Knowra Juan José Arévalo Juan José Arévalo Juan José Arévalo was a Guatemalan educator and politician who served as president from 1945 to 1951. His government launched reforms during the period known as the Guatemalan Revolution.
Guatemalan Revolution : A period of democratic reform in Guatemala from 1944 to 1954, beginning with the overthrow of Jorge Ubico. Arévalo’s presidency led the revolution’s first phase, before Jacobo Árbenz continued its reforms.
Spiritual Socialism : A political philosophy associated with Arévalo that emphasized human dignity, social justice, and democratic government. Arévalo used this phrase to distinguish his reform program from both communism and conventional liberalism.
University of La Plata : A public university in Argentina, founded in 1897 and based in the city of La Plata. Arévalo studied and taught in Argentina before returning to Guatemala as a presidential candidate.
Communism : A political and economic ideology seeking a classless society and common ownership of productive resources. Arévalo rejected the label of communism for his reforms, despite conservative accusations to the contrary.
Guatemalan Constitution of 1945 : Guatemala’s 1945 constitution established civil liberties, social rights, and limits on presidential power. Arévalo’s government implemented this charter, which gave constitutional form to its reform program.
Labor rights : Legal and social protections governing workers’ conditions, organization, and treatment by employers. The labor code and union protections were central instruments of Arévalo’s reform policy.
Jorge Ubico : A Guatemalan military ruler who governed as president from 1931 until his resignation in 1944. Arévalo’s democratic administration followed Ubico’s authoritarian rule.
United Fruit Company : A United States corporation that owned extensive land and infrastructure in Central America, including Guatemala. Its influence and landholdings became a sharper point of conflict under Arévalo’s successor.
Guatemalan Labor Code of 1947 : A Guatemalan law establishing labor protections, including rules on working conditions, unions, and collective bargaining. The code made labor rights a defining part of Arévalo’s social reforms.
Guatemalan Congress : Guatemala’s national legislature, responsible for making laws and exercising constitutional powers. Congress passed major measures under Arévalo, including the 1947 Labor Code.
Show all 20