Montes, Ismael (1861–1933)

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Montes, Ismael (1861–1933)

Ismael Montes (b. 5 October 1861; d. 18 December 1933), president of Bolivia (1904–1909 and 1913–1917). Born in La Paz, Montes was the most important leader of the Liberal Party, which he dominated during much of its twenty years in power. As prosperity reigned during his first term because of the boom in tin exports, Montes continued a railroad building program and provided money for other infrastructure projects. During his first term the most liberal land-grant policy in Bolivian history was put into effect; during his second term, