ARISTOCRATIC REPUBLIC: CHARACTERISTICS, SOCIETY, ECONOMY - HISTORY - 2025

The Aristocratic Republic is the name given by the historian Jorge Basadre to the time of Peruvian history in which power was held by the oligarchy. This stage ran between the years 1895 and 1919 and began with the ascent to the presidency of Nicolás de Piérola.

Like the rest of the leaders of the Aristocratic Republic, Piérola belonged to the Civil Party. All the presidents of this period came to power democratically. The end of this stage came in 1919, when Augusto Leguía staged a coup. For this he had the support of some worker sectors, marginalized during those years.

Party convention held in Lima in 1915, to elect a single candidacy for the presidential elections - Source: PEISA file under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license

Among the most outstanding characteristics of the Aristocratic Republic are the economic dependence on England, as well as the development of new economic activities, especially those dedicated to agro-export. The oligarchs who took over the positions of power were directly related to these activities.

During that period seven presidents succeeded each other, although some repeated a mandate. The only interruption of civilista leaders took place in 1914, when Oscar R. Benavides staged a coup and, later, called elections.

Background

After independence, Peru was unable to develop a self-sufficient economy due to the structural dependencies created during its period as a Spanish colony.

The country had to look for some power in which to support its economy. The United States and, above all, Great Britain were chosen.

On the other hand, in the political sphere there was a contradictory situation. The ruling classes in the economy, the oligarchy, had not been able to become the ruling class as well. The institutions were very weak, which had led to the military occupying power on a regular basis.

Civilista Party

Since the founding of the Republic and until 1872, all governments had been formed by the military. To try to compete with them, on April 24, 1871 there was a decisive movement in the history of the country. A Board of Notables founded the Electoral Independence Society, the origin of the Civilista Party.

This Society appointed a candidate to run for the position of President, Manuel Pardo y Lavalle. It was the first time that the oligarchy, without the participation of the popular classes, stood up to the military to control the state.

Andrés Avelino Cáceres

The last president before the arrival of the Aristocratic Republic was Andrés Avelino Cáceres. His government had been losing popularity until, in 1894, a bloody civil war broke out.

That conflict was preceded by the consensus reached between the civilistas and the other major political force, the democrats. The most prominent figures of the Peruvian economy were present in that union. The one chosen to lead the assault on power was Nicolás Piérola.

After clashes that cost the death of a thousand people, on March 20, 1895, Avelino Cáceres had to leave office. After a brief interim presidency held by Manuel Candamo, elections were called. The winner was Nicolás de Piérola, first president of the Aristocratic Republic.

European crisis

Apart from these internal events, Peru was also influenced by the crisis that broke out in Europe between 1892 and 1895. The consequent decline in foreign investment led the government to start investing to improve internal economic structures.

In this way, when the European crisis ended, Peruvian companies were prepared to export more productively. The profits, apart from modernizing export mechanisms, were also used to reactivate the local manufacturing industry.

characteristics

The Aristocratic Republic was marked by the coming to power of an oligarchy that controlled the country's economy. However, that elite was subordinate to English capital.

Oligarchy

The oligarchy was made up of the wealthiest class in Peru. Its components were white, descendants of European families. Normally, they were quite racist and classist.

During this period, the oligarchs formed a very closed circle, dividing all the political positions of the country. Thus, there was a monopolization of the State for the benefit of this social class.

Political characteristics

The Civilista Party maintained the hegemony throughout the period of the Aristocratic Republic. On some occasions, he did so by allying himself with the Democratic Party and, in others, with the Constitutional Party.

Members of the party, of the oligarchic class, controlled the large estates of the coast, as well as the agro-export structures of the country. To expand their economic control, they established alliances with the gamonales, landowners of the interior provinces.

On the other hand, the civilistas established contact with the English and American elites. Thanks to this, they benefited from the economic agreements that the State reached with the capital of both countries.

The other social sectors, especially artisans, peasants and the petty bourgeoisie, were marginalized from national economic growth. For this reason, protests and demonstrations demanding labor rights were frequent.

