Argentina Centennial

Last updated
Argentina Centennial
Panorama Argentino.jpg
Cover of Panorama Argentino magazine saluting the Centennial
Native name Centenario de Argentina
DateMay 25, 1910 (1910-05-25)
Location Argentina
Type100th. Anniversary
Theme May Revolution
Organised by Government of Argentina

The Argentina Centennial was celebrated on May 25, 1910. It was the 100th anniversary of the May Revolution, when viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros was ousted from office and replaced with the Primera Junta, the first national government.

Contents

Context

Postcard displaying Plaza de Mayo illuminated at night Buenos aires 1910 (3).jpg
Postcard displaying Plaza de Mayo illuminated at night

The year of 1910 was considered quite positive for Argentina, when the last century was seen in retrospective. Argentina had a well-established state, with no inner conflicts and national limits delimited. Besides, the main institutions –Army, public schools, post service, among others– were efficient. Through them the Government could advance to a vigorous nation, driven by the immigration, the growth of the agriculture and cattle and the external trade. People trusted the state even to mediate conflicts. [1]

Argentina was known as "el granero del mundo" ("world's barn") due to its prosperous agriculture. The colloquial expression "¡Il est riche comme un Argentin!" ("Rich like an Argentine") referred to the extraordinary wealth of the Argentine landowning aristocracy in those years. [2] In 1910 the gross product of Argentina was half the Latin America's one. [3]

Argentina's population grew quickly because of the immigration from Europe. Of 6 million inhabitants, 1 million were Italian and 800,000 were Spanish. A growing interest in improving democracy led to the sanction of the Sáenz Peña Law, two years later. The first Argentine copyright law was also enacted by this time, superseding a patent law that was being used so far for such topics.

The centennial had also an important impact on the historiography of Argentina. Because of the growing numbers of immigrants coming from very different places, it was felt that it was need to clearly define an "Argentine identity". Topics that had once canonic views, such as the wars of independence, started to be seen from multiple perspectives. [4]

Celebrations

Infanta Isabella and President of Argentina Jose Figueroa Alcorta during the celebrations Centenario argentino Infanta Isabel y Figueroa Alcorta.jpg
Infanta Isabella and President of Argentina José Figueroa Alcorta during the celebrations
The Argentina national rugby union team before playing its first international v. the British Lions at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina, 12 June 1910 Argentina equipo v britishlions 1910.jpg
The Argentina national rugby union team before playing its first international v. the British Lions at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina, 12 June 1910

On February 8, 1909, the National Congress promulgated Law 6,286 that regulated the commemoration of the May Revolution. President of Argentina José Figueroa Alcorta decreed the state of siege under the celebrations were held. [5] This was because some activists (led by anarchist movements) tried to boicot the celebrations. [6]

Advertisement for Fernet Branca celebrating the Centennial Fernet-Branca centenario argentino 1810-1910.png
Advertisement for Fernet Branca celebrating the Centennial

The celebrations began on May 21, 1910. The most notable visitor was Infanta Isabella, who spent her days in the country host at the Family Bary's Palace sited in Avenida Alvear. On the Avenida de Mayo, the "Edificio La Inmobiliaria" was inaugurated on May 25. It was designed by Italian architect Luis Broggi.

Other guests were president of Chile, Pedro Montt and vice-president of Peru, Eugenio Larraburu y Unanue. Professor Ferdinando Martini represented Italy while General Colmar von der Goltz came from Germany. Leonard Wood, governor of Cuba after the Spanish–American War represented the United States, arriving with four cruisers. A member of the Japanese imperial family tree, Eki Mocki, was also part of the celebrations.

Other countries represented at the Centannial were Uruguay, Paraguay, France, Russia and The Netherlands, while Great Britain did not send any representative due to the death of King Edward VII.

In the Teatro Colón (inaugurated two years before the Centennial) the opera Rigoletto was sung by Italian baritone Titta Ruffo, on May 24. Personalities from the cultural world also visited Argentina for the Centennial, with Spanish Ramón del Valle Inclán, Jacinto Benavente, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez; French Georges Clemenceau, Jean Jaurès, Anatole France and Jules Huret; Nicaraguan Rubén Darío among them

Other personalities that attended the Centennial celebrations were sociologist Enrico Ferri, writer Pietro Gori and Gina Lombroso, daughter of criminologist and physician Cesare Lombroso. The world of arts was represented by dancer Isadora Duncan and French actress Marguerite Moreno.

