timeline of events
Before 1516 - The Charrúa Indians, a small tribe driven south by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay, inhabited present-day Uruguay.
1516 - The Spanish discovered the territory of present-day Uruguay. However, the Indians' fierce resistance to conquest, combined with the absence of gold and silver, limited settlement in the region. Cattle was introduced by the Spanish, which became a source of wealth in the region.
1624 - The first permanent Spanish settlement was founded at Soriano on the Río Negro.
1669-71 - The Portuguese built a fort at Colonia del Sacramento. Spanish colonization increased as Spain sought to limit Portugal's expansion of Brazil's frontiers.
1726 - Montevideo was founded by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, governor of Buenos Aires, to counteract the advance of the Portuguese into the area from Brazil. Its natural harbor soon developed into a commercial center that competed with Buenos Aires. There were many ongoing conflicts between the British, Spanish, Portuguese, and colonial forces for dominance in the regions of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
1811 - Jose Gervasio Artigas launched a successful revolt against Spain.
1821 - La Provincia Oriental del Rio de la Plata, present-day Uruguay, was annexed to Brazil by Portugal.
1825 - The Provincia declared independence from Brazil on August 25 after numerous revolts.
1828 - The 1828 Treaty of Montevideo, fostered by the United Kingdom, gave birth to Uruguay as an independent state. The political scene in Uruguay became split between two parties: the conservative Blancos (represented the agricultural interests of the countryside) and the liberal Colorados (represented the business interests of Montevideo).
1830 - The nation's first constitution was adopted. The country saw interventions by neighboring states, political and economic fluctuations, and large inflows of European immigrants.
1903-1915 - Jose Batlle y Ordoñez was president of Uruguay. He set the pattern for Uruguay's modern political development. He established widespread reforms such as a welfare program, government participation in many facets of the economy, and a plural executive. Some of these reforms were continued by his successors.
1967 - A new constitution was adopted.
1973 - The armed forces closed the Congress and established a civilian-military regime. The regime was characterized by repression and widespread human rights abuses.
1980 - A new constitution by the military was rejected in a November plebiscite. After the plebiscite, the armed forces announced a plan for return to civilian rule.
1984 - National elections were held. Colorado Party Leader Julio Maria
Sanguinetti won the presidency and served from 1985 to 1990. The first Sanguinetti administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated democracy. Sanguinetti's economic reforms, which concentrated on the attraction of foreign trade and capital, achieved some success and helped stabilize the economy. In order to promote national reconciliation and facilitate the return of democratic civilian rule, Sanguinetti approved a controversial general amnesty for military leaders accused of committing human rights violations under the military regime. She also sped the release of former guerrillas.
1989 - The National Party's Luis Alberto Lacalle won the presidential election and served from 1990 to 1995. Lacalle implemented major structural economic reforms and pursued further liberalization of the trade regime.
1991 - Uruguay became a founding member of MERCOSUR (the Southern Cone Common Market, which includes Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay). Adjustment and privatization efforts caused political opposition. Some reforms were overturned by referendum.
1994 - President Sanguinetti won a new term, which ran from 1995-2000. The Sanguinetti government continued to reform Uruguay's economy and integrate into MERCOSUR. It also made reforms to improve the electoral system, social security, education, and public safety.
1999 - National elections were held under a new electoral system established by a constitutional amendment. Colorado Party candidate Jorge Batlle defeated Tabaré Vázquez. His term began on March 1, 2000.
1999 - Low commodity prices and economic difficulties in the main export markets caused a recession. The economy contracted by 11%, unemployment climbed to 21%, and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty rose to over 30%.
2004 - Tabaré Vázquez was elected president. Vázquez was committed to economic orthodoxy. Commodity prices rose significantly and the economy recovered from the recession. Vázquez tripled foreign investment, cut poverty and unemployment, cut public debt from 79% of GDP to 60%, and kept inflation steady.
