Second Buenos Aires Secession from Argentina 1861

The settlement that had ended the secession of Buenos Aires in 1859 was short-lived. General Justo Jose de Urquiza, who had led Argentina since 1852 and forced Buenos Aires join the confederation in 1859, relinquished the Argentine presidency in March 1860, becoming governor of Entre Rios province. Dr. Santiago Derqui took over the presidency of Argentina. Meanwhile, Bartolomé Mitre, who had led the army of Buenos Aires that Urquiza defeated, became the governor of Buenos Aires in May 1860. Rather than continue resisting the unification of the country, Mitre set about the task of making the Argentine Confederation serve the interests of Buenos Aires.

The national constitution of Argentina was amended on September 25, 1860 in accordance with proposals from Buenos Aires. Having satisfied its conditions for participation, Buenos Aires sent representatives to the legislature of the newly reformed Argentine Republic but they were refused admittance on the pretext that the electoral law of Buenos Aires was unconstitutional. A constitutional crisis ensued. Buenos Aires opted to seceed again in 1861.

Civil war erupted when President Derqui declared war on the rebellious province of Buenos Aires, appointing Urquiza, the former president and governor of Entre Rios, commander-in-chief of the national army. The opposing armies met on September 17, 1861, at the Battle of Pavon in the province of Santa Fe. The Buenos Aires militia, led by Mitre and armed with modern rifles and cannon, decimated the Argentine cavalry and blocked the invasion of Buenos Aires province. Urquiza withdrew from the battlefield. Total casualties were about 1000 killed. The surprising victory of Buenos Aires brought about the collapse of the national government.

Mitre set about forming a new national government, whose capital was moved from Parana to Buenos Aires. In October 1862, Mitre became the first elected president of the Argentine Republic; he instituted liberal reforms and increased the authority of the federal government in the provinces; a period of internal progress and reform began. Urquiza remained governor of Entre Rios.

References

History of Argentina, xiii, 50; Dictionary of Wars, 31; World Statesman: Argentina; Correlates of War: Intra-State Wars (547); Justo Jose de Urquiza; Bartolome Mitre.

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