Editing Uruguay (section)

=== 20th century ===
[[File:Palaciosalvouruguay.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Palacio Salvo]], built in [[Montevideo]] from 1925 to 1928, was once the [[List of tallest buildings in Latin America|tallest building in Latin America]].]]
The Colorado leader [[José Batlle y Ordóñez]] was elected president in 1903.<ref name="loc-12">{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/12.htm|title=THE NEW COUNTRY, 1903–33 – Uruguay|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=30 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025506/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/12.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, the Blancos led a rural revolt, and eight bloody months of fighting ensued before their leader, [[Aparicio Saravia]], was killed in battle. Government forces emerged victorious, leading to the end of the co-participation politics that had begun in 1872.<ref name="loc-12"/> [[José Batlle y Ordóñez|Batlle]] had two terms (1903–07 and 1911–15) during which he instituted major reforms, such as a welfare program, government participation in the economy, and a plural executive.<ref name="dept-state"/>

[[Gabriel Terra]] became president in March 1931. His inauguration coincided with the effects of the [[Great Depression]],<ref name="loc-14"/> and the social climate became tense as a result of the lack of jobs. There were confrontations in which police and leftists died.<ref name="loc-14"/> In 1933, Terra organized a coup d'état, dissolving the General Assembly and governing by decree.<ref name="loc-14"/> A new constitution was promulgated in 1934, transferring powers to the president.<ref name="loc-14"/> In general, the Terra government weakened or neutralized economic nationalism and social reform.<ref name="loc-14">{{csref|country=uruguay|section=The Conservative Adjustment, 1931–43|last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |pd=no}} pp. [http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/14.htm 27–33] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429204151/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/14.htm|date=29 April 2011}}</ref>

In 1938, general elections were held, and Terra's brother-in-law, General [[Alfredo Baldomir]], was elected president. Under pressure from organized labor and the National Party, Baldomir advocated free elections, freedom of the press, and a new constitution.<ref name="loc-15"/> Although Baldomir declared Uruguay neutral in 1939, British warships and the German ship {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}} fought [[Battle of the River Plate|a battle]] not far off Uruguay's coast.<ref name="loc-15"/> The ''Admiral Graf Spee'' took refuge in [[Montevideo]], claiming sanctuary in a neutral port, but was later ordered out.<ref name="loc-15">{{csref|country=uruguay|section=Baldomir and the End of Dictatorship|last1=Jacob |first1=Raúl |last2=Weinstein |first2=Martin |pd=no}} pp. [http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/15.htm 31–33] {{webarchive|date=30 April 2011 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430025438/http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/15.htm}}</ref>

[[File:Admiral Graf Spee Flames.jpg|thumb|left|The sinking of the German cruiser [[German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee|''Admiral Graf Spee'']] is the most known event occurring in [[Uruguay during World War II]].]]

In 1945, Uruguay formally signed the [[Declaration by United Nations|Declaration by the United Nations]] and entered [[World War II]], leading the country to declare war on [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] and [[Empire of Japan|Japan]]. Following the end of the war, it became a founding member of the [[United Nations]].

An armed group of [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] urban guerrillas, known as the [[Tupamaros]], emerged in the 1960s, engaging in activities such as bank robbery, kidnapping, and assassination, in addition to attempting an overthrow of the government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 August 1970 |title=Kidnapped U.S. Official Found Slain in Uruguay |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/11/archives/kidnapped-us-official-found-slain-in-uruguay-body-of-abducted-us.html |access-date=19 October 2024 |work=The New York Times |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schrader |first=Stuart |date=10 August 2020 |title=From Police Reform to Police Repression: 50 Years after an Assassination |url=https://nacla.org/uruguay-police-killing-anniversary |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=NACLA |language=en}}</ref>