Evita 1951

This is a speech given by Eva Peron on October 17, 1951 on a balcony during a rally in Buenos Aires, celebrating Loyalty Day. After Juan Peron was removed and imprisoned by the Argentine government in 1945, on, “October 17, 1945, an immense demonstration of workers converged on downtown Buenos Aires to demand [Juan Peron’s] return” (Chasteen, 271). Loyalty Day was a day for workers to express their support for Juan and Eva Peron.

Eva Peron was the first lady of Argentina, wife of President Juan Peron. She, “played a large role in mobilizing the Peronist movement. Her dramatic gestures in favour of Argentina’s poor helped the movement broaden its populist constituency beyond organized labor” (Chasteen, 272), therefore garnering nationalism from all levels of society as well as growing the populist movement in Argentina. Evita, “too, had come to Buenos Aires from ‘the sticks,’ at the same time as had so many Peronist workers. She felt she understood them. She certainly spoke their language” (Chasteen, 272). This speech was produced right after Eva Peron was diagnosed with cancer. As her health weakened, she used her lack of physical strength to show her supports just how loyal she was to them and their cause through her movements and Juan’s assistance in holding her up. Her speech was widely accepted and praised across Argentine lower classes, thus further supporting Juan Peron and their political party.

In modern history, this source is a powerful show of political strength not only by a woman but also by an Argentine figure. Eva Peron was famous in her own right before marrying her husband and used aspects of her previously acclaimed fame to aid her political party.

This source fits in with other sources because as described in Chasteen, power came from the upper tiers of society. Wealthy or famous individuals would have the most sway over public opinion, just as Eva Peron did. While some may argue against this, claiming that Eva Peron was not born wealthy, her status and fame as a radio actress launched her political career and therefore aided Juan Peron’s. This singular speech shows just how beloved Eva was and the dedication she had for her Argentinian supporters. The image of her leaning over the balcony and being held up by her husband are powerful imagery that demonstrate nationalistic commitment as well as political agendas for support from the lower tiers of society.

Works Cited:

Chasteen, John Charles. Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.

Eva Peron Speeches 1951. Accessed January 20, 2020. http://www.worldfuturefund.org/Reports/Espeech/evaperonspeeches.html.