Social characteristics

The social structure during this period was characterized by the exclusion of the working classes. All the privileges remained in the hands of the great owners of the haciendas and businesses. Likewise, there was great racial discrimination against Peruvians of indigenous and African origin.

For this reason, mobilizations took place, being of special importance those that demanded the 8-hour workday.

Social movements during the Republic

Peruvian society was strictly divided according to its social extraction and its geographical origin.

The differences were not only between the various social layers, but even within the workers. Thus, the people of Lima were the best organized, especially those linked to the export sector.

Groups or mutuals

Peruvian workers began to organize themselves into mutuals or groups in the last decades of the 19th century. Through these groups they began to fight in defense of their labor rights, seeking better working conditions.

In this way, in 1882 the Confederation of Artisans Unión Universal appeared and, two years later, there was a successful strike by the stevedores at the Callao dock.

After other episodes of strike, such as the one at the Vitarte textile factory in 1896, the First Workers' Congress was held, which concluded with the creation of a general plan of struggle.

Already in 1905, workers' pressures succeeded in having the First Project of Social Laws presented to Congress, although its processing was delayed for years.

Among all these movements stood out the strike of 1918-1919, called to demand the establishment of the eight-hour workday. A direct consequence of these mobilizations was the strengthening of the labor movement, which was later used by Leguía as support for his coming to power.

The salt rebellion

One of the first protests during this period occurred in 1896. That year, President Piérola imposed a tax of 5 cents for each kilo of salt. The reaction of the Huanta Indians was to rise up against the government, although without success.

The Rumi Maqui uprising

One of the most prominent rebellions during the Aristocratic Republic occurred in 1915, when a peasant movement led by Teodomiro Gutiérrez challenged him in Puno. The objective of the Rumi Maqui was to restore the Tahuantinsuyo.

Economy

The economy was one of the most important affairs of the Aristocratic Republic. Their governments focused on promoting and developing new activities, normally designed for export.

The ideology of the Civilist Party was, economically, very close to liberalism. Thus, for them, the State should be small and should not commit great expenses.

The civilistas were against interventionism, so they reduced public spending considerably. As defenders of the free market, they left the leading role to private enterprise.

Low taxes

The action of the governments of the Aristocratic Republic in the field of taxation was to reduce taxes. The goal was to rid the big businessmen and estate owners of them.

However, they increased indirect taxes, those that applied to mass consumption products (salt, liquor, tobacco…), regardless of the wealth of each consumer. Some authors describe Peru at the time as a kind of tax haven, with great advantages for the civilian oligarchs themselves.

Exporting model

Export was the main economic activity during this period. The most important product was sugar, although manufactures were gaining more prominence over the years.

The international context favored Peruvian exports. Europe was in the stage called Armed Peace, with all its powers preparing for war. In addition, the second Industrial Revolution was developing, with the creation of new industries that demanded large amounts of raw materials.

Sugar farms

The haciendas located on the coast were one of the bases of the Peruvian economy. They used to be very large and modern and their production was almost entirely destined for export.

The owners of these haciendas were members or were related to the Partido Civilista. Because of their wealth and influence they were called "Sugar Barons."

Hitch

One of the most common systems for hiring workers for the mines or farms was the hitch. It was a system in which the enganchador (the employer) offered an advance and the enganchado had to pay it with his work.

Most of the time, this hitch occurred when the workers were going through financial problems and they had no choice but to accept the agreement. In case you breached your part, your employer could report you for scam.

The system often led to an unpayable debt on the part of the workers, to the point of becoming permanent. Other times, the payment was made with tokens only valid within the ranch, which further trapped employees.

Mining

In order to encourage mining activity, the government declared businessmen exempt from paying taxes for 25 years. On the other hand, in 1893, the railway was extended to La Oroya and, later, to Cerro de Pasco, Huancayo and Huancavelica.

The area where mining developed most strongly was in the central highlands. The main owner of these mines was Cerro de Pasco Mining Corporation, with 70% North American capital.

