ARGENTINAARGENTINA

Immigration and Culture

PHASE ONE: Spanish Colonial Period

• Spanish conquistadors arrived in late 1500s• Early colonies were ruled from Peru• Major cities of Salta, Jujuy, and Cordoba grew

in the Northwest along the Silver Trail• Buenos Aires was an important port city, but

trade was forbidden with anyone but Spain• Eventually Argentina ruled by the Viceroy of

Rio de la Plata, separating it from Peru• Most of the native population died or was sent

to Peru to work in the mines.

Colonial Buildings in Salta

Church of San Francisco Original house of legislature

Legacy of Spanish Colonial Period

• Spanish remains the official language

• 97% of the population is of European descent

• 92% of the country is Roman Catholic

• Lingering connection to the rest of the Latin American world through shared heritage

PHASE TWO: European Immigration

• 1860-1930

• Dominated by Spanish and Italian immigrants

• Contributed to the agricultural and industrial development

• Some settled in cities which created large urban centers such as Buenos Aires

Agriculture- Sugar Cane Fields, Jujuy

City of Salta - Urbanization

Legacy of European Immigration

• Argentina moves away from “typical” Latin American culture and develops a blend of traditions

• Architecture in Buenos Aires more similar to Europe than South America

• Argentina becomes “The Breadbasket of the World” for a time

• Creates a strong economic backbone for the country

PHASE THREE: Modern Migration

• Economic collapse in the late 20th century left a shortage of workers

• Universal free education and health care are appealing to neighboring countries

• Many workers needed for factories and to follow crops through central and northern provinces

Bolivia Farmer’s Market, Jujuy

Top Eight Source Countries in Argentina as a Percentageof the Total Foreign-Born Population, 2001

Note: The total foreign-born population used here is 1,531,940. Source: INDEC, Censo Nacional de Poblacíon, Hogares y Viviendas 2001, Argentina

Emerging legacy of migration

• Infusion of native culture into Argentina, which had lost most of its native roots during colonial period

• Government struggles to provide services for legal and illegal immigrants, straining the already over-stretched funds

• Growing dissatisfaction among the people and discrimination toward migrant families