Atlantic South Atlantic South AmericaAmericaArgentina, Uruguay and Argentina, Uruguay and ParaguayParaguay
Early onEarly on
Originally, groups of Originally, groups of Natives lived in what Natives lived in what is now known as is now known as Argentina. They Argentina. They hunted wild game in hunted wild game in the Pampas and the Pampas and used irrigation in the used irrigation in the north to grow crops. north to grow crops. Today, almost none Today, almost none remain.remain.
Early Argentine HistoryEarly Argentine History
The first Europeans The first Europeans to come were the to come were the Spanish in the Spanish in the 1500’s. They came 1500’s. They came looking for silver and looking for silver and even named the land even named the land for this = Argentina for this = Argentina means land of silver. means land of silver.
Early Argentine HistoryEarly Argentine History
Spanish built settlements Spanish built settlements by the monarch granting by the monarch granting land to colonists who land to colonists who then built the then built the settlements. settlements. Landowners were also Landowners were also given the right by their given the right by their monarch to force the monarch to force the natives there to work on natives there to work on their land – sweet!their land – sweet!
Early Argentine HistoryEarly Argentine History
The Pampas would become a major The Pampas would become a major agricultural area where cattle and horses were agricultural area where cattle and horses were raised – herded by Gauchos on the open raised – herded by Gauchos on the open grasslands. Today it is still an important grasslands. Today it is still an important farming region, sans the Gauchos.farming region, sans the Gauchos.
Early Argentine HistoryEarly Argentine History
In the early 1800’s, In the early 1800’s, Argentina fought Argentina fought Spain for Spain for independence. A independence. A period of violent period of violent transition followed. transition followed. Many of the Natives Many of the Natives were killed or driven were killed or driven away during this away during this time.time.
Modern ArgentinaModern Argentina
As the natives were As the natives were being killed off, being killed off, immigrants from immigrants from German, Spain and German, Spain and England came. The England came. The railroads were being built railroads were being built during this time making it during this time making it easier to transport goods easier to transport goods across the country for across the country for export – beef being a big export – beef being a big product.product.
Modern ArgentinaModern Argentina
Through the 1900’s, Through the 1900’s, Argentina remained Argentina remained one of the wealthiest one of the wealthiest of South American of South American nations, however, the nations, however, the country was plagued country was plagued by dictators and by dictators and military governments military governments during this time.during this time.
Modern ArgentinaModern Argentina
Some leaders were popular such as Eva Peron Some leaders were popular such as Eva Peron (Evita). However, some were infamous for (Evita). However, some were infamous for abusing human rights. The “Dirty War” of the abusing human rights. The “Dirty War” of the 1970’s those disagreeing with government 1970’s those disagreeing with government were tortured and killed.were tortured and killed.
Modern ArgentinaModern Argentina
The country’s The country’s economy would economy would suffer greatly during suffer greatly during this time, as well as this time, as well as the people. Finally, the people. Finally, int the late 1980’s, int the late 1980’s, the military gave up the military gave up control of the control of the government to government to elected officials.elected officials.
People and CulturePeople and Culture
Most of the people in Most of the people in Argentina are descended Argentina are descended from Spanish, Italian or from Spanish, Italian or other European roots. other European roots. Native Argentines and Native Argentines and mestizos only make up mestizos only make up 3% of the population. 3% of the population. Most Argentines are Most Argentines are Roman Catholics.Roman Catholics.
People and CulturePeople and Culture
Beef is a big part of Argentine culture and Beef is a big part of Argentine culture and cuisine. A popular dish is parilla – grilled cuisine. A popular dish is parilla – grilled sausage and steak. Supper is usually eaten sausage and steak. Supper is usually eaten quite late in Argentina.quite late in Argentina.
Argentina TodayArgentina Today
Most of the people in Argentina live in Most of the people in Argentina live in Buenos Aires, the country’s capital and Buenos Aires, the country’s capital and 22ndnd largest city in Argentina. It is located largest city in Argentina. It is located on the coast and near the Pampas which on the coast and near the Pampas which has helped develop the economy. has helped develop the economy.
The Pampas is the largest agricultural The Pampas is the largest agricultural area. 11% of the people work in area. 11% of the people work in agriculture. Ranches and farms produce agriculture. Ranches and farms produce beef, wheat and corn for export.beef, wheat and corn for export.
Argentina and MercosurArgentina and Mercosur
In the 1990’s, Argentina In the 1990’s, Argentina made reforms to help the made reforms to help the economy. They joined economy. They joined Mercosur, a group that Mercosur, a group that promotes economies of promotes economies of southern and eastern southern and eastern countries of South countries of South America. By 2000, debt America. By 2000, debt and government and government spending put the spending put the economy in a crisis.economy in a crisis.
