We explain what the generation of ’37 was, how it originated and the ideas it defended. Also, what are its characteristics and its representatives.
The intellectuals of the generation of ’37, like Sarmiento, defended liberal ideals.
What was the generation of ’37?
The Generation of ’37 was an Argentine intellectual movement that formed in the mid-19th century in the context of the creation of the national State. The group was made up of writers, thinkers and politicians, and His thought was linked to romanticism and liberalism.
Its objective was to promote democratic ideals and the formation of a government that would guarantee the rights of citizens. It was the first Argentine intellectual movement that sought to build a national identity.
In 1837, a cultural association called the Literary Salon was founded, which was located in the back room of a bookstore. The thinkers of this intellectual movement met there, debated ideas and read their writings.
Among the most important members of the generation of ’37 were Esteban Echeverría, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Juan María Gutiérrez, Juan Bautista Alberdi, Miguel Cané (father), Vicente Fidel López and Valentín Alsina. In addition, other figures such as Bartolomé Mitre, José Mármol and Félix Frías joined the movement.
However, Juan Manuel de Rosas closed the Literary Hall along with other political and cultural associations during his government. In view of this, some of the members joined the Mayo Association, a group that conspired to overthrow Rosas and defend the establishment of a constitutional regime.
The ideals of the generation of ’37 constituted the basis on which the Constitution of 1853 was drafted, which, with some modifications, is the current constitution of the Argentine Republic.
See also: Generation of ’98
Characteristics of the generation of 37
The main characteristics of the generation of 37 are:
- It was an Argentine intellectual movement that emerged during the 19th century and influenced the bourgeois culture of the time.
- It was made up of different thinkers, authors, artists and politicians, who defended liberal ideals: individual freedom, separation of powers and freedom of the press.
- They expressed their ideas through journalistic and literary publications, and met to debate in literary salons.
- Among its main members were Juan Bautista Alberdi, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Esteban Echeverría and Juan María Gutiérrez.
- They opposed the government of Juan Manuel de Rosas and for this reason some of their members had to live in exile.
Context of the generation of ’37
Esteban Echevarría was one of the main authors of the Generation of ’37.
Following the declaration of independence, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata experienced a series of tensions. The provinces appointed their own governors and organized themselves autonomously. This led to armed conflicts that culminated in a civil war.
With the disintegration of the central government, the power of landowners, armies and militias increased. In this context, in Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas was elected governor in 1829 and obtained a series of extraordinary powers under the title of “Restorer of the Laws and Institutions of the Province of Buenos Aires.”
In this way, Rosas established a new political order in Buenos Aires based on his popularity among the rural and urban masses and, in turn, on the alliance with the landed and mercantile elite of Buenos Aires (that is, of the city of Buenos Aires). . The economy during his government was prosperous and he dedicated many resources to the well-being of the popular classes, such as the construction of schools and churches in rural areas.
However, he also persecuted his opponents and made it compulsory for public employees, lawyers, doctors and merchants to wear the red flag, a distinctive symbol used on clothing to identify supporters of Rosismo. Later, he began to censor the press to control public opinion and to repress political dissent.
The romanticism
In Latin Americathe generation of ’37 introduced romantic ideas that later spread to neighboring countries. Romanticism was a cultural movement that emerged in Germany and the United Kingdom at the end of the 18th century. In Europe, it functioned as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment, as it emphasized the importance of feelings. In addition, it defended liberalism against the enlightened despotism that remained in power at that time.
In literature, Romanticism took shape in narratives of customs, which described contemporary social groups or from past times. Given the importance that this movement gave to the individual, multiple biographies and autobiographies were published.
It may help you: Literary Romanticism
The formation of the generation of 37
The generation of 37 spread their ideas in the weekly newspaper Fashion.
In 1830, Esteban Echeverría returned to Buenos Aires after spending five years in France, where he came into contact with the works of romantic thinkers such as Friedrich Schiller and Lord Byron. At that time, romanticism influenced political ideas and promoted the creation of a social and political order based on the ideals of democracy, solidarity, fraternity and the rights of the people.