2009 - Former left-wing guerrilla, José Mujica, who spent almost 15 years in prison during military rule in Uruguay, was elected president.
1516 - The Spanish discovered the territory of present-day Uruguay. However, the Indians' fierce resistance to conquest, combined with the absence of gold and silver, limited settlement in the region. Cattle was introduced by the Spanish, which became a source of wealth in the region.
1624 - The first permanent Spanish settlement was founded at Soriano on the Río Negro.
1669-71 - The Portuguese built a fort at Colonia del Sacramento. Spanish colonization increased as Spain sought to limit Portugal's expansion of Brazil's frontiers.
1726 - Montevideo was founded by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, governor of Buenos Aires, to counteract the advance of the Portuguese into the area from Brazil. Its natural harbor soon developed into a commercial center that competed with Buenos Aires. There were many ongoing conflicts between the British, Spanish, Portuguese, and colonial forces for dominance in the regions of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
1811 - Jose Gervasio Artigas launched a successful revolt against Spain.
1821 - La Provincia Oriental del Rio de la Plata, present-day Uruguay, was annexed to Brazil by Portugal.
1825 - The Provincia declared independence from Brazil on August 25 after numerous revolts.
1828 - The 1828 Treaty of Montevideo, fostered by the United Kingdom, gave birth to Uruguay as an independent state. The political scene in Uruguay became split between two parties: the conservative Blancos (represented the agricultural interests of the countryside) and the liberal Colorados (represented the business interests of Montevideo).
1830 - The nation's first constitution was adopted. The country saw interventions by neighboring states, political and economic fluctuations, and large inflows of European immigrants.
1903-1915 - Jose Batlle y Ordoñez was president of Uruguay. He set the pattern for Uruguay's modern political development. He established widespread reforms such as a welfare program, government participation in many facets of the economy, and a plural executive. Some of these reforms were continued by his successors.
1967 - A new constitution was adopted.
1973 - The armed forces closed the Congress and established a civilian-military regime. The regime was characterized by repression and widespread human rights abuses.
1980 - A new constitution by the military was rejected in a November plebiscite. After the plebiscite, the armed forces announced a plan for return to civilian rule.
1984 - National elections were held. Colorado Party Leader Julio Maria
Sanguinetti won the presidency and served from 1985 to 1990. The first Sanguinetti administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated democracy. Sanguinetti's economic reforms, which concentrated on the attraction of foreign trade and capital, achieved some success and helped stabilize the economy. In order to promote national reconciliation and facilitate the return of democratic civilian rule, Sanguinetti approved a controversial general amnesty for military leaders accused of committing human rights violations under the military regime. She also sped the release of former guerrillas.
1989 - The National Party's Luis Alberto Lacalle won the presidential election and served from 1990 to 1995. Lacalle implemented major structural economic reforms and pursued further liberalization of the trade regime.
1991 - Uruguay became a founding member of MERCOSUR (the Southern Cone Common Market, which includes Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay). Adjustment and privatization efforts caused political opposition. Some reforms were overturned by referendum.
1994 - President Sanguinetti won a new term, which ran from 1995-2000. The Sanguinetti government continued to reform Uruguay's economy and integrate into MERCOSUR. It also made reforms to improve the electoral system, social security, education, and public safety.
1999 - National elections were held under a new electoral system established by a constitutional amendment. Colorado Party candidate Jorge Batlle defeated Tabaré Vázquez. His term began on March 1, 2000.
1999 - Low commodity prices and economic difficulties in the main export markets caused a recession. The economy contracted by 11%, unemployment climbed to 21%, and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty rose to over 30%.
2004 - Tabaré Vázquez was elected president. Vázquez was committed to economic orthodoxy. Commodity prices rose significantly and the economy recovered from the recession. Vázquez tripled foreign investment, cut poverty and unemployment, cut public debt from 79% of GDP to 60%, and kept inflation steady.
2009 - Former left-wing guerrilla, José Mujica, who spent almost 15 years in prison during military rule in Uruguay, was elected president.