Libertad o muerte (Spanish) ("Liberty or Death") | |||||||
| Anthem | "National Anthem of Uruguay" | ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Montevideo | ||||||
| Other cities | Canelones, Maldonado, Salto | ||||||
| Language | Spanish | ||||||
| Religion | Catholic | ||||||
| Demonym | Uruguayan | ||||||
| Government | Unitary presidential republic | ||||||
| Legislature | General Assembly | ||||||
| President | |||||||
| Area | 176,215 km² | ||||||
| Population | 3,494,382 | ||||||
| Independence | from Empire of Brazil | ||||||
| declared | August 25, 1825 | ||||||
| recognized | August 28, 1828 | ||||||
| Currency | Uruguayan Peso | ||||||
Uruguay is a country in the south eastern part of South America. In 1984, along with Argentina, it formed the United American Bloc (Bloque Unido Americano), considered as the first union of nations post-Doomsday, and Montevideo served the capital of the federation. Twenty years later, this alliance merged with the Andean Union, together with Chile and Brazil, to form the South American Confederation. Montevideo then became the capital of this new continental confederation. This has made Uruguay, though small, highly influential in world affairs.
History[]
Pre-Doomsday[]
In Uruguay, the only documented inhabitants before European colonization of the area were the Charrúa, a small tribe driven south by the Guaraní of Paraguay.
In 1814, Uruguay gained their independence from Spain by a revolution with Jose Gervasio Artigas, who became a national hero. He formed the Liga Federal (Federal League), of which he was declared the Protector, or dictator. In August 1816, due to the rising star of Uruguay, Portugal, with Brazilian approval, invaded Uruguay, finally defeated Artigas at the Battle of Tacuarembo, and Uruguay was annexed into Brazil.
The Brazilian Empire became independent from Portugal in 1822. In response to the previous annexation the Thirty-Three Orientals, led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja, declared independence on August 25, 1825 supported by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (Argentina). This led to the 500 day-long Argentina-Brazil War. Neither side gained the upper hand and in 1828 the Treaty of Montevideo, fostered by the United Kingdom, gave birth to Uruguay as an independent state. The nation's first constitution was adopted on July 18, 1830.
Since the 1950's and later, the political violence forced to president to declare a state of emergency in 1968, followed by a further suspension of civil liberties in 1972. In 1973, amid increasing economic and political turmoil, the armed forces closed the Congress and established a civilian-military regime. Around 180 Uruguayans are known to have been killed during the 11-year military rule from 1973–1984.
Doomsday[]
When Doomsday occured in 1983, Uruguay was ruled by a Civic-Military Dictatorship, which began in June 27th 1973 with the President Bordaberry's Coup d'état. By 1983, the Uruguayan president was the General Gregorio Álvarez (assumed in 1981), who proved to be reluctant to return the Democracy to the country, and continues with the repression against the sectors opponents. However, as other countries of the continent, the economy began to experience the effects of the cataclysm, which led to more protests in a couple of months.
Post-Doomsday[]
Gral. Medina and others Uruguayan Militaries.
By December of 1983, despite of the Alvarez's attempts for sustaining his regime, finally the massive civil protests organized and the loss of the support of the armed forces, forced it to resign, yielding the power to Rafael Addiego Bruno (President of the Supreme Court of Justice), who assumed the presidency provisionally. Addiego was succeceded by the pro-democratic General Hugo Medina later in January, 1984.
Creation of the BUA[]
During January 1984, the government of Uruguay began a series of meetings with authorities from Argentina in the city of Buenos Aires, in which they analyzed the geopolitical scene after the Doomsday, the resources which they were having, and the measures to raise his economies. Soon, a plan for a close alliance between the two emerged as a solution against the crisis. Despite some resistance within both regimes, the benefits that such an agreement might mean led to political and military sectors from Uruguay and the other states to accept the union.
The Treaty of the Union was signed by representatives from Argentina and Uruguay on March 20, 1984 in the city of La Plata. The uruguayan capital of Montevideo was chosen as the site of the alliance's secretariat.
Development[]
President Vasquez
Recent presidents of Uruguay have included Tabare Vasquez (served 1997-2005), Luis Alberto Lacalle (served 2013-2021), and Julio María Sanguinetti.
Government[]
Uruguay is a presidential republic, whose main power figure is the president. In addition to the Executive Branch, there are the Legislative and Judiciary branches, which complement the local government system. Uruguay is one of the most advanced democracies in America, with strong popular participation in political decisions, in addition to broad respect for democratic institutions. The country is considered one of the least corrupt in America. It also stands out regionally in guaranteeing individual freedoms for the local population.
Geography[]
Uruguay has a land area of 173,620 km² and a water area of 2,600 km².
A dense fluvial network covers the country, consisting of four river basins or deltas; the Río de la Plata, the Uruguay River, the Laguna Merín and the Río Negro. The major internal river is the Río Negro. Several lagoons are found along the Atlantic coast.
The highest point in the country is the Cerro Catedral whose peak reaches to 514 metres (1,686 ft) AMSL in the Sierra Carapé hill range. To the southwest is the Río de Plata, the estuary of the Uruguay River which forms the western border, and the Paraná River.
Economy[]
Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, relatively even income distribution, and high levels of social spending. Official statistics indicate that meat and sheep farming is Uruguay occupies 59.6% of the land, and the agriculture produces 70% of Uruguayan exports.
The Poverty in the republic was reduced from 33% in 2002 to 21.7% in July 2008, while extreme poverty dropped from 3.3% to 1.7%, respectively.
The Port of Montevideo, handling over 1.1 million containers annually, is the most advanced container terminal in South America, and the port of Nueva Palmira is a major regional merchandise transfer point, and houses both private and government-run terminals.
Notes[]
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