PEDRO AGUIRRE CERDA: BIOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS - HISTORY - 2024

Pedro Aguirre Cerda (1879-1941) was a Chilean politician, professor and lawyer who served as president of the country between 1938 and 1941. Previously, he had been a member of Parliament and held the Ministry of Justice and Public Instruction and the Ministry of the Interior under different governments.

From a humble family, Aguirre Cerda worked as a teacher before beginning his political career. Still very young, he joined the Radical Party and took part in the creation of the Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties for which he would run as a candidate in the 1938 elections.

Pedro Aguirre Cerda and his wife - Source: http://www.fotografiapatrimonial.cl/view/imagenes/pop_up.aspx?id=14133 Wikimedia Commons

During his presidential term, Aguirre Cerda had to face the consequences of a devastating earthquake that devastated part of the country. In order to rebuild the infrastructures, it created the Corporation for Reconstruction and Aid and Corfo (Corporation for the Promotion of Production). The other front that he prioritized was education.

The politician was popularly known as "Don Tinto", as he had ties to the wine industry. Likewise, he was called the President of the Poor. Aguirre Cerda could not finish his mandate, since he died in 1941 a victim of tuberculosis.

Biography

Pedro Aguirre Cerda came to the world in Pocuro, a small town near the Andes. He was born on February 6, 1879 into a humble family. At the age of eight, Aguirre was left orphaned, so his mother had to take care of her eleven children alone.

Early years and studies

Pedro Aguirre spent all his childhood in his hometown. There he completed his primary studies, in a rural school. Later, he continued his training at the Escuela de Calle Larga, to which he had to go on horseback every day.

He attended high school at the San Felipe Men's High School. There she had as a Spanish teacher Maximiliano Salas Marchán, who inspired an interest in teaching that would never leave her.

Aguirre Cerda later entered the Pedagogical Institute of the University of Chile, where, in 1900, he obtained the title of professor of Spanish and philosophy.

To complete his training, Aguirre also studied law at the same University, obtaining the corresponding degree in 1904. As a way to pay for his education, the young man worked in the afternoons at various high schools.

In France

In 1910, Aguirre Cerda moved to France to specialize in administrative and financial law at the Sorbonne in Paris. In addition, he also studied at the College de France, in this case, political economy and social legislation.

It was during his stay in Europe that Aguirre did his first work representing Chile, since he acted as the country's delegate at International Congresses in Spain and Belgium.

I work as a teacher

After four years in Europe, Aguirre returned to Chile in 1914. He immediately began a career in teaching, teaching at the School of Infantry Application. Later, she worked at the Manuel Barros Borgoño High School and at the National Institute.

In that last educational center, Aguirre met Domingo Amunátegui Solar, who years later would recommend him to be a minister in the government of Juan Luis Sanfuentes.

Regarding his personal life, Aguirre married, in 1916, with Juana Rosa Aguirre Luco, his first cousin.

On the other hand, at the age of 27, he entered the Masonic Lodge. It had among its members quite a few secular politicians, so historians point out that their affiliation with the Radical Party was related to their membership in the Lodge.

Political career

Aguirre Cerda's political vocation manifested itself very early. An anecdote tells that he had to go to the San Felipe Criminal Court accused of violating the Electoral Law for having entered the registries before reaching the age required by law.

His first political position was obtained in 1915, when he was elected deputy for the provinces of San Felipe, Putaendo and Los Andes. Later, he repeated in Parliament as a representative for the province of Santiago.

Aguirre Cerda was appointed Minister of Justice and Public Instruction in 1918, in the government of Juan Luis Sanfuentes. During the eight months that he held the ministry, he dedicated himself to promoting the Primary Instruction Law, as well as increasing the financial endowment of the teaching profession.

When he left the government, Aguirre went to the United States. There, he studied industrial education, in addition to working as a financial advisor at the Chilean Embassy in Washington.