UruguayUruguay
Uruguay is tucked between Brazil and Uruguay is tucked between Brazil and Argentina. Its capital is Montevideo, located on Argentina. Its capital is Montevideo, located on the north shore of the Rio de la Plata. the north shore of the Rio de la Plata.
Portugal originally claimed Uruguay, but the Portugal originally claimed Uruguay, but the Spanish soon took control in the 1770’s. In Spanish soon took control in the 1770’s. In 1825, Uruguay declared independence from 1825, Uruguay declared independence from Spain. Since then, military governments have Spain. Since then, military governments have ruled the country, however it has a tradition of ruled the country, however it has a tradition of political freedom. Today it is a democracy.political freedom. Today it is a democracy.
Uruguay PeopleUruguay People
Most of the people in Most of the people in Uruguay are of Uruguay are of European descent, with European descent, with only 12% being of only 12% being of African, Native or African, Native or mestizo background. mestizo background. Most people are Roman Most people are Roman Catholic and Spanish is Catholic and Spanish is the official language, the official language, although many speak although many speak Portuguese.Portuguese.
Uruguay PeopleUruguay People
90% of the people live in 90% of the people live in cities, with 1/3 of them cities, with 1/3 of them living in or near living in or near Montevideo. They have Montevideo. They have a high literacy rate and a high literacy rate and many have good jobs many have good jobs with good pay. This with good pay. This creates good demand for creates good demand for consumer goods/consumer goods/
Uruguay EconomyUruguay Economy
Uruguay’s economy Uruguay’s economy is tied to its is tied to its neighbors – more neighbors – more than half its trade than half its trade with Brazil and with Brazil and Argentina. Beef is a Argentina. Beef is a big export item and big export item and agriculture and some agriculture and some manufacturing is the manufacturing is the basis of the economybasis of the economy
ParaguayParaguay
Paraguay borders Brazil, Bolivia and Brazil and Paraguay borders Brazil, Bolivia and Brazil and is a landlocked country. The Paraguay river is a landlocked country. The Paraguay river divides the country into two regions. East of divides the country into two regions. East of the river is the country’s farmland and the area the river is the country’s farmland and the area for grazing beef. Paraguay was claimed by for grazing beef. Paraguay was claimed by Spain in the 1530’s. It would gain Spain in the 1530’s. It would gain independence in 1811. From that time it was independence in 1811. From that time it was ruled off and on by dictators, but today it has ruled off and on by dictators, but today it has elected leaders and a democratic government.elected leaders and a democratic government.
Paraguay PeopleParaguay People
About 95% of the people About 95% of the people are of meztizo descent. are of meztizo descent. The remainder are of The remainder are of Native or European Native or European descent. They have two descent. They have two official languages, official languages, Spanish and Guarani a Spanish and Guarani a native language. Most native language. Most folks are Roman folks are Roman Catholic, like the other Catholic, like the other countries we have seen.countries we have seen.
Paraguay PeopleParaguay People
Paraguay’s capital and largest city is Asuncion. Paraguay’s capital and largest city is Asuncion. It is located near the border of Argentina along It is located near the border of Argentina along the Paraguay river. Most of the people in the Paraguay river. Most of the people in Paraguay are rural.Paraguay are rural.
Paraguay EconomyParaguay Economy
Most of the wealth in Most of the wealth in Paraguay is Paraguay is controlled by a few controlled by a few rich families. These rich families. These families and large families and large companies have a companies have a huge effect on the huge effect on the governmentgovernment
Paraguay EconomyParaguay Economy
Agriculture is big part Agriculture is big part of the economy with of the economy with almost half of the almost half of the people working in people working in that area. Many of that area. Many of these farmers are these farmers are subsistence farmers, subsistence farmers, growing corn, cotton, growing corn, cotton, soybeans and soybeans and sugarcane.sugarcane.
Paraguay EconomyParaguay Economy
Paraguay has a lot of Paraguay has a lot of small businesses, but small businesses, but little industry. The future little industry. The future may be promising when may be promising when they learn to use their they learn to use their resources – Dams resources – Dams providing hydroelectric providing hydroelectric power, enough to sell the power, enough to sell the excess to Brazil and excess to Brazil and Argentina is one Argentina is one example.example.
And so …And so …
Exit: How are the people of Paraguay Exit: How are the people of Paraguay different than those of Uruguay and different than those of Uruguay and Argentina?Argentina?
Stay tuned nest time for Atlantic South Stay tuned nest time for Atlantic South America Review.America Review.