The rubber boom

One of the raw materials that contributed the greatest wealth to Peru was rubber. Starting in 1880, Europe and the United States began to demand large quantities of this product, with Peru and Brazil being the main sellers.

The negative side of these exports was in the conditions of the workers. Most were indigenous people who suffered a regime of semi-slavery by the Peruvian Amazon Company. Many died due to mistreatment, malnutrition and disease.

The ensuing international scandal did not stop extraction and, in 1912, rubber represented 30% of all Peru exported.

In 1915, rubber prices fell sharply, as Asian countries monopolized production.

English and American capital

The Peruvian economy during this phase suffered from a great dependence on foreign capital, especially British and American.

In a first stage, which lasted until 1900, the British House WR Grace, through an agreement signed in 1888, dominated the export of all raw materials from Peru to the United Kingdom.

Later, Peru prioritized trade with the United States and new companies from that country appeared, such as Cerro de Pasco Mining Corporation. In a few years, they controlled the extraction of a good part of Peruvian raw materials.

Rulers

The first government belonging to the Aristocratic Republic had as president Nicolás Piérola, who took office in 1895. From that date, and with a brief interruption in 1914, the Civilista Party held power in the country for 24 years, until 1919.

Nicolás de Piérola (1895-1899)

President Nicolás de Piérola

Among the most prominent measures that Piérola took during his tenure is the establishment of the Peruvian gold pound and the Estanco de la Sal. Similarly, his government supported the founding of credit and financial institutions.

López de Romaña (1899 - 1903)

Piérola's successor, López de Romaña, encouraged US investment in Peruvian mining. During his time in power, the Cerro de Pasco Mining Company was founded.

In the same way, it promulgated the codes that regulated mining and commerce. In the field of infrastructures, the construction of the La Oroya - Cerro de Pasco railway began. On the other hand, it broke diplomatic relations with Chile.

Manuel Candamo (1903 - 1904)

During his short period of government, just one year, he proposed a large project to expand the country's railroad line.

José Pardo y Barreda (1904 - 1908)

Pardo y Barreda had to face a great social mobilization led by the workers of the federation of bakers.

Among its measures were the creation of night schools, as well as the construction of the La Oroya - Huancayo railway.

First Government of Augusto B. Leguía (1908 - 1912)

Supporters of former President Piérola had gone over to the Democratic Party, although Leguía was able to defeat them and gain power. During his government, Peru experienced several border problems with Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Colombia.

In other areas, Leguía promoted the colonization of the jungle and promulgated the first law on work accidents.

William Billinghurst (1912 - 1914)

The mobilizations of the workers of the Callao dock forced the government to accept the 8-hour day. In addition, it legislated on the right to strike.

However, these measures did not calm the workers' organizations. Faced with this situation, it occurred in the coup d'état of Óscar Benavides, who remained in power for a year until new elections were called.

Second government of José Pardo y Barreda (1915 -1919)

Pardo y Barreda's second term came when the First World War had already started. In this context, Peru broke relations with Germany, aligning itself with the allies.

In the interior, the government faced the peasant uprising of Rumi Maqui. In addition, there was an international arbitration on La Brea and Pariñas.

The aforementioned world conflict favored Peruvian exports, although the discontent of the workers continued. Pardo y Barrera extended the eight-hour shift to the entire national territory, but, finally, there was a coup led by Leguía and supported by the workers' organizations.

With that coup the Authoritarian Republic ended, giving way to the Oncenio, a period of eleven years with Leguía as president.

References

1. Yépez Huamán, René Gabriel. The Aristocratic Republic. Obtained from pastdelperu.blogspot.com
2. History of Peru. The Aristocratic Republic. Obtained from historiaperuana.pe
3. Pedagogical Folder. Aristocratic Republic. Obtained from folderpedagogica.com
4. US Library of Congress. The Aristocratic Republic. Recovered from countrystudies.us
5. Mother Earth Travel. Recovery and Growth, 1883-1930. Retrieved from motherearthtravel.com
6. OnWar. Revolution of 1895 in Peru. Retrieved from onwar.com
7. Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Civilista Party, Retrieved from encyclopedia.com