Juárez Celman
Encyclopedia
Miguel Angel Juárez Celman (Córdoba
, September 29, 1844 - Arrecifes
, April 14, 1909) was President of Argentina
from 12 October 1886 to 6 August 1890. A lawyer
and politician, his career was defined by the influence of his kinsman, Julio Argentino Roca
, whom propelled him into a legislative career. He was a staunch promoter of separation of church and state
and an aristocratic
liberal
.
As president of Argentina, he promoted public works
, but was not capable of maintaining economic stability and had to contend with the powerful opposition of the Civic Union
Party, and his leader Leandro N. Alem. After the Revolución del Parque even though having defeated the uprising, he was forced to resign and retired from political life.
. Two years later he was elected to the Senate of Argentina and in 1877 became its president. He spent little time as president as after the death of Governor Climaco de la Peña, the new Government of Antonio Del Viso nominated him as Government Minister. His energetic work earned him the nomination and election as Governor of Córdoba on May 17, 1880
-elect when there was an insurrection in Buenos Aires
, led by Carlos Tejedor
and Lisandro Olmos, opposed to the federalization of Buenos Aires. The federalization succeeded in 1880 and was followed by the establishment of state elementary education in the capital during the presidency of Julio A. Roca.
(PAN). He won the 1886 national election, not without accusations of fraud
, which was not uncommon in the PAN. His Vice-President was Carlos Pellegrini
, ex-War Minister under Roca, who had supported his candidacy from the pages of the Sud América newspaper.
His presidency was marked by a degree of paranoia. An 1890 rugby match in Buenos Aires resulted in both teams, and all 2,500 spectators being arrested. Celman was particularly vigilant after the Revolution of the Park
in the city earlier in the year, and the police had suspected that the match was in fact a political meeting.
Most observers expected Juárez Celman's administration to be a continuation of Roca's with the retired president managing from behind the scenes, but in a display of independence, he took control of the PAN with in a more authoritative form becoming what his opponents dubbed the unicato (one-man rule). This, combined with economic regression, led to the formation of the Civic Union, an opposition group that was later split into the National Civic Union
and the Radical Civic Union
, the latter being still important in Argentinian politics. In 1890, a revolution forced Celman to resign, and Vice-President Carlos Pellegrini
, succeeded him.
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, September 29, 1844 - Arrecifes
Arrecifes
Arrecifes is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Arrecifes Partido.-History:* September 20, 1586 the first time which an Spanish conqueror mentioned in his notes: "Pago de los Arrecifes", this is the oldest notice of the early days of Arrecifes. The first...
, April 14, 1909) was President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
from 12 October 1886 to 6 August 1890. A lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician, his career was defined by the influence of his kinsman, Julio Argentino Roca
Julio Argentino Roca
Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 12 October 1880 to 12 October 1886 and again from 12 October 1898 to 12 October 1904.-Upbringing and early career:...
, whom propelled him into a legislative career. He was a staunch promoter of separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
and an aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
.
As president of Argentina, he promoted public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
, but was not capable of maintaining economic stability and had to contend with the powerful opposition of the Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
Party, and his leader Leandro N. Alem. After the Revolución del Parque even though having defeated the uprising, he was forced to resign and retired from political life.
Youth
Juárez Celman was born and raised in Córdoba, where he studied under the Jesuits at the Colegio de Montserrat. He studied Law, becoming a lawyer in 1869. Thanks to his family connections, he came from an aristocratic family, he entered political life early. He was elected Representative just after obtaining his doctorate and from the provincial parliament he headed the movement to promote the secularization of educationSecular education
Secular education is the system of public education in countries with a secular government or separation between religion and state.An example of a highly secular educational system would be the French public educational system, going as far as to ban conspicuous religious symbols in schools.In...
. Two years later he was elected to the Senate of Argentina and in 1877 became its president. He spent little time as president as after the death of Governor Climaco de la Peña, the new Government of Antonio Del Viso nominated him as Government Minister. His energetic work earned him the nomination and election as Governor of Córdoba on May 17, 1880
Governor
He was GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
-elect when there was an insurrection in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, led by Carlos Tejedor
Carlos Tejedor (politician)
Carlos Tejedor was an Argentine jurist and politician, Governor of Buenos Aires Province between 1878 and 1880. Tejedor was a prominent figure in the movement against the Federalization of Buenos Aires.-Life and times:...
and Lisandro Olmos, opposed to the federalization of Buenos Aires. The federalization succeeded in 1880 and was followed by the establishment of state elementary education in the capital during the presidency of Julio A. Roca.
President
Having become a national Senator in 1883 and becoming close to President Roca, he obtained his support in his bid to become candidate for president for the National Autonomist PartyNational Autonomist Party
The National Autonomist Party was an Argentine political party during the 1874-1916 period. Created on March 15, 1874 by the union of the Autonomist Party of Adolfo Alsina and the National Party of Nicolás Avellaneda...
(PAN). He won the 1886 national election, not without accusations of fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
, which was not uncommon in the PAN. His Vice-President was Carlos Pellegrini
Carlos Pellegrini
Carlos Enrique José Pellegrini Bevans was President of Argentina from 6 August 1890 to 12 October 1892....
, ex-War Minister under Roca, who had supported his candidacy from the pages of the Sud América newspaper.
His presidency was marked by a degree of paranoia. An 1890 rugby match in Buenos Aires resulted in both teams, and all 2,500 spectators being arrested. Celman was particularly vigilant after the Revolution of the Park
Revolution of the Park
The Revolution of the Park was an uprising against the national government of Argentina that took place on 26 July 1890 and started with the takeover of the Buenos Aires Artillery Park. It was led by members of the Civic Union against the presidency of Miguel Juárez Celman...
in the city earlier in the year, and the police had suspected that the match was in fact a political meeting.
Most observers expected Juárez Celman's administration to be a continuation of Roca's with the retired president managing from behind the scenes, but in a display of independence, he took control of the PAN with in a more authoritative form becoming what his opponents dubbed the unicato (one-man rule). This, combined with economic regression, led to the formation of the Civic Union, an opposition group that was later split into the National Civic Union
National Civic Union
National Civic Union , was a political party in Peru. Its general secretary was Luis Felipe Villarán Freire....
and the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
, the latter being still important in Argentinian politics. In 1890, a revolution forced Celman to resign, and Vice-President Carlos Pellegrini
Carlos Pellegrini
Carlos Enrique José Pellegrini Bevans was President of Argentina from 6 August 1890 to 12 October 1892....
, succeeded him.