The image above displays the Argentinean National Congress Building in Buenos Aires which was inaugurated for use in 1906. Besides that we can see the large plazas and boulevards that were built throughout the capital which were inspired by European cities such as London and Paris; which at the time were considered the ultimate goal and aspirations of these Latin American countries. This is important because at first sight you can say these Latin American nations were just trying to copy European style architecture, but upon further research and analysis one can see what the true intentions of the Neo-Liberal governments that were in charge at the time. Following the end of Caudillo rule in Argentina a new form of government began and that was the Neo-Liberals; they believed in rapid modernization, for their nations economies to rapidly open up to foreign investment, the building of modern infrastructure, and the ability to trade with foreign nations (particularly Europe and the United States). The Presidents of Argentina during Neo-Liberal rule believed in this very much and were willing to do anything in order to accomplish this. This can be seen when Domingo Faustino Sarmiento who was one of the Presidents of Argentina during the Neo-Liberal era believed that the people who lived in the grasslands of Argentina (Gauchos) were a problem to the modernization of Argentina. He believed that the only way to resolve this problem was by waging war against them, and then opening this space up for immigrants who would cultivate the land and make it prosper as a part of the new Argentina. This can be seen in the textbook Problems in Modern Latin American History in which it states, “As for the city man of Argentina, he wears a European suit and lives a civilized life. In the cities there are laws, ideas of progress, means of instruction, municipal organization, and regular government. Outside the cities, the look of everything changes. The countryman wears different clothing, not European but American. His way of life is different, his necessities peculiar and limited. Argentina is therefore composed of two entirely different societies, two peoples unconnected with each other. What is more, the countryman, far from aspiring to resemble his urban counterpart, disdainfully rejects urban luxuries and cultivated manners. All aspects of urban civilization are banned in the countryside. Anyone who dared appear in a frock coat, mounted on an English saddle, would bring upon himself the jeers and brutal aggression of the barbarous country people. The triumph of European civilization encounters practically insuperable barriers in the Argentine countryside” (139). Sarmiento kept his word and he waged war against the Gauchos during the Desert Campaign, he was successful in removing all of them by killing them. Sarmiento was so proud of his achievement that he pointed out to his forces that they were able to kill the natives (gauchos) faster than the United States did. Once he completed this he then went on to begin the modernization and reorganization of Argentina. This is the reason why this image is important because yes at first sight this image displays a new modern Argentina to the world, but the background is darker and doesn’t really show what was done in order to achieve this.

 James Wood, “Race and Nation Building.” Essay. In Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations, 5th Edition ed., 139

Wood, James A., and Anna Rose Alexander. “Race and Nation Building.” Essay. In Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations, 5Th Edition ed., 139 . Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019.