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We have very limited information on Uruguay at this time. Uruguayan history until recently as it was wedged between Argentina and Brazil was dominated by the conflict between the Spanish and Portuguese Empires.
Uruguay like Argentina was at the turn-of-the 20th century on the cusp of making a transition to a modern, developed economy. Unfortunately, the allure of socialism generated a range of economic reforms beyond the means of its private sector to support. This led to economic stagnation that continues to this day. As far as we can determine there are few destinctive Uruguayan styles for boys' clothing. We see boys, especially boys from affluent families, wearing various clothing and hair style fashions worn in Europe at the time. Both Argentina and Uruguay have een more influenced by Europe, in part because most of the population are of European origins. The primary fashinon influences appear to be Spanish and Italian. Uruguay was a Spanish colony, but beginning in the late 19th century there was considerable Italian emmigration, as in Argentina. There are considerable differences among the Hispanic Latin American countries, but they all share a substantial Spanish cultural heritage. One of these is of course the Catholic religion. Until very recently the Spanish Church and its offshoots in South America were very conservative. Most of the population is Catholic and First Communion is very important in a child's life. Children wear white smocks to school, but we are not sure if that is a Spanish or Italian fashion influence. The British have also hadsome influence, primarily because of trade ties. After World War II, American fashion influences became increasingly important. Hopefully Uruguayan readers will provide us some more detailed information.
Geography has played a major role in Uruguayan history. b The country is wedged between Argentina and Brazil and as aesulty was dominated by the conflict between the Spanish and Portuguese Empires.
The principal Native American tribe in what is now Uruguay before the European discovery and conquest was the Charrúas. Spanish explorer Juan Díaz de Solis was the first European to reach Uruguay (1516). There was, however, not effort to settle the area for more than a century and a half. It was the Portuguese that began the European settlement when they founded Colonia del Sacramento (1680). Much of the colonial history of Uruguay was a struggle between the Spanish and Portuguese to control the area. Spain eventually prevailed (1778). By this time the Charrúas had been virtually wiped out. As a result, Uruguayans are of mostly European origins. With Spain weakened by the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, The Uruguayans followed the lead of the Porteños and revolted from Spain (1811). The Portuguese who has transeferred their capital from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, used the opportunity to reclaim Uruguay (1817). The Uruguayans will Argentine assistance drove out the Brazilians who had declared independence from Portugal (1825). The Uruguyans declared an independent republic (1828). The new Republic experienced a tumultous 19th century history. A revolt against the Government began a long period of violence and instability (1836). A lengthy civil war proved inconclusive (1839–51). Uruguay was involved in a costly war with Paraguay (1865–70). There were several military efforts by both Argentina and Brazil to annex Uruguay. Eventually by the late 19th century the political situation stabilized. The economy benefitted from growing demand for meat and wool in Europe. The improved financial situation and demand from workers led to the creatiin of the first welfare state in Latin America. President José Batlle y Ordóñez played aajor role in building the welfare system (1903-29). Uruguay was adversely affected by the Depression of the 1930s, but World war II created a renewed demand for exports. Uruguayan governments built an effecttive welfare system, distributing wealth. The Government, however, gave much less attention to promoting economic growth to create the wealth needed to support the welfare system. Uruguayan Governments in the 1950s as the economy stagnated, struggled to support the welfare ststem and large government bureaucracy. The Tupamaros conducted a vicious left-wing urban terror campaign during the 1960s and 70s. The military finally steped in and overthrew the civilian government (1973). The military conducted a brutal campaign to defeat the equally vicious Tupmaros. Thousand of individuals were arrested and held as political prisoners. As in Argentina, many disappeared, meaning they were killed by the military. The military allowed elections (1984) and turned over authotity to an elected government (1985). The new civilian Government faced the sane unresolved problems from the 1950s, a stagnant economy, high inflation and a huge national debt. The center-right Colorado Party won a narrow victory (1994). Julio Sanguinetti Cairolo pushed for constitutional and economic reforms designed at controling inflation and the size of the vountry's large, expensive public sector (1985-90). The Colorado Party also pushed for tax increases and privatization. Jorge Batlle of the Colorado Party won the following presidential election (1999). Continued economic difficulties led to the narrow victory of Tabaré Vázquez of the Socialist Broad Front (2004).
Uruguay like Argentina was at the turn-of-the 20th century on the cusp of making a transition to a modern, developed economy. Unfortunately, the allure of socialism generated a range of economic reforms beyond the means of its private sector to support. This led to economic stagnation that continues to this day.
Our Uruguayan archive is very limited. We have begun to archive sime images, but there are so few that we can noy even begin to make chromlogical assessments. The only comment we can make at this time is that the images abd styles look very European. As in neighboring Argentina, Italy seens to have been an important influence. Hopefully our Uruguayan readers wll assist us develop this section.
As far as we can determine there are few destinctive Uruguayan styles for boys' clothing. We see boys, especially boys from affluent families, wearing the amne clothing fashions worn in Europe at the time. Our Uruguayan archive is very limited so we have not yet been able to assess Uruguayam garments in any detail. And the few images we have srchived so far show boys from well-to-do families living in Montevideo or other cities, especially in the 19th century. We note garments little cut-away jackets and sailor suits that we would have identified as Eiropean had we not known the portraits were taken in Uruguay. We wouuld not be able to differentiate them from similsr boys in Europe. We do not yet have any idea about the kinds of garments worn by working class boys or the boys in rural areas.
We see Uruguayan chikldren wearing the sane hair styles populr in Europe during the various historical periods. We nore, gor example, Uruguayan boys wearing ringlet curls during the late-19th century.
