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| 1972, April |
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| Responding to widespread strikes, protests, and continued guerrilla activities, the Congress declared a “state of internal war.” The act gave the military (aided by the U.S.) unlimited powers to stamp out the Tupamaros, who were decimated within a year. | 1 |
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| 1973, June 27 |
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| The military dismissed Congress, formalizing military rule with the consent of Pres. Bordaberry. Left-wing parties were banned, the Colorados and Blancos dismissed, the National University closed, and censorship increased. The following 12-year dictatorship was the bloodiest in Uruguayan history. | 2 |
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| 1976, June 14 |
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| After three years as presidential figurehead, Bordaberry was dislodged by the military, and Aparicio Méndez was installed (July 14). All political parties were banned and dissidents imprisoned. By this time Uruguay, once known as the Switzerland of Latin America, had more political prisoners per capita than any other Latin American nation. Torture was widespread, arousing international condemnation. | 3 |
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| 1980 |
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| After seven years of dictatorship, one-seventh of the population had left the country because of political repression and declining wages. | 4 |
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| Nov. 30 |
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| The military held a plebiscite to approve a new constitution that would give legitimate power to the military. The document was rejected by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin. | 5 |
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