ARGENTINA HISTORY |
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| Europeans first arrived in the
region in the early 16th century (the first to see and colonize
the land was Spanish seaman Juan Díaz de Solís, in 1516).
Subsequent Spanish colonisation of the area led to the colony of
Buenos Aires in 1580. After the May Revolution in 1810 and
independence from Spain achieved in 1816, a conflict between
centralists and federalists developed until a new constitution
was proclaimed in 1853. |
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Argentina was then marked by periods of internal political conflict between
conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. In
the beginning of 20th century Argentina was one of the leading economies in
the world.
After World War II, the country saw the rise of the populist Peronist
movement, which to a large extent polarised Argentina. Increasingly bloody
military juntas alternated with proscribing democratic governments until
1983, following increasing economic problems, corruption, public revulsion
and defeat in the Falklands War.
Since then, four free elections have underscored Argentina's progress in
democratic consolidation, albeit with an unprecedented economic implosion at
the end of 2001. |
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