argentina's immigrant history
TRANSCRIPT
ARGENTINAARGENTINA
Immigration and Culture
PHASE ONE: Spanish Colonial Period
• Spanish conquistadors arrived in late 1500s• Early colonies were ruled from Peru• Major cities of Salta, Jujuy, and Cordoba grew
in the Northwest along the Silver Trail• Buenos Aires was an important port city, but
trade was forbidden with anyone but Spain• Eventually Argentina ruled by the Viceroy of
Rio de la Plata, separating it from Peru• Most of the native population died or was sent
to Peru to work in the mines.
Colonial Buildings in Salta
Church of San Francisco Original house of legislature
Legacy of Spanish Colonial Period
• Spanish remains the official language
• 97% of the population is of European descent
• 92% of the country is Roman Catholic
• Lingering connection to the rest of the Latin American world through shared heritage
PHASE TWO: European Immigration
• 1860-1930
• Dominated by Spanish and Italian immigrants
• Contributed to the agricultural and industrial development
• Some settled in cities which created large urban centers such as Buenos Aires
Agriculture- Sugar Cane Fields, Jujuy
City of Salta - Urbanization
Legacy of European Immigration
• Argentina moves away from “typical” Latin American culture and develops a blend of traditions
• Architecture in Buenos Aires more similar to Europe than South America
• Argentina becomes “The Breadbasket of the World” for a time
• Creates a strong economic backbone for the country
PHASE THREE: Modern Migration
• Economic collapse in the late 20th century left a shortage of workers
• Universal free education and health care are appealing to neighboring countries
• Many workers needed for factories and to follow crops through central and northern provinces
Bolivia Farmer’s Market, Jujuy
Top Eight Source Countries in Argentina as a Percentageof the Total Foreign-Born Population, 2001
Note: The total foreign-born population used here is 1,531,940. Source: INDEC, Censo Nacional de Poblacíon, Hogares y Viviendas 2001, Argentina
Emerging legacy of migration
• Infusion of native culture into Argentina, which had lost most of its native roots during colonial period
• Government struggles to provide services for legal and illegal immigrants, straining the already over-stretched funds
• Growing dissatisfaction among the people and discrimination toward migrant families