< The 33 Orientales established Uruguay as an independent state in 1828. Throughout the 19th century, Uruguay's independence was repeatedly threatened by Argentina, Brazil, and Britain. From 1838-51, Montevideo was under control of Federalist forces in Argentina. During this time, they helped create two warring political parties, the Blancos and Colorados. As this feud continued, the country became immersed in civil war. In the early 19th century under President Jose Batlle y Ordonez, Uruguay started making changes for the better. Ordonez abolished capital punishment, implemented different social services, and even tried to stop the tradition of strong-arm rule. Though Uruguay flourished as a welfare state, due to its lack of growth in its livestock sector along with a lack of resources, Uruguay's prosperity slowly ebbed away. Uruguay turned into a dictatorship, and was further thrown into turmoil with the arrival of the Tupamaros in 1967. In 1971, the military started taking control of the government, Congress was abolished, and the Tupamaros were wiped out. In 1984, Julio Maria Sangunetti was elected president, which implied a return to more democratic traditions. As a free market reformer, Luis Alberto LaCalle took office in 1990. Sanguinetti has since come in power again because of Lacalle's views on wage restraints and other economic issues.
Mauricio Rosencof
Mauricio Rosencof was born in 1933 in Uruguay. His parents were Jewish, militant working immigrants from Poland. Rosencof first became interested in theater in the 1950's, and by the 60's he was one of the more well-known dramatists in America. He was also a commander of the of the National Liberation Movement/Tupamaros. He was captured in 1972 and tortured for nine months. He was imprisoned until the liberation of Uruguay in 1985.Some of his plays include "The Coat of Antonio" and "The Combat of the Stable". He also has many collections of poems, some political texts, and other stories.
Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro
Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro was born the son of Spanish immigrants in 1942 in Montevideo. In 1965, along with Raul Sendic, they created the Tupamaros movement. In 1969 he was arrested at the taking of Pando, but escaped in 1971 in the Punta Carretas prison escape. In 1972, he was taken again when he was wounded. He was once again released in 1985 when the military dictatorship ended. Since then he has become a leader in Uruguay, and has also put out literary works such as "History of the Tupamaros"(three volumes), the "Truce Armed" and the "Flight from Punta Carretas"(two volumes).
Photos of Maruicio Rosencof and Fernandez Huidobro taken from "Memorias Del Calabozo." Works Cited: Huidobro, Eleuterio Fernandez; Rosencof, Mauricio, "Memorias del Calabozo", 1993 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_america/uruguay/history.htm for more information on or to purchase "Memorias Del Calabozo" visit: http://libros.netstoreusa.com/0110/9788/9788486597696.shtml |