In sports, the raising popularity of football in Argentina paved the way to organise the first South American competition, the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo, with Argentina, Uruguay and Chile taking part of the tournament. [7] This championship is considered predecessor of Copa América, first held in 1916. [8]

Moreover, the British and Irish Lions toured on Argentina as part of the Centennial celebrations. Managed by RV Stanley, the British combined arrived to Arrived to Argentina to play a total of six games in the country, from May 26 to June 17. [9] The hosts referred to the team as the "Combined British". [10]

The Argentina national team made its international debut against the Lions under the name "The River Plate Rugby Football Union" on 12 June. The match was played at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina of Palermo. [11]

Memorials

Commemorative copper medal by sculptor Ernesto de la Carcova Museo del Bicentenario - "Alegoria del Centenario".jpg
Commemorative copper medal by sculptor Ernesto de la Cárcova

Apart from the construction of elegant pavilions and the inauguration of big buildings that renewed the city of Buenos Aires, several monuments were given by the different collectivity of immigrants living in Argentina. [12]

Some of the memorials were:

Notes
  1. There are projects to assemble the statue and place it in Costanera Sur.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de Mayo</span> Public square in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Plaza de Mayo is a city square and main foundational site of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was formed in 1884 after the demolition of the Recova building, unifying the city's Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Armas, by that time known as Plaza de la Victoria and Plaza 25 de Mayo, respectively. The city centre of Buenos Aires, Plaza de Mayo has been the scene of the most momentous events in Argentine history, as well as the largest popular demonstrations in the country. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the May Revolution in 1811, the Pirámide de Mayo was inaugurated in the square's hub, becoming Buenos Aires' first national monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentine Rugby Union</span> Governing body for rugby union in Argentina

The Argentine Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Argentina. It is a member of World Rugby, with a seat on that body's Executive Council, and a founding member of Sudamérica Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retiro, Buenos Aires</span> Neighborhood of Buenos Aires in C1, Argentina

Retiro is a barrio or neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located in the northeast end of the city, Retiro is bordered on the south by the Puerto Madero and San Nicolás, and on the west by the Recoleta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caballito, Buenos Aires</span> Neighborhood of Buenos Aires in C6, Argentina

Caballito is a barrio (neighborhood) of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is the only barrio in the administrative division Comuna 6.

Exposición Internacional del Centenario

The Exposición Internacional del Centenario was an exhibition held between May and November 1910 in Buenos Aires, to commemorate the Centennial of the May Revolution in Argentina. With a population of around 1.2 million, Buenos Aires was then the largest urban complex in Latin America, the eighth city in the world, and one of the richest. As the capital city and main port of the young Argentine Republic at the height of its economic expansion, the city was growing rapidly with the successive waves of European immigration.

The Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo was an international football tournament, held in Argentina from 29 May to 12 June 1910, and organised by the Argentine Football Association. It was the first international tournament in South America where more than two football nations participated. The "Copa Centenario" is considered a predecessor to the South American Championship, later renamed "Copa América".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Enrique Hayes</span> Argentine footballer

John Henry Hayes, was an Argentine footballer, who played his entire career for Rosario Central. Hayes also played for the Argentine national team.

There are many landmarks in Buenos Aires, Argentina some of which are of considerable historical or artistic interest.

Estadio G.E.B.A.

The Estadio GEBA is a multi-use stadium in the Palermo neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Owned by Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, the stadium is located on the "Sede Jorge Newbery", one of the three facilities of the club. Its current capacity is 18,000 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirchner Cultural Centre</span> Building in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Kirchner Cultural Centre is a cultural centre located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the largest of Latin America, and the third or fourth largest in the world.

Argentina Bicentennial

The Argentina Bicentennial was a series of ceremonies, festivals, and observances celebrated on May 25, 2010, and throughout the year. They commemorated the 200th anniversary of the May Revolution, a sequence of historical events that led to the Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros being ousted from office and replaced with the Primera Junta, the first national government.

