Hipólito Yrigoyen

Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Yrigoyen Alem (July 12 1852 – July 3 1933) was twice President of Argentina (from 1916 to 1922 and again from 1928 to 1930).

First presidency (1916-1922)

Irigoyen was elected President of Argentina in 1916. He frequently found himself hemmed in, however, as the Senate was appointed by the legislatures of the provinces, most of which were controlled by the opposition. Several times, Irigoyen resorted to federal intervention by declaring a state of emergency, which deepened the confrontation with the establishment. Irigoyen was popular, however, among middle class voters, who felt integrated for the first time in political process, and the Argentinian economy prospered under his leadership. Irigoyen preserved Argentinian neutrality during World War I, which turned out to be a boon, owing to higher beef prices and the opening up of many new markets to Argentina's primary exports (meat and cereals). Argentina was known as the barn of the world, and its gross domestic product placed it among the wealthiest nations on earth. Constitutionally barred from re-election, Irigoyen was succeeded by Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear.

Related Topics:
1916 - Senate - Provinces - World War I - Gross domestic product - Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear

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