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| (Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from The British Invasion of the River Plate 1806-1807: How the Redcoats Were Humbled and a Nation Was Born, Ben Hughes (Pen & Sword Book Ltd, 2014), from Chronological Tables 1830-1971, Uruguayan House of Representatives (1971, in Spanish), and from External Links: United Nations Population Division, and Wikitravel: Uruguay, and BBC Country Profiles, and The 'Philosopher president' of Uruguay (Times Higher Education).) |
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| 1825 - 1827 |
King John VI of [ Portugal](../KingListsEurope/IberiaPortugal.htm#Kingdom of Braganza), under pressure from Britain, recognises the independence of Brazil. War breaks out almost immediately between the Argentine confederation and Brazil. During this the Spanish region of Cisplatine breaks away, establishing itself as the independent nation state of Uruguay (full independence is confirmed in 1830).  Juan Manuel de Rosas gained control of Buenos Aires in 1829, following Uruguay's split from Argentine control, in a period of deep unrest in the South American states |
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| 1838 |
The political situation in Uruguay becomes complicated when two factions emerge; the conservative 'whites' (Blancos) and the liberal 'reds' (Colorados). Respectively, they represent countryside and city interests. Both parties become associated with the war in the Argentine confederation, with the Blanco president of Uruguay favouring the Argentine dictator, Manuel de Rosas. On 15 June and with secret French backing, the Colorados overthrow the president, Manuel Oribe, and he flees to Argentina. |
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| 1838 |
Gabriel Antonio Pereira |
Interim president. |
| 1838 - 1839 |
Fructuoso Rivera |
Former president, colonel, and leader of the Colorados. |
| 1839 |
Gabriel Antonio Pereira |
Interim president. Later returned as president (1856-1860). |
| 1839 |
Manuel Oribe's supporters form a government in exile in Montevideo, and Rivera goes to war against him. The Great War lasts for thirteen years, outliving Rivera's second term of office and almost outliving Rivera himself.  The city of Montevideo was founded between 1724 and 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, a port city by nature which faces the Río de la Plata and which today consists of tree covered avenues, quiet neighbourhood streets, and green squares and parks |
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| 1839 - 1843 |
Fructuoso Rivera |
Second term. Died 1854. |
| 1842 - 1852 |
In 1842 an Argentine army overruns the country on Manuel Oribe's behalf, although the capital remains free. This is besieged from the start of 1843 and, when access to Paraguay is blocked for Great Britain and France, they declare war on Argentina and blockade its capital with assistance from Brazil. In 1849 and 1850, Argentina agrees a peace deal with each of the two European powers. Argentine troops are withdrawn from Uruguay, although Oribe's own forces still maintain a loose siege. In 1851 an Argentine faction opposes Manuel de Rosas in Argentina, defeats Oribe, and lifts the siege, nine years after it had begun. The following year, Rosas himself is overthrown at the Battle of Caseros on 3 February 1852, ending the war (and also slavery in Uruguay).  The Battle of Caseros in February 1852 ended the career of Manuel de Rosas, shortly after Oribe's own defeat, as well as ending the occupation of areas of Uruguay's territory |
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| 1843 - 1852 |
Joaquin Suarez |
Formerly Uruguay's first head of state (1828). Died 1868. |
| 1852 - 1854 |
Following the end of the war and the governance of Joaquin Suarez and his so-called Defensive Government (thanks to the prolonged sieges of Montevideo), an interim president, General Venancio Flores, now governs the country until a representative head of state can be selected. |
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| 1863 - 1864 |
Amid renewed conflict between the Colorados and the Blancos, General Flores leads an armed uprising against the Blanco president, Bernardo Prudencio Berro. He has backing in the form of troops and weapons from Argentina, and overthrows the government in 1864. Paraguay uses this as a reason to declare war on Uruguay, having supported the deposed president. |
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| 1864 - 1868 |
Venancio Flores |
Colorado military dictator. Assassinated 19 Feb. |
| 1864 - 1870 |
As a result of Paraguay's declaration of war against Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay go to war against Paraguay in the War of the Triple Alliance (which is also known as the Paraguayan War or the Great War in Paraguay). It proves to be a long and costly affair, causing more casualties than any other South American war.  The War of the Triple Alliance - so destructive for Paraguay - was one of the first to be recorded by the relatively new invention of photography |
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| Paraguay is utterly defeated, losing almost half its territory. However, Uruguay doesn't do much better, losing about ninety-five per cent of its armed forces. Flores and Berro are assassinated on the very same day. The Colorados and Blancos, tired of the constant bloodshed, decide to split the country into two spheres of influence, with the Blancos taking the inland country areas. 'Skirmishes' such as the Revolution of the Lances in 1870-1872 still take place between them. |
