Browsing Through Argentina's History Quiz

Answer: Toltecs

The Wichis are native to Argentina and Bolivia, while the Huarpes (also referred to as Warpes) are from the Cuyo region, which is also home to Mount Aconcagua. The Mapuches are indigenous to parts of Chile and the southwestern areas of Argentina, including parts of Patagonia.

The Toltecs, on the other hand, are native to Mexico particularly the Hildalgo region and were the prominent people of the region in the tenth to twelfth centuries..

Answer: Pedro de Mendoza

Mendoza was one of the conquistadors from Spain who were sent to explore and colonise South America. He had been given the title of Adelantado, equivalent to a governor, of New Andalusia, an area covering much of South America, and including the Rio de la Plata. He founded the settlement of Santa Maria del Buen Aire, but the Spaniards were constantly attacked by the indigenous population. Mendoza himself was ill, and eventually the settlement was abandoned with Mendoza dying in 1537 while at sea en route for Spain.

Juan de Garay re-established the settlement which became Buenos Aires in 1580. Juan de Ayolas was one of Mendoza's companions and de Saavedra was de Garay's successor.

Answer: Jesuits

It is not South America's oldest university - Peru's dates from 1551 and was set up by Royal Decree, while Colombia's was set up by the Dominican order of monks in 1580.

The Jesuits were particularly known for their interest in education and it was they who were responsible for establishing the university in Córdoba in the country which later became Argentina. The Jesuits remained in charge until 1767, when they were expelled from all Spanish colonies, with control then passing to the Franciscans. It was 1858 before the state took over the administration of the university, but it retains strong Roman Catholic links even into the twenty-first century.

Answer: Uruguay

As you'd expect from the name, the viceroyalty included the countries which bordered the River Plate, with the major exception of Brazil, since this was a Portuguese colony at the time. One of the major reasons for its establishment was the threat from Portugal to the north and that of other colonial Europeans, such as Great Britain. It lasted a relatively short time, With Spain distracted by the Napoleonic Wars and the constituent countries fighting for independence, the formal dissolution came in 1814. Argentina's War of Independence began in1810, continuing until 1818, although the country's independence dates from 1816.

Brazil was excluded as an 'enemy' territory, Venezuela was too far north and Peru too far west to be part of the viceroyalty.

Answer: Jujuy

The Jujuy Exodus took place during Argentina's War of Independence. The revolutionaries were facing a much larger Spanish army who were advancing from present day Bolivia. Jujuy is located in Argentina's far north west, so the rebel army was isolated. Belgrano's solution was to clear the province completely with the population moving south to Tucumán Province under pain of death. They were allowed to take as much as they could manage with them including livestock, with what was left behind being destroyed (a scorched earth policy) to prevent the Spanish from making use of it.

Belgrano claimed that little force was needed to make the population move with most complying due to his persuasion and their own wish for freedom.

Answer: José de San Martin

Although Simón Bolívar is probably better known, helped by giving his name to a complete country, he was the 'Liberator of the North', leading the independence struggles of the countries which are now Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. José de San Martin was the leader of the rebellions in Argentina, Peru, and Chile, the central and southern parts of South America. He was born in Yapeyú, now in Argentina, and moved to Spain during his childhood. He served in the Spanish Army between 1789 and 1811, making use of what he had learned to fight against the Spaniards once he had returned to his homeland.

San Martin's experience helped to lead to the independence of Argentina, Chile (in alliance with Bernardo O'Higgins) and Peru - he met with Bolivar in 1822 at Guayaquil, although details of what was discussed remain unclear. What is sure is that San Martin returned to Argentina before leaving for Europe in 1824, living in England, Belgium and France. He died in 1850.

The other men listed are from much later in history.

Answer: Paraná

Although Spain had been defeated, South America still had more turmoil to face as new boundaries were established and fought over. Uruguay was annexed by Brazil, for example, and only became independent in 1828. The Argentine Confederation began in 1831 with the governor of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas, nominally its leader.

When de Rosas was ousted by Justo José de Urquiza, Buenos Aires seceded from the Confederation leading to the establishment of a new capital at Paraná. Argentina's capital returned to Buenos Aires when the city re-joined in 1861.

The period of the Confederation led to the establishment of modern day Argentina.

Answer: The Dirty War

The death of Juan Perón in 1974 brought an end to a period of relative stability in Argentina. His successor was deposed in 1976 with a military triumvirate taking control of the country. Jorge Rafael Videla was installed as President with the junta immediately establishing a dictatorship and hunting down anyone suspected of being a dissident. State censorship was just one of the restrictions placed on the Argentines. During this time period many people just 'disappeared' with no records of their fate, meaning that the true number of victims is unlikely ever to be known, especially as what few records remained were deliberately destroyed. Estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000.

The Dirty War was brought to the attention of the wider world by the actions of 'The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo', women who had lost family members and held weekly protests in front of the presidential palace.

Answer: Leopoldo Galtieri

Galtieri took control of Argentina as the rule of the military junta was nearing its end. He ousted Roberto Viola, who had been in power only around six months, in December 1981. Almost immediately, he authorised an invasion of the British territory known as the Falkland Islands in English and Islas Malvinas in Spanish. Argentina had been laying claim to them since 1833 although most residents considered themselves British. Argentine success was short-lived with a British task force retaking the islands by June 1982.

Galtieri fell from power more or less immediately. His successor was another military man, but the period of military rule was nearing its end with democratic elections returning Argentina to civilian government in December 1983.

Answer: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Isabel Peron was the first woman to become President of Argentina when she succeeded to the position following the death of her husband and the former President Juan Perón in 1974. Isabel had been Vice President and automatically became President when Juan died. She served only until March 1976 when the military staged a coup.

Kirchner holds the distinction of being the first female President to earn the position at the ballot box in 2007, although she also served in succession to her husband, Nestor, who did not stand for re-election. Cristina held the position until December 2015 and returned to power as Vice President in 2019, a position she still holds at the time of writing this quiz in 2022.

Of the others, Eva (Evita) was First Lady between 1946 and 1952 (her death), and Hilda (Chiche) was First Lady during her husband's presidency from 2002/3.