Page 61 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

THE HIST OR Y OF ARGENTINA  59

Trade union support formed the
foundation of the Peronist move ment.
They became state controlled and
answerable to Perón, whose setting of
a minimum wage, salary increases, and
better working conditions guaran teed
their uncondi tio nal support.

The first five-year
economic plan, imple­
men ted by Perón in
1946, pro moted
domes tic industrializa­
tion and the nationali­
za tion of existing
industries under
foreign control.

Evita’s death from
cancer in 1952 at
the age of 33 was a
severe blow to the
Peronist cause. In
an outpouring of
national grief, her
grand state funeral
extended for over
four days.

Perón’s regime unraveled after 1952.
The economy worsened, rep ression
and censorship increased, and
opposition parties and the Catholic
Church were attacked. In 1955, Perón
gave a speech threat ening civil war
against his enemies. The military
reacted by bombing Plaza de Mayo
and forcing Perón into a 16­year exile.

Plaque at Evita’s grave in Recoleta Cemetery
1951 Opposition news paper 1954 Wave of
La Prensa brought under Peronist strikes against 1955 Juan Perón
control; Evita bids for position of government forced into exile in
Vice President Paraguay
1952 1954
Evita marking the fourth 1952 Perón wins 1953 Perón launches second five­year plan;
anniversary of Perón’s re­election; inflation repression of the rural classes, opposi tion Perón begins
government rises by 30 percent parties, and Catholic Church exile

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