Argentine Revolt (1951)

Argentine Revolt (1951)

PRINCIPAL COMBATANTS: Military cabal vs. government of
Juan Perón

PRINCIPAL THEATER(S): Argentina

DECLARATION: None

MAJOR ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES: Bridling under the
prospect of the election of Eva Perón as vice president
(and therefore potentially commander in chief of the
armed forces), a group of army generals staged a coup
to overthrow both Peróns.

OUTCOME: The coup failed to overthrow Juan Perón, but
it did prompt Eva Perón to withdraw her name from
nomination as vice president.

APPROXIMATE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MEN UNDER ARMS:
Unknown

CASUALTIES: Unknown

TREATIES: None

The postwar economy of Argentina deteriorated precipitously
under the regime of President Juan Perón (1895–
1974), triggering in 1951 a rash of labor strikes, the most
paralyzing of which was a general strike by rail workers. In
response Perón imposed martial law, specifically targeting
the striking rail workers by sending troops to break the
strike. Perón justified this attack on his fellow countrymen
by arguing that the strikes were the work of “foreign agitators.”
This claim was met with widespread skepticism,
whipped up in large part by the liberal newspaper La
Prensa. While taking action against the railway strikers,
Perón forced the shutdown of La Prensa. This action was
sufficient to touch off a spasm of national rioting. Perón
then seized the paper. He was well aware, however, that the
tide of national opinion had turned against him. Looking
for a way to restore popular support for his regime, he
nominated as his vice president his wife, Eva Perón
(1919–52), an actress idolized by the Argentine public and
affectionately known as Evita. Once again, however, Juan
Perón had made a grave misjudgment. While Evita was
popular with Argentines, the idea of putting a woman in a
position from which she might succeed to the presidency—
and to the position of military commander in
chief—profoundly outraged the army high command. A
cabal of generals staged a coup in September 1951. The
attempt failed, however, and it proved the last gasp of the
revolt against Perón. Although he remained in office, Evita
prudently withdrew her name from nomination. Juan
Perón stood for reelection on November 11, 1951, and was
returned to office by a wide two-to-one margin.

Further reading: Robert D. Crassweller, Peron and the
Enigmas of Argentina (New York: Norton, 1988); John
Dechancie, Juan Perón (New York: Chelsea House, 1988);
Frederick C. Turner, Juan Perón and the Reshaping of Argentina
(Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1983).