Collection of Uruguayan Political Propaganda, 1963-1984

Historical Note

The political and ideological struggles in Uruguay during the late 1960s and early 1970s produced many ephemeral publications which were used by various organizations and by the government for a variety of purposes: to state policy, express opinions, advocate causes, question or denounce the views of others, urge fellow citizens to act, advertise meetings, strikes, and demonstrations, and support political candidates.

Several unions and political organizations emerged from the political and economic crisis in Uruguay in the 1960s, including the Partido Nacional, Partido Demócrata Cristiano, Partido Comunista, Frente Izquierda de Libertad, Convención Nacional de Trabajadores – CNT, and the clandestine urban guerrilla movement, Movimiento de Liberación Nacional - Tupamaros. Aimed at protecting the common citizen, the Tupamaro movement began by robbing banks, gun clubs and other businesses in the early 1960s and distributing the stolen food and money among the poor in Montevideo.

When President Oscar Gestido died in December 1967, Vice President Jorge Pacheco Areco succeeded him. Within one week of taking office, Pacheco issued a decree banning all leftist groups and their press. He also implemented a new monetarist policy in 1968. The CNT and other groups protested the new economic policies, leading the government to repress strikes, work stoppages, and student demonstrations. The death of Liber Arce, a university student, during one of the demonstrations served as a catalyst for various protest groups, particularly the Federación de Estudiantes Universitarios de Uruguay – FEUU. Pacheco responded by creating a military state, imprisoning and torturing political dissidents, and brutally repressing demonstrations.

During this period, the Tupamaros grew in strength, and their actions, including robberies, denunciations, kidnappings, and killings, shook the country and became known worldwide. Conflicts escalated between the government and the Tupamaros and other leftist organizations until 100 Tupamaro prisoners escaped in 1971 and Pacheco empowered the army to take charge of all counter-guerrilla activity.

During the national elections in 1971, the leftist organizations, including the Partido Comunista, Partido Socialista, and Partido Demócrata Cristiano, united to form the Frente Amplio to oppose the political sectors that supported Pacheco’s reelection. The Partido Nacional split and liberal members of the party supported the reformist program of a new movement, Por la Patria, led by Senator Wilson Ferreira Aldunate. In a highly contested election, Pacheco’s handpicked successor, Juan Maria Bordaberry Arocena, was elected in November and sworn in as president in March 1972.

Bordaberry’s administration continued the policies of its predecessor, inciting protest from education, political, business, and grass roots organizations. After a bloody shoot-out with the Tupamaros in April 1972, Bordaberry declared a state of internal war and suspended all civil liberties. By the end of the year, the army had decisively defeated the Tupamaros. The military, with the support of Bordaberry, dissolved the General Assembly in June 1973. Bordaberry established a de facto dictatorship that banned the CNT and other alleged Marxist-Leninist organizations, and quelled dissident activities by university students.

The military regime restricted freedom of the press and association, as well as party political activity. Thousands were accused of politically motivated crimes and imprisoned. Many were tortured. Amnesty International calculated that in 1976 Uruguay had more political prisoners per capita than any other nation on earth. During these years, approximately 10 percent of Uruguay's population emigrated for political or economic reasons. In June 1976, Bordaberry was forced to resign after submitting a proposal to the military calling for the elimination of political parties and the creation of a permanent dictatorship with himself as president.

In 1977 the military government made public its political plans to purge political parties, submit a new constitution, and give the military virtual veto power over all government. In 1980, the armed forces decided to legitimize themselves and were defeated when Uruguay's citizens went to the polls. After the electoral defeat of the military's constitution, retired Lieutenant General Gregorio Alvarez Armelino (1981-85), one of the leaders of the coup, became president. After several more years of political and economic crisis, the military acquiesced to the relegalization of the left in 1984 and democratic elections were held in 1985. That same year the Tupamaro were reorganized as a political party.

Works Referenced:

Country Studies. “A Country Study: Uruguay.” Library of Congress. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/uytoc.html (accessed October 16, 2008).

