History of Peru (1919–1930)
Peruvian Republic República Peruana | |||||||||
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| 1919–1930 | |||||||||
| Motto: "Firme y feliz por la unión" (Spanish) "Firm and Happy for the Union" | |||||||||
| Anthem: "Himno Nacional del Perú" (Spanish) "National Anthem of Peru" | |||||||||
| Capital | Lima | ||||||||
| Common languages | Spanish | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Peruvian | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary presidential republic under a dictatorship | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
• 1919–1930 | Augusto B. Leguía | ||||||||
| Legislature | National Congress | ||||||||
| Historical era | Interwar period | ||||||||
| 18–19 May 1919 | |||||||||
| 4 July 1919 | |||||||||
| 28 July 1921 | |||||||||
• General elections | 6–7 July 1924 | ||||||||
| 19 March 1928 | |||||||||
| 3 June 1929 | |||||||||
• General elections | 4–5 August 1929 | ||||||||
| 28 August 1929 | |||||||||
| 25 August 1930 | |||||||||
• Death of Leguía | 6 February 1932 | ||||||||
| Currency | Libra de oro | ||||||||
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| Second presidency of Augusto B. Leguía 4 July 1919 – 25 August 1930 | |
| Cabinet | See list |
|---|---|
| Party | Reformist Democratic Party |
| Election | 1919 |
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| History of Peru |
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| Peru portal |
The history of Peru between 1919 and 1930 corresponds to the second presidency of Augusto B. Leguía, who won the elections of 1919 but soon after took power through a coup d'état as president-elect on July 4 of the same year. The period's name in Spanish comes from the 11-year length of Leguía's presidency (Spanish: Oncenio de Leguía), with Leguía himself calling his government the New Motherland (Spanish: Patria Nueva).
It was characterised by the displacement of civilism as the predominant political force, the cult of personality surrounding Leguía, and a dictatorial and populist style of government. Economically, there was a great opening to foreign capital, especially that of the United States. Leguía strengthened the Peruvian State, began the modernisation of the country, and undertook a vast plan of public works, financed by loans, whose immediate purpose was to grandly celebrate the Centennial of the Independence of Peru in 1921. In the ideological aspect, there was the collapse of the traditional parties and the emergence of new currents, such as aprismo and socialism.
Leguía, who had already been constitutional president between 1908 and 1912, extended his government to a total of 11 years after two constitutional reforms, where he was re-elected in 1924 and 1929. It is divided into the following periods:
- Provisional Government: 4 July 1919 – 12 October 1919
- First election: 12 October 1919 – 12 October 1924
- Second election: 12 October 1924 – 12 October 1929
- Third election: 12 October 1929 – 25 August 1930
The last period was interrupted by a coup d'état perpetrated by the Peruvian Army, led by commander Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro. The overthrown Leguía was initially exiled to Panama, but his voyage was interrupted, and he was ultimately imprisoned at the Panopticon, where his son voluntarily accompanied him. Inside, his health severely deteriorated, leading to his hospitalisation at the Naval Hospital of Callao, where he died in 1932.