VI. The World Wars and the Interwar Period, 1914–1945 > E. Latin America and the Caribbean, 1914–1945 > 2. South America > g. Ecuador
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
(See 1912–16)
 
g. Ecuador
 
 
1916–20
 
Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno, president.  1
 
1917, Dec. 7
 
Ecuador severed relations with Germany because of the submarine campaign, but did not follow most other Latin American states in joining the League of Nations at the conclusion of the war. During the war and the immediate postwar period much progress was made in education, social legislation, and above all sanitation (work of the American Col. William Gorgas at Guayaquil, long a center of bubonic plague).  2
 
1920–24
 
José Luis Tamayo, president.  3
 
1924–25
 
Gonzalo Córdova succeeded Tamayo. He was driven from office by a military revolt led by Gen. Francisco Gómez de la Torre (July 9, 1925).  4
 
1926–31
 
ISIDRO AYORA, president.  5
 
1929, March 28
 
A new constitution ended the military regime set up in 1925, but paved the way for endless disputes between the executive and the legislature. Ayora had elaborate social and labor laws enacted, including female suffrage, and adopted many financial reforms.  6
 
1931, Aug. 25
 
Ayora resigned. Col. Luis Alba became provisional president but was forced to flee after a coup d'état (October). There followed a period of utter confusion, marked by conflict between the executive and legislature and between the conservative and liberal groups. After the suppression of a revolt (Aug. 1932), Martínez Mera became president, only to be replaced in Dec. 1933 by José M. Velasco Ibarra.  7
 
1932–34
 
The Leticia dispute between Peru and Colombia (See 1932–34) gave Ecuador an opportunity to assert claims to portions of the Amazon Basin.  8
 
1934, Sept. 28
 
Partly motivated by these aspirations, Ecuador entered the League of Nations.  9
 
1935, Aug. 20
 
President Ibarra was overthrown by a military junta after he attempted to assume dictatorial powers. He was replaced by Antonio Pons, who, in turn, was forced to resign.  10
 
Sept. 26
 
A military dictatorship under Federico Páez was set up, to prevent the election of a Conservative (the dominant Liberal Party was split by dissensions).  11
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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