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Scope and Contents Note

The collection is comprised of the propaganda flyers, pamphlets, official documents, newsletters, communications, and correspondence created primarily during the presidencies of Jorge Pacheco Areco and Juan Maria Bordaberry by and about various Uruguayan political, education, business, and grass roots organizations, the government of Uruguay, and International Organizations. Materials date from 1963 to 1984, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1968-1974, and measure 1.5 linear feet. The collection is arranged into four series: Uruguayan unions, political, education, business, and grass roots organizations; Uruguay Government; International Organizations; and Oversize Materials.

The first series, Uruguayan unions, political, education, business, and grass roots organizations, is arranged alphabetically by organization name. This series contains flyers, pamphlets, official documents, newsletters, communications, and correspondence created by and about various organizations. Key organizations include Convención Nacional de Trabajadores – CNT, Federación de Estudiantes Universitarios de Uruguay – FEUU, Frente Amplio – FA, Partido Comunista, Partido Nacional – PN, Por la Patria, and the Tupamaros – Movimiento de Liberación Nacional.

Series two, Uruguay Government, contains official documents, newsletters, communications, and correspondence created by the government of Uruguay. These documents concern, among other things, education, the economic situation, political parties, and constitutional guidelines.

Series three, International Organizations, contains correspondence from various international organizations related to the political situation in Uruguay. Key organizations include Amnesty International, Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, and International Commission of Jurists.

The fourth series houses Oversize Materials. It consists of items that were separated from series one, Uruguayan unions, political, education, business, and grass roots organizations, because of size. Photocopies of the originals can be found in the original folders from which the documents were removed.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Collection of Uruguayan Political Propaganda, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.

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Box and Folder Inventory

Uruguayan unions, political, education, business, and grass roots organizations, 1963-1984, N.d.

box

folder

1

1

Accion Gremial, 1971, N.d.

Agrupación 11, 1968

Agrupación de Comunistas de Coronet, 1972

Agrupación Revolucionaria de Montevideo, 1970

Agrupaciones Rojas, 1972

Asamblea Nacional y Popular de la Enseñanza, 1972

Asamblea de Profesores, 1969-1970

2

Asociación de Bancarios del Uruguay – AEBU, 1968-1974, N.d. Click here to enlarge

3

Asociación de Estudiantes de Medicina – AEM, 1970

Asociación de Estudiantes de Química, 1968

Asociación de Estudiantes Magisteriales de Montevideo – AEMM, 1973, N.d.

Asociación Empleados de Enseñanza Secundaria – AEDES, 1972

Asociación de Funcionarios del Hospital de Clínicas – AFHC, 1972, N.d.

Asociación de la Prensa Uruguaya, 1973, N.d.

Asociación de Oficiales de Reserva del Uruguay, 1969

Asociación de Profesores de Enseñanza Secundaria del Uruguay, 1968-1969

Asociación de Profesores Normalistas, N.d.

Asociación del Personal de la Enseñanza Privada, 1972

4

Banco Central del Uruguay, 1979

Centro de Estudiantes Crnel. L. Latorre – CEL, N.d.

Centro de Estudiantes de Arquitectura – CEDA, 1970, N.d.

Centro Estudiantes Humanidades – CEH, N.d.

Centro de Estudiantes de Odontología, 1972, N.d.

Centro de Estudios de Ciencias Naturales, 1972

Centro de Estudios Políticos – CEP, 1974

Coalición Renovadora de Estudiantes Independientes – CREI, 1973

Comisión de la Asociación de Docentes de la Facultad de Química, 1971

Comisión Interna Funcionarios Caja 17, N.d.

Comité “Los 8 Héroes de la 20ª”, 1973

5

Comité de Familiares de Presos Políticos, 1971-1972, N.d.

6

Comité de Lucha, 1974

Comité de Movilización, 1973, N.d.

Comité de Movilización de la AEV, N.d.