Minister

The politician was claimed by President Alessandri Palma in 1920 to assume the Ministry of the Interior. Aguirre held the portfolio between December 22 of that year and August 16, 1921, months during which he had to face the San Gregorio massacre that took place in February and ended with 40 dead and 80 wounded.

It was that event that caused him to resign from office, although he regained it between January 3 to February 1, 1924.

Exile

Chile suffered in 1924 the so-called “saber rattling” and a military coup. Aguirre Cerda was forced to leave his post and go into exile to Europe for a year. The politician returned to the country in 1925, but left again in 1927.

During those years in exile, Aguirre wrote The Agrarian Problem and The Industrial Problem, in which he reflected part of his concerns and possible solutions regarding both issues.

Return to Chile

Aguirre Cerda did not return to Chile until 1930. Upon his return, he dedicated himself to founding workshops for technical and manual education. One of his most ambitious projects, carried out in 1934, was the creation of the Faculty of Industry and Commerce of the University of Chile.

Popular front

Meanwhile, the political situation in the country had changed a lot. Alessandri had returned to the presidency in 1932, but his government had taken a great turn to the right that alienated leftist sectors and made them look for alternatives. In addition, openly fascist formations and even Nazis appeared.

Thus, in 1936 a bloc formed by socialists, democratic communists and the Confederation of Workers appeared, also obtaining the support of the radicals. The result was the appearance of the Popular Front in 1937, conceived to stand in the elections the following year.

1938 elections

According to experts, Aguirre Cerda was not in favor of the alliance with the Communist Party, although he did participate in the primary elections to choose the Popular Front candidate.

First, he defeated the other candidate of the Radical Party in the internal primaries and, later, he prevailed over the other sectors to become the head of the Popular Front list for the presidential elections.

The slogan of his campaign was "to govern is to educate." His rivals were Gustavo Ross, on the right, and Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, candidate of the National Socialist Movement of Chile, created in the image and likeness of the German Nazis.

Presidency

Before the voting, Chile experienced a new coup attempt. On this occasion, it was a group of young Nazis who, on September 5, 1938, tried to seize power. After this incident, Ibáñez decided to withdraw his candidacy.

The voting took place on October 25 of that year. The winner, with 50.26% of the votes, was Pedro Aguirre Cerda.

Almost immediately, the new president had to deal with the aftermath of a great earthquake that struck the country. Aguirre took the opportunity to create agencies that would serve for reconstruction and to improve infrastructure throughout the country, boosting the economy.

Aguirre also faced another coup attempt. It was produced in August 1939 and was led by Ariosto Herrera and Carlos Ibáñez, without achieving its objective.

Another important event that occurred during his tenure was the decision to host a large number of refugees from Spain. At the initiative of Pablo Neruda, a ship carried many fugitives to Chile after the end of the Spanish Civil War.

Death

Pedro Aguirre Cerda could not finish his term. Tuberculosis, deadly at the time, ended his life on November 25, 1941.

Characteristics of his government

Due to his early death, the government of Pedro Aguirre Cerda only lasted between 1938 and 1941. After this, the Radical Party returned to occupy the presidency on two other consecutive occasions.

Most historians emphasize that Aguirre Cerda's was the most popular of these governments, thanks to his promotion of education and industrialization in favor of the popular classes.

Likewise, Aguirre Cerda enjoyed great esteem among the middle classes. In fact, it is considered that he was the first president who took them into account when governing.

To govern is to educate

His status as a teacher was transmitted in the political actions carried out by Aguirre Cerda. Already the slogan of his campaign was "To govern is to educate" and he demonstrated it by promoting education, creating schools and favoring the conditions of teachers.

The president himself explained that “education is the first duty and the highest right of the State; consequently, socially and legally considered, the task of educating and teaching is a function of the State ”.

It should be noted that, as a minister during the government of Juan Luis Sanfuentes, Aguirre had already promoted the law of Compulsory Primary Instruction.