Bicentennial of Chile

The Bicentennial of Chile took place on September 18, 2010. The celebration commemorates the beginning of the Independence process in Chile, with the first Government Junta of Chile on September 18, 1810, and Chile's becoming a free and independent country eight years later. Several activities were prepared for this occasion by the Chilean Government.

Legacy of the May Revolution

The May Revolution was a week-long series of revolutionary events that took place from May 18 to May 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires. It started the Argentine War of Independence, and it is considered the birth of modern Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan de Canaveris</span>

Juan de Canaveris was an Piedmontese lawyer and politician, who served during the viceroyalty of Río de la Plata as accounting officer in the Tribunal de Cuentas de Buenos Aires. He had achieved a high social status in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, where he supported the revolutionary movements of May, being the only neighbor of Italian origin who attended in the Open Cabildo, of May 22, 1810.

Monument to the Carta Magna and Four Regions of Argentina

The Monument to the Carta Magna and Four Regions of Argentina is located in the intersection of Del Libertador and Sarmiento Avenues, a landmark site in the Palermo, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is commonly referred to as the Monument of the Spanish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Tomás Wilson</span> Argentine footballer

Carlos Tomás Wilson (1889–1952) was an Argentine footballer who played as goalkeeper for the Club Atlético San Isidro, having also been called up for the Argentina national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sociedad Sportiva Argentina</span>

The Sociedad Sportiva Argentina was an Argentine multi-sports club sited in Buenos Aires. The headquarters were located in Florida street nº 183 while the stadium was sited in Palermo, next to Hipódromo Argentino. Originally established in 1899 under the name "Sociedad Hípica Argentina" for the practise of equestrian activities, the Sociedad Sportiva would held a large variety of sport events in several disciplines, such as football, athletics, auto racing, aviation, aerostatics, aeronautics, boxing, bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, polo, rugby union, trot, sulky races, show jumping, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry</span>

The Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between the national football teams of the two countries, as well as their respective sets of fans. Games between the two teams, even those that are only friendly matches, are often marked by notable and sometimes controversial incidents. On 20 July 1902, both teams played the first international match outside the United Kingdom, with Argentina being the winner by 6–0.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos</span>

Argentine Water and Sanitation is a state-owned company of Argentina dedicated to supplying the public with running water and sewer services. Created in 2006 after the Government of Argentina rescinded the contract with "Aguas Argentinas", a corporate group that had granted concession during the Carlos Menem's administration in the 1990s. This way, 90% of the company remained under the control of the Ministry of the Interior, Public Works and Housing, later falling into the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works when it was reformed back into its own ministerial portfolio.

The following are the squads of the national teams that played in the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo, held in 1910 in Argentina. The participating countries were Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The teams plays in a single round-robin tournament, earning two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.

References

  1. "El espejo lejano del primer Centenario" Archived 2017-08-29 at the Wayback Machine , on Revista Ñ, Clarín, 25 Apr 2010
  2. Hanglin, Rolando (7 October 2014). "La vaca atada". La Nación.
  3. La celebración del Bicentenario, La Nación, 14 Feb 2016
  4. Doscientos años pensando la Revolución de Mayo by Jorge Gelman & Raúl Fradkin – Editorial Sudamericana, Buenos Aires, 2010 – ISBN   9789500731799
  5. Comienza el Año del Bicentenario, Argentina.ar (Archive, 5 Mar 2010)
  6. "En el primer Centenario se pensaba que la Argentina sería potencia mundial" Interview to Horacio Salas, author of El Centenario, la Argentina en su hora más gloriosa – Ambito.com, 5 Apr 2010
  7. La Copa Centenario para Argentina en 1910, Diario Uno, 27 May 2010
  8. Del delantero desertor al goleador "de una noche", las 5 curiosidades de la Copa América, La Nación, 3 Jun 2016
  9. 1910 South Africa & Argentina on British Lions website
  10. "De festejo también, pero por el Centenario" by Jorge Búsico, La Nación, 27 May 2010
  11. "Lions": Los viajes olvidados by Ricardo Sabanes, 16 May 2017
  12. Grandes monumentos porteños: son regalos que Buenos Aires recibió para celebrar el Centenario, Clarín, 7 Feb 2010
  13. En 3 meses, monumento a Colón estará reconstruido en Costanera by Andrea Glikman, Ambito Financiero, 10 Apr 2017