Comité del Base “26 de Marzo”, 1971

Comunidades Cristianas, 1969

Concentración Nacionalista “Juan Di Sevo”, 1970

Congreso de Trabajadores, N.d.

Congreso Nacional del Movimiento Nacional de Rocha, 1972

Consejo Nacional de Enseñanza Secundaria, 1968-1970

Consejo Nacional Herrerrista, 1983

7

Convención Nacional de Trabajadores – CNT,

Flyers and pamphlets, 1968-1974, N.d.

8

Official documents, 1970-1973, N.d.

Newsletters, 1968-1975

Communications, 1973, N.d. Click here to enlarge

CNT in Buenos Aires, N.d.

9

Convención Universitaria de Estudiantes, 1960

Coordinadora Cerrito de la Victoria, 1973, N.d.

Coordinadora de Estudiantes de Secundaria del Uruguay – CESU, 1968-1971, N.d.

Coordinadora de Gremiales de la Enseñanza Pública, 1969-1972, N.d.

Coordinadora de Institutos de la Zona, 1972

Estudiantes del Fernan Pucurull, 1971

Estudiantes del Instituto de Profesores, N.d.

Estudiantes del Instituto Julio Sposito Ex Suarez, 1973

Estudiantes Nacionalistas, 1972

Facultad de Medicina, 1973

Federación ANCAP, 1972

Federación de Docentes Universitarios, N.d.

10

Federación de Estudiantes Universitarios de Uruguay – FEUU,

Flyers and pamphlets, 1968-1974, N.d.

11

Official documents, N.d.

Newsletters, 1968-1972

Communications, 1968-1972, N.d.

12

Federación de Funcionarios de la Universidad, 1968

Federación Nacional de Profesores, N.d.

Federación Nacional de Profesores de Enseñanza Secundaria del Uruguay, 1970-1971

Federación Uruguaya de Docentes y Administrativos de la Universidad del Trabajo – FUDAUT, 1968-1973, N.d.

Federación Uruguaya de Funcionarios de Entidades Medico Mutuales, 1970

Federación Uruguaya de la Salud – FUS, 1971, N.d.

Fondo de Solidaridad, N.d.

13

Frente Amplio – FA,

Flyers and pamphlets, 1971-1984, N.d.

14

Official documents, 1971, N.d.

Newsletters, "Noticias" 1972-1973

Communications, 1971-1973, N.d.

15

Frente Estudiantil Revolucionario – FER, 1971-1972, N.d.

Frente Izquierda de Liberación, 1971, N.d.

Comité Nacional Femenina del Frente Izquierda de Liberación, 1972

Frente Nacional de le Juventud Herrerista, N.d.

Funcionarios Facultad de Derecho, 1968

16

Gremial Profesores de Montevideo – GPM, 1968-1973, N.d.

17

Grito de Asencio, 1970-1971

Grupos de Acción Nacionalista Oriental – GANO, N.d.

Grupo de Bancarios, 1969

Grupo Espartaco, 1971

Idea y Acción, 1968

Instituto Magisterial de Montevideo, N.d.

Integremial Facultad de Arquitectura, 1973

Izquierda Revolucionaria Batllista, N.d.

box

folder

2

1

Juventudes Nacionalistas, 1972

Juventud de la Unión Blanca Democrática (UBD), N.d.

Juventud con Wilson, N.d.

“Los 33,” N.d.

Mesa Zonal Ciudad Vieja, 1968

Movimiento Bancario Nacionalista, 1969

Movimiento Coordinador del Magisterio de Montevideo, N.d.

Movimiento por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, 1972

Movimiento de Defensa de los Libertades y la Soberanía, 1969, N.d.

Movimiento Estudiantil Nacional – MEN, N.d.

Movimiento de Independientes, Sector Estudiantil, 1971

Movimiento Nacional Demócrata, N.d.

Movimiento Nacional Femenino, 1968

Movimiento Nacional de la Piedras, N.d.

Movimiento Nueva Generación, N.d.

Movimiento Poder Joven, N.d.

