Adolfo Alsina and the National party of Nicolás Avellaneda...
). Though it failed in its main goals, the revolution forced Juárez Celman's resignation and marked the decline of the elite of the
Generation of '80The Generation of '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 , and then the National Autonomist Party...
.
The
Revolution of the Park was an uprising against the national government of
ArgentinaArgentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico,...
that took place in 1890 and started with the takeover of the
Buenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital, and largest city, of Argentina, currently the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the eastern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
Artillery Park. It was led by members of the Civic Union (which would later give rise to the modern
Radical Civic UnionThe Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party in Argentina...
) against the presidency of Miguel Juárez Celman (of the
National Autonomist PartyThe National Autonomist Party was an Argentine political party during the 1874-1916 period. Created on March 15, 1874 by the union of the Autonomista Party of Adolfo Alsina and the National party of Nicolás Avellaneda...
). Though it failed in its main goals, the revolution forced Juárez Celman's resignation and marked the decline of the elite of the
Generation of '80The Generation of '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 , and then the National Autonomist Party...
.
Buildup
Near the end of 1889, general discontent (mainly due to high
inflationIn economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation is also an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a loss of real...
) encouraged the Civic Union (led by
Aristóbulo del ValleAristóbulo del Valle was a lawyer and politician born in Dolores, . He was, together with Leandro Alem, one of the founders of the Radical Civic Union....
and
Leandro AlemLeandro Nicéforo Alem was an Argentine politician, born in Buenos Aires, a founder and leader of the Radical Civic Union. Alem was the uncle and political teacher of Hipólito Yrigoyen....
) to attempt to oust President Miguel Juárez Celman, whose conservative rule, like those of previous presidents, had been marked by electoral fraud and corruption.
Uprising and repression
The uprising was led by a civil revolutionary junta and by General Manuel J. Campos. It counted on the indirect support of General and former President
Julio Argentino RocaAlejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 12 October 1880 to 12 October 1886 and again from 12 October 1898 to 12 October 1904.-Upbringing and early career:...
, and on the lack of opposition by General
Bartolomé MitreBartolomé Mitre Martinez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868....
.
The uprising started on 26 July 1890 at the Buenos Aires Artillery Park. It met with swift repression on the part of the government forces, led by generals
Carlos PellegriniCarlos Enrique José Pellegrini Bevans was President of Argentina from 6 August 1890 to 12 October 1892....
(the Vice-President),
Roque Sáenz PeñaRoque Sáenz Peña Lahitte was President of Argentina from 12 October 1910 to 9 August 1914, when he died in office....
, and Nicolás Levalle. Lacking initiative and ammunition, the revolutionaries were defeated in a matter of days, but the image of the government had suffered. Senator Pizarro demanded the resignation of the entire Executive Branch and the Senate, presided by General Roca, but President Juárez Celman was the only one to accept. Vice-President Pellegrini took office in his stead, to complete the remaining two years of his presidential term.
Goals and results
The Revolution of the Park was intended as a means to "avoid the ruin of the country" by bringing down "a government that represents illegality and corruption", according to its Manifesto. The revolutionary junta rejected "living without voice or vote..., witness the disappearance of rules, principles, guarantees..., tolerate the usurpation of our political rights..., and keeping those in power who have wrought the disgrace of the republic", and denounced that "there is no republic, no federal system, no representative government, no administration, no morality. Political life has turned into a for-profit industry."
The success of the revolution was limited to the resignation of Juárez Celman, who had been notorious for his corruption and abuse of power. The key elements outlined in its Manifesto, however, continued to be present in Argentine politics, as shown by the series of uprisings: Revolution of 1893 and Revolution of 1905.