BY: JENNIFER ARAUJO JOCELYN DE LA O

JULIA JACKSONEMILY OLEARCZYK

Eva Perón 1919-1952

Don’t Cry For Me Argentina

The Life and political career of Eva Perón, Argentina’s first lady, women's right activist, actress, political leader, and Evita

Early life

Born María Eva Duarte on May 7th 1919 in Los Todos, Argentina

Her mother was Juana Ibarguren

Her father, Juan Duarte, was a wealthy rancher in Chivilcoy, where he already had a wife and family

He abandoned Eva and her 4 siblings when she was 1 year old

Eva was a part of the “second family”

Considered bastards and lived an isolated life

The Death Of Her Father

January 8, 1926 her father is killed in a car crash

During the funeral, they could pay respects but were not allowed to stay

Mrs. Juan Duarte (His legitimate wife) did not want her husbands mistress and family to attend the funeral so they were promptly kicked out

This bitter memory caused her to destroy her original birth certificate as means to destroy that from her past in 1945

Move to Junín, Argentina

She and her family move into a 1 bedroom apartment in Junín

To pay rent they all got odd jobs and turned the home into a boarding home Her mother was a seamstress and cook

Eva participates in many school plays like, Arriba Estudiantes, or Students Arise!

Her mother wanted her to marry a bachelor, Eva wanted to become a famous actress In her autobiography she states, “Even as a little girl I wanted to

recite. It was as though I wished to say something to others, something important which I felt in my deepest heart” (The Reason for My Life)

While in Junín her voice was broadcasted for the first time over the radio on House of Music

Off To Buenos Aires!

At 15, she moves to Buenos Aires to pursue her career

Traveled around with a theatre company and modeled

1937: first film role in Segundos Afuera, got a contract to perform over radio

1942: 5 year contract to perform with Radio Belgrano Great Women of History Elizabeth I of England, last Tsarina of

Russia One of the highest paid radio-actresses Short lived acting career, moves to politics

First Beginnings With Juan Perón

January 15, 1944 an earthquake kills over 10,000 people in San Juan

Secretary of Labor, Perón begins a fundraiser, an “artistic festival” where all of Argentina’s radio and TV personalities were invited.

January 22, 1944 a gala was held at Luna Park Stadium where Eva and Juan first meet. She was 24, he was 48

May 1944, she was chosen as president for Agrupación Radial Argentina, a union which she founded a year earlier

She spoke on behalf of Juan on her radio talk show, Toward a Better future She spoke of her humble upbringing which helped

appeal to the poor working classes When he was arrested, she supposedly gathered

thousands to help free him on October 17 They were married that December

Argentina

Elite and military supported government 1930’s import substitution industrialization →

working class doubled Female wage labor force 62% increase

Tensions between elite and rest of Argentina (European immigrants drawn in from early 1990s strong economy, middle class, working class, rural people)

Argentina & Peronism

Peronism/justicialismo: political movement based on Juan and Eva Peron’s ideas/programs Capitalist-socialist median

Juan Perón presidency 1946Populist government

National appeal to public sectorsElite disapproval → political

advantage“Voice of the descamisados” (the

shirtless ones; Argentine workers)

Eva Peron & Evita

“I have no interest in talking about Eva Peron…I am interested in talking about "Evita;“…because whoever understands "Evita“ perhaps also grasps more easily her "descamisados,” the people themselves, who will never aggrandize themselves”

Supported women’s right to vote Latin American feminismEvita, wife of the leaderPride in being woman

Feminism has become ridiculous and masculinization of females

Eva Peron vs. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

Popularity of her husband, President Nestor Kirchner

Peronist partyKirchner 2007

presidencyBoth women greatly

involved in husbands’ politics

Peron’s Mission For Women

Profession as women – to create Family home Vocation to sacrifice Right to create, alongside man, a better humanity

Mother of family work for no salaryconcern: women’s movement should focus on

improving lives through the home → should give monthly salary to wives/mothers

Eva’s monthly salary idea was one of many molded around her followers

Peron as Secretary of Labor from 1943-1945 “Perón-People”

Eva began to find ways to meet the needs of the people who crowded the sidewalks outside her house.  Labor unions contribute

Europe

How It All Began…

Eva Perón Foundation

On June 19, 1948, the María Eva Duarte Social Help Foundation was established

The Foundation had five goals:1. Loan money, provide tools, establish scholarships

for deserving people who lack resources2. Construct housing for needy families3. Construct educational establishments, hospitals,

recreational facilities4. Construct buildings for the common good which

can be transferred with or without charge to National, Provincial or Municipal governments

5. Contribute or collaborate by any means available to realization of works constructed for the common good which help meet basic needs of least favored social classes.

Hogares de Transito

In 1948, the Fundación opened three Hogares de Tránsito

3 Hogares Residents stayed for

an average of about eight days

Open to anyone who needed assistance

Foreign Aid To AMERICA

“This plane that will soon arrive in the United States represents the kindness of our leader and what we are capable of doing for the dispossessed, no matter where they are,” Evita wrote.

“May this action and this aid which we offer with all respect and affection to the great people of the United States serve as an example as we humbly send them our little grain of sand to help.”

The Foundation set up a plan for the construction of one thousand schools throughout Argentina Agricultural schools,

workshops, Nursery schools and daycare centers

Eva Peron School of NursingEarthquake struck Ecuador.

Medical personnel from the Eva Peron Foundation flew to the neighboring country to help

Education

Later Life

Eva’s husband, Juan Peron sought re-election in 1952 and Eva hoped that his running mate would be her

The working class of Argentina was overwhelmingly in favor of her becoming the Vice-President, although the military and upper class were aghast at the thought of her running the nation if her husband died

In 1951, hundreds of thousands of people rallied in support of her, however she eventually decided not to become her husband’s running mate

Death

In 1950, Eva was diagnosed with uterine cancer

Her illness couldn’t have been stopped even through aggressive treatment like hysterectomy

She passed away on July 26, 1952 at the age of 33 years old

Remains Of Evita’s Body

Eva’s remains were mummified by her fluids being replaced with glycerin

When Juan Peron died in 1974, their bodies were displayed side-by-side for a while until Eva was sent to her current home, Recoleta Cemetary in Buenos Aires

Evita’s Legacy

The Eva Peron Foundation Established a School of

NursingChildren’s HomesHogares de Transito Women’s Rights

Museum

On July 26, 2002, Eva’s grandniece Christina Alvarez Rodriguez created the Evita Musuem in Buenos Aires which is housed in a mansion constructed for the Carabassa family

This building was declared a National Historical Monument in 1999

Overall

Based on what we know about Latin America, did her skin color and background play a major role in the election of her husband?

What influence did Eva have in the lives of Argentine women and working class?

What and who encompassed Eva Peron’s support coalition?

Sources

http://comunicacionpopular.com.ar/el-dia-que-eva-peron-ayudo-a-los-ninos-pobres-y-negros-de-washington/

http://www.evitaperon.orghttp://

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18707516

O’conner and Garofalo’s Eva Peron’s Views On Women and Society in Argentina

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/historyofsouthamerica/a/evita_3.htm

http://www.evitaperon.org/part3.htm