Movimiento de Recuperación Nacional – MRN, N.d.

Movimiento Revolucionario 8 de Octubre, 1968

Movimiento de Trabajadores Nacionalistas – MTN, N.d.

2

Movimiento Universitario Nacionalista – MUN, 1972-1973, N.d.

3

Nueva Acción Femenina – NAF, 1968

Obispo y su Consejo del Presbiterio de Montevideo, 1973

Obreros de ANCAP, 1973

Organización Gremial de Funcionarios, Docentes, Administrativos y de Servicio de la Universidad del Trabajo del Uruguay – OMTUTU, 1973

Orientales Demócratas, N.d.

Orientales Unidos, 1973

Padres y Profesores del Instituto Larrañaga, 1970

Paraninfo de la Universidad, N.d.

4

Partido Comunista,

Flyers and pamphlets, 1973-1975, N.d.

5

Official documents, 1974

Newsletters, 1968-1980

Communications, 1973-1974

6

Unión de Juventud Comunista – UJC, , 1972-1974, N.d.

7

Partido Demócrata Cristiana, 1973, N.d.

Juventud Demócrata Cristiana, 1968, N.d.

8

Partido Nacional – PN,

Flyers and pamphlets, 1971-1975, N.d.

9

Official documents, 1966-1980, N.d. Click here to enlarge

Newsletters, 1973-1974

10

Communications, Correspondence, 1972-1984, N.d.

11

Letters from Wilson Ferreira Aldunate, 1973-1980, N.d.

12

Juventud del Partido Nacional, 1970-1980, N.d.

13

Partido Socialista, 1969-1971, N.d.

14

Patriotas Orientales, 1972

Personal de “Extra,” 1969

Plenario de Organizaciones Populares, 1973

15

Por la Patria, 1972-1984, N.d. Click here to enlarge

Comité Femenino “Por la Patria,” 1971, N.d.

Juventud del Movimiento Por la Patria, N.d.

14

Pueblo Nacionalista, N.d.

Pueblo Oriental, 1973

Juventud del Pueblo Oriental, 1975

Resistencia Obrero-Estudiantil – REO, 1969-1971, N.d.

16

Sindicato Médico del Uruguay, 1968-1973, N.d.

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folder

3

1

Sala de Profesores del Instituto Batlle y Ordoñez, 1969

Secretaria Ejecutiva Departamento Educación Católica – SEDEC, 1984

Sindicato de Funcionarios no-Docentes de la Educación Primaria, N.d.

Sindicato de Obreros y Empleados de Manzanares – SOEM, 1971

Sindicato Único Nacional del Construcción y Anexos – SUNCA, 1973

Sociedad Uruguaya Republicana Demócrata, 1971

2

Tupamaros – Movimiento de Liberación Nacional – MLN, 1968-1972, N.d. Click here to enlarge

3

Unión de Artistas Plásticos Contemporáneos, 1965

Unión Nacional Reeleccionista – UNR, 1971

Unión Nacionalista, 1984

Universidad de la Rocha, 1972

Uruguayos Demócratas del “Banza”, 1971

Vanguardia, 1971

4

Various Organizations – unknown acronyms

ADEOM, 1968

AEA, 1973, N.d.

AFFV, N.d.

CEIA, N.d.

CEIEC, N.d.

CEIPA, 1971, N.d.

COA, N.d.

COFE, N.d.

ENE, 1973

FAU, N.d.

FONCRA, N.d.

FUNSA, 1972

IPA, N.d.

JUP, 1972

PDC, N.d.

PIT, N.d.

5

Unidentified Organizations,

Flyers and pamphlets, 1968-1983

6

Flyers and pamphlets, N.d.

7

Newsletters, 1968-1980, N.d.

8

Communications, 1968-1975, N.d.

Clippings, 1971-1984, N.d.

9

Other, 1968-1973, N.d.

General government and political parties, 1980, N.d.

10

Elections, 1963-1983, N.d.

International printed materials, 1969-1979, N.d.

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