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| 1903 - 1915 |
The reformist Jose Batlle y Ordonez (of the Colorado party) gives women the franchise and establishes a welfare state. He also dis-establishes the church and abolishes the death penalty during two successive terms as president. Uruguay is already heading towards becoming one of the most liberal and fair countries in South America. |
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| 1917 - 1918 |
In October 1917, Uruguay declares for the allies in the First World War against Germany and the [ Austro-Hungarian](../KingListsEurope/GermanyAustria.htm#Habsburg Emperors) empire, but plays no active role in the conflict. |
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| 1945 |
After remaining neutral for the majority of the Second World War, Uruguay joins it late as an ally of the USA and Great Britain, making the agreement on 15 February 1945 in opposition against [ Japan](../KingListsFarEast/JapanDynastiesOld.htm#Modern Period) and Germany (the latter of which is already teetering on the brink of defeat).  Japanese evacuation from Guadalcanal was largely successful thanks to bombing attacks on the US fleet, with very few Japanese troops surrendering to the Allies, but it marked the beginning of a series of setbacks for Japan |
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| 1968 |
The president, Jorge Pacheco, declares a state of emergency in the face of growing attacks by the Tupamaros guerrilla movement. Since the group's first involvement in crime in the early 1960s, it has grown into a Marxist force which kidnaps political figures and attacks the security forces, and it is beginning to destabilise the government. |
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| 1973 - 1984 |
The president cedes control of the country to the military in an attempt to end the Tupamaros movement. The plan works, and the guerrillas are crushed by the end of the year, but the military refuses to relinquish its hold on power. The imprisonment of opponents increases and Uruguayans flee the country in droves. The military 'elects' presidents to present a facade of legitimate rule before taking more direct control in 1981. |
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| 1981 - 1984 |
Gregorio Alvarez |
Army C-in-C and dictator. Stood down. |
| 1984 - 1985 |
Mass protests lead to the restoration of civilian rule in Uruguay, with elections and a new president following by 1985. Those responsible for human rights abuses are given amnesty. Uruguay settles into a period of progress and unity.  Two Uruguayan marines demonstrate the search of a vehicle and its occupant during the 1984 protests and subsequent election campaign, an unusual period of unrest for Uruguay |
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| 2002 - 2004 |
In May 2002 emergency measures are introduced, including tax increases, by President Batlle in an effort to prevent Argentina's 2001 financial crisis from spilling over the border. In August the government orders banks to close for almost a week to stop the mass withdrawal of savings. A general strike is held in protest at the economic crisis. In April 2003 the World Bank approves loans worth more than $250m. In December voters in a referendum reject plans to open up the state oil monopoly to foreign investment. The uncertainty and turmoil of these two years results in a remarkable result in 2004's presidential elections. The victory of the left-of-centre Frente Amplio Coalition ends 170 years of Uruguayan government by the Blanco and Colorado parties. |
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| 2009 - 2014 |
Former leftist rebel-turned-moderate, José Mujica of the governing Broad Front, wins the presidential election. After taking office in 2010 he goes on to improve the country's liberal standing even further His progressive reforms include overseeing the revocation of an amnesty law which had protected military officers from prosecution for crimes committed under military rule in 1975-1983; legalising abortion for all women; allowing abortions in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy; legalising same-sex marriage; and, perhaps most controversially, legalising the cultivation, sale, and consumption of marijuana for recreational use as a measure to counter drugs cartels.  José Mujica became known for his modest lifestyle, donating ninety percent of his salary to charities and preferring to live on the farm which was owned by his wife, just outside Montevideo |
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| 2015 - 2020 |
José Mujica's highly successful term of office comes to an end when he stands down at the end of that term and Tabaré Vázquez wins the contest to succeed him within the Broad Front. Then Vázquez wins that year's elections to gain a non-consecutive second term of office (the first term being between 2005-2010). He largely continues Mujica's highly progressive liberal governance. |
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| 2020 |
Despite being diagnosed with lung cancer, Tabaré Vázquez completes his term of office before stepping down in March. He dies in December 2020. Following elections, his successor is the conservative Luis Lacalle Pou of the National Party, successors to the Blancos. His initial focus is on austerity and cutting costs rather than attempting to reverse the recent liberal progress which Uraguay has enjoyed. |
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