History of Peru (1956–1968)
Peruvian Republic República Peruana | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956–1968 | |||||||||
| 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 (official) | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Peruvian | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary presidential republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
• 1956–1962 | Manuel Prado | ||||||||
• 1962–1963 | Ricardo Pérez | ||||||||
• 1963 | Nicolás Lindley | ||||||||
• 1963–1968 | Fernando Belaúnde | ||||||||
| Legislature | National Congress | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
| 17 June 1956 | |||||||||
| 28 July 1956 | |||||||||
| 10 June 1962 | |||||||||
| 18 July 1962 | |||||||||
| 9 June 1963 | |||||||||
| 3 October 1968 | |||||||||
| Currency | Sol de oro | ||||||||
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| History of Peru |
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| Peru portal |
The history of Peru between 1956 and 1968 corresponds to the period following the general elections that put an end to the eight-year military dictatorship that ruled the country since 1948, with Manuel Prado Ugarteche taking office for the second time in 1956. Peruvian historiography names this period as that of moderate civil reform (Spanish: reformismo civil moderado), alternatively democratic formality (Spanish: formalidad democrática).
Two major presidencies occupy this period: those of Manuel Prado Ugarteche (1956–1962) and Fernando Belaúnde (1963–1968). These were characterised by a notable economic expansion, development of national infrastructure, state services and the beginning of the migration of indigenous populations from the Andes to Lima and the main cities of the country. These events generated a process of urbanisation at the national level, with social demands that the state could not meet given a moderate growth of the economy.
During these years, there was not enough investment to generate enough jobs, with the consequent shortage of taxes to cover State expenses. Since governments did not have fiscal discipline, they generated an average inflation of 8% annually. The Cuban revolution, perpetrated by communist militants, generated illusions and growing social unrest encouraged by perceived shortcomings, without identifying their causes. This mobilisation generated the political beginning for new faces with the appearance in 1956 of the Christian Democratic Party and Popular Action, founded by Fernando Belaúnde, who was considered a centrist in his time, since he incorporated the people in his works with the motto, "the people did it" (Spanish: el pueblo lo hizo).