Both Argentina and Uruguay have een more influenced by Europe, in part because most of the population are of European origins. The primary fashinon influences appear to be Spanish and Italian. The British have also had some influence, primarily because of trade ties. After World War II, American fashion influences became increasingly important.
We don't have much information on Uruguayan boys' activities yet. Our Uruguan archive is rather limited. A factor here is that Uruguay is a fairly small country. No activity stands out in Uruguayb like soccer. From an early point the only sport we note of importance is soccer. Uruguay was one of the earlier Latin American countries to make a slash on the international soccer scene. Soccer was beginning to become a passion with Argentine boys (late-19th century). It became common to see Uruguayan boys playing soccer in neighborhood streets. The Asociacion Uruguaya de Futbol was founded (1900).
Uruguay like Argentina was in the early-20th century on he cusp of bcoming adevloped country. This was a factor in Uruguay bcoming important in the soccer world and a national obsession. TinybUrugusy has one of the most stories histories in world history. Uruguay has captured more world titles than any other nation, and its players are recruited around the world Uruguay was the champion in 19 official FIFA competitions: 15 times in the Copa America, once for the Gold Cup in World Champions, twice in the Olympic Games (the predecessor of the current world championship competition) and in two World Championships. The first world championship won by Uruguay was in the Paris Olympic Games (1924). They won again in the following Amsterdam Olympic Games (1928). Uruguay and South American soccer became respected around the world, a rare instance in which the region was a world powerhouse. Uruguay was chosen as the hoost of the first World Cup championship (1930). In this championship, Uruguay became world champion again, after defeating Argentina 4-2. An Uruguayan source writes,This way, Uruguay became the first football World Cup Champion and the protagonist of one of the most important moments in the history of football." All of this of course fed into the pashion that Uruguayan and other Latin merican boys had with soccer. Uruguay 20 years later won another world champioonshgip (1950). The World Cup was held in Brazil and Uruguay defeated another regional rival, Brazil. Also notable in Urguguay, although far below soccer in popularity are: basketball, rugby football, boxing, and horse racing. The Las Piedras race track is know around the world. Tennis, bicycling, and fishing are also popular. We note boys bicyling, we think in the 1930s. There are many popular bicyle tours in Uruguay. The Uruguayan Cycling Federation organises the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay and supports the Rutas de América, two popular road races in the country. Carnival is the most important festival, common in many Latin American countries. It is is held during the week preceding Lent.
Uruguay was a Spanish colony and most of the original Euripeans settlers were Spanish. Uruguayans generally describe themselves as a multi-ethnic society, although they are like Argentina, less so than most of the rest of Latin America. In fact Uruguay is the least ethnicaly diverse country in Latin America. There is only a very small Native American / Amer-Indian and Mestizo population. What the Uruguayans meab by multi-ethnic is that the population came largely from different European countrues, but even here the population is largely from two European countries, Spain and to a lesser extent Italy. Uruguay is dominated by a Spanish linguistic and cultural background like neighboring Argentina. A very large portion of Uruguayans are descended from European colonial settlers and immigrants. Nearly 90 percent of Uruguayans is of European descent. The vast majority of the Europeas immigrants were Spanish from colonial times and Italians who immigrated during the late-19th and early-20th century. This is the same pattern as in Argentina. There are also small numbers of French, Germans, Portuguese, British (English and Scots), Irish, Swiss, Russians, Poles, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Latvians, Swedes, Danes, Dutch, Belgians, Austrians, Croats, Greeks and other Scandinavians. One author also reports small numbers of Turkish, Armenian, Serbs, Georgian, Azeris, Jews, and Lebanese people. This may sound highly diverse, but except for the Spanish and Italians, these other ntionlities represent bonly small numbers of immigrants and their ethnic and culturl impavt is minimal. . It is only the Spanish and Italians, however, that have had a major impact on Uruguayan ethnicity. There are considerable differences among the Hispanic Latin American countries, but they all share a substantial Spanish cultural heritage. One of these is of course the Catholic religion and Spanish-Catholic culture. Until very recently the Spanish Church and its offshoots in South America were very conservative. Most of the population is Catholic and First Communion is very important in a child's life.
Uruguay has done a very good job at providing basic education to its entire population. Schools in Uruguay are both free and compulsory for all children aged 6 to 14 years of age. The country has for years achieved very high levels of compliance with required primary education. There is also a large number of the primary students who go on to enroll in secondary school. The result is that Uruguay holds an impressive position within Latin America for its high literacy rate of approximately 96 percent. And if functional literacy is taken into account may outrank the United States. Uruguayan children are required by law to begin primary school wgen they are 6 years old. Primary school is a 5 year program. There are no uniforms in the public schools, but the primary school children wear white smocks with big blue bows. The bows are not very popular with the boys. We believe that private schools may have uniforms. At age 12 years the children enter the first level of secondary school. This last level like primary school is compulsory and is a 2 year program. The curriculum deals with the basics, language, mathematics, sciences, and history. Compulsory attendances ends at age 15 years. Uruguayan students can leave school or choose several advanced secondary tracks, depending on their ideas about their vocation and educational future. This involved secondary educational tracks lasting 3-4 years. Students complete the bachellerito, which is similar to an American high school diploma. At this point the graduates can find jobs or continye their education. There are three universities. There are also special institutes offering training in specific disciplines with interest the students. Class room instruction is in Spanish. Secondary schools commonly offer Englih and Portuguese foreign language classes. Universities offer other European langage courses. Unfortunately Uruguayan students rank very poorly in unternational asessments. While Uruguay is near the top of Latin America countries in scholastic achiecement, Uruguay and the rest of Lastin America is near the bottom in international comparisons.
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Created: July 21, 2003
Last updated: 9:12 PM 7/4/2018