Production promotion

Another characteristic of his mandate was his determination to promote production. To do this, it promoted an industrialization process, for which it created the Reconstruction and Aid Corporation and the Production Development Corporation (CORFO).

Relations with the Church

Given that Aguirre had been the candidate of a coalition in which the Communists were, there was some fear in the conservative sectors that relations with the Catholic Church would worsen.

However, the president maintained a cordial relationship with the ecclesiastical authorities. During his mandate, the Holy See appointed the first Chilean Cardinal, in addition to holding a Eucharistic Congress in the country.

Main contributions

Aguirre Cerda's government program was based on the struggle for individual, press, association and assembly freedoms. Likewise, he put education and industrialization as priorities.

On the other hand, it tried to reduce the power of the Catholic Church, trying to establish a more secular society.

Promotion of education

One of the main axes of the Pedro Aguirre Cerda government was the promotion of education. To begin with, he put among his objectives the expansion of primary instruction, with the construction of more than 500 schools, which multiplied the number of students enrolled by six.

In addition to those devoted to the primary stage of training, the government created around 500 more schools and hired an additional 3,000 teachers.

In order to improve the country's production capacity, the president legislated to promote technical, industrial and mining education. To do this, he ordered the founding of numerous specialized schools.

In round numbers, experts point out that, by 1940, Chile had about 4,200 public schools with 13,800 teachers, 87 high schools, 16 commercial institutions with 7,000 students, and 180 private schools.

CORFO

Very shortly after taking office, Chile was shaken by a great earthquake that destroyed many infrastructure.

In order to promote reconstruction and boost the economy, on April 29, 1939, Aguirre promulgated the Law of Reconstruction and Aid and Promotion of Production, through which the Corporation for the Promotion of Production (CORFO) was founded.

The president's goal was to develop a plan that would increase production and reduce imports. The government also intended to promote the creation of new industries.

The tools to achieve this were credits, capital contributions, or direct government intervention. With all this, CORFO was able to boost mining, electrify the country and improve agriculture, commerce and transportation.

Spanish refugees

The Spanish Civil War ended in April 1939, with victory for the fascist national side. Chile was one of the countries that gave asylum to those who had to go into exile. Similarly, it also received groups of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in various European countries.

Cultural policy

Although it was somewhat overshadowed by educational policy, the Aguirre Cerda government also developed an important cultural facet. In 1939, she promoted Gabriela Mistral's candidacy for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Aguirre maintained a good friendship with the author, although his attempt to win the award was unsuccessful. Finally, Mistral would obtain it in 1945, when the president had already passed away.

Apart from this, Aguirre Cerda ordered the elaboration of a bill to create the National Literature Prize that was finally promulgated in 1942.

Facing the more popular classes, the government created a program called "Defense of the Race and the Use of Free Hours." Its purpose was to promote good manners, as well as to improve the instruction of the working class.

To achieve this, a series of recreational homes were set up throughout the country for workers to access cultural programs.

Antarctic territory

Norway's claim on part of the Antarctic territory led the Aguirre Cerda government to take action. Thus, in 1940, the president declared his intention to incorporate the claimed territory into national life. This would serve to establish the effective limits of the Chilean Antarctica.

References

1. Library of the National Congress of Chile. Pedro Aguirre Cerda. Obtained from bcn.cl
2. Icarito. Government of Pedro Aguirre Cerda (1938-1941). Obtained from icarito.cl
3. Chilean Memory. Pedro Aguirre Cerda (1879-1941). Obtained from memoriachilena.gob.cl
4. César N. Caviedes, Marcello A. Carmagnani. Chile. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. The Biography. Biography of Pedro Aguirre Cerda (1879-1941). Retrieved from thebiography.us
6. Global security. Pedro Aguirre Cerda. Retrieved from globalsecurity.org
7. Revolvy. Pedro Aguirre Cerda. Retrieved from revolvy.com