At that time, Echeverría brought together different thinkers who began to meet at the home of Miguel Cané (father) and later at the Literary Salon founded by Marcos Sastre, in the back room of his bookstore. Soon, the meetings were attended by figures such as Juan María Gutiérrez, Juan Bautista Alberdi and Vicente Fidel López, among others.
The movement spread its ideas and writings in a weekly newspaper called Fashion, which was published between 1837 and 1838. The topics were varied and ranged from general culture issues to economic debates and political opinions. They were supporters of freedom, equality and progress.
These thinkers held that The country had to have a constitutional organization and the confrontation between unitarians and federalists had to be overcome. Although they did not have an open political stance against Rosas, the basis of their ideals was contrary to the Rosas tradition of hierarchy, order and religion.
The creation of the May Association
In 1938, the magazine Fashion It was censored and the Marcos Sastre Literary Hall was closed by the Rosas government. In this context, the group had to go underground and formed the Association of the Young Argentine Generation or the May Association. There, they wrote a manifesto called “Symbolic Words.”
The members of the Mayo Association defended democracy as an ideal that guaranteed the rights of the people and as an institutional political order. They maintained that the progress of the people would occur through culture, access to education and citizen participation.
The main figures of the generation of 37
Among the main figures of the generation of ’37 are:
- Esteban Echevarria (1805-1851). He was an Argentine writer and poet and one of the organizers of the Salón Literario. During his studies in France, he came into contact with European Romanticism, which influenced his later work. He was an editor of the Salón Literario. Socialist dogma and leader of the May Association. Among his works are The Slaughterhouse, The Captive and a novel that is considered the first romantic story: Elvira or The Silver Bride.
- Miguel Cané (1812-1863). He was a lawyer, politician and journalist. Recognized for his political activism against Rosas, he had to go into exile during his government. Later, he wrote for several Buenos Aires newspapers and founded the newspaper Silver Trade. His main writings were Esther, On the train and Sconner’s familyHe was the father of Miguel Cané (son), another important Argentine politician and writer.
- Marcos Sastre (1809-1887). He was an Argentine writer and educator. He founded the Argentine Bookstore and the Literary Salon in its back room. He had to escape the Rosas persecution and lived in Entre Ríos, where he dedicated himself to education and the school system.
- Juan Maria Gutierrez (1809-1878). He was a historian, statesman, writer and poet. He wrote different types of texts, including novels, poetry, literary criticism, academic and scientific works. In addition to being one of the founders of the Mayo Association, he participated in the Constituent Convention of 1853 that drafted the national Constitution, was Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1854 and 1856, and rector of the University of Buenos Aires.
- Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (1811-1888)He was one of the main figures of the Generation of ’37 for his literary work, his political influence and his work as an educator. He was president of Argentina between 1868 and 1874, and he focused on strengthening the education of the Argentine population to consolidate the nation. Among his most important books are: Facundo or Civilization and Barbarism and his autobiography Memories of the province.
- Juan Bautista Alberdi (1810-1884). He was an Argentine writer and politician. He joined the Salón Literario as a musician and writer. When the Rosismo dissolved it, Alberdi founded the lodge La Joven Argentina, but shortly after he had to go into exile in Uruguay. Later, he was one of the drafters of the Constitution of 1853. His written work deals mainly with law and history.
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References
- De Amézola, G. and Cowen, M. (2005). The Generation of 37. In Argentine and Latin American history I. Norm.
- Katra, WH (1996). The Argentine Generation of 1837. Echeverría, Alberdi, Sarmiento, Miter. Associated University Presses.
- Rankin, M. A. (2010). Alberdi, Juan Bautista; The Rosas Dictatorship; Echeverría, Esteban; Sarmiento, Domingo F.; Rosas, Juan Manuel de. Encyclopedia of Latin America, vol. III: Search for National Identity (1820s to 1900). Facts On File.