José Batlle y Ordóñez

Infobox Uruguayan politician
honorific-prefix =
name = José Batlle y Ordoñez
honorific-suffix =


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caption = José Batlle y Ordoñez
order =
office = President of Uruguay
term_start = 1903
term_end = 1907
vicepresident =
predecessor = Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
successor = Claudio Williman
order2 =
office2 = President of Uruguay
term_start2 = 1911
term_end2 = 1915
predecessor2 = Claudio Williman
successor2 = Feliciano Viera
birth_date = May 1, 1856
birth_place = Montevideo, URU
death_date = October 20, 1929
death_place = Montevideo, URU
nationality = Uruguayan
party = Colorado Party
spouse =
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater =
occupation = Journalist
profession =
religion = Agnostic


website =
footnotes =

José Pablo Torcuato Batlle y Ordóñez (May 21 1856 - October 20 1929) was the president of Uruguay in 1899 (interim) and from 1903 until 1907 and for a further term from 1911 to 1915. He had also been acting President in 1899. He was the son of former president, Lorenzo Batlle y Grau. His children César, Rafael and Lorenzo Batlle Pacheco were actively engaged in politics. He was also the uncle of another Uruguayan president, Luis Batlle Berres and the great-uncle of the ex-president, Jorge Batlle.

He and his family are some of the most prominent members of the Colorado Party. He was a prominent journalist, who founded "El Día" in 1886.

In 1904 Batlle's government forces successfully ended the intermittent civil war which had persisted for many years, when the opposing Blanco leader Aparicio Saravia was defeated at the battle of Masoller. Thereafter relative civil peace ensued, leaving progressives such as Batlle to concentrate their efforts on measures designed to better the common people.

In 1913, Batlle proposed a reorganization of government which would replace the presidency with a nine-member council, similar to the Swiss Federal Council.

In 1920 Batlle killed Washington Beltrán Barbat, a Blanco Party deputy, whose son Washington Beltrán Mullin was himself to become President of Uruguay, in a duel.

Economy

During Batlle's second term, he began a new movement and referred to as "Batllismo": concerted state action against foreign economic imperialism. During this time he fought for such things as unemployment compensation (1914), eight-hour workdays (1915), and universal suffrage.

All of this brought much government involvement into the economy. The government started to impose tariffs on foreign products including machinery and raw materials imports. The growth of the meat processing industry stimulated the livestock industry, Uruguay's main source of wealth.

Education

Education, which has always been an important factor of pride in Uruguay since the mid to late 1800s, started greatly expanding. It became the key to success for the middle class community. The state approved free high school education as well as created more high schools through the country. The university also opened to women, as well as increased enrollment in all departments.

Religion

During Batlle y Ordóñez's term in office, religion became a major focus. Uruguay banned crucifixes in hospitals by 1906, and eliminated references to god and the gospel in public oaths. Divorce laws were also established during this time.

References

ee also

* List of political families

Links

* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+uy0023) Batlle y Ordóñez and the Modern State]
* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+uy0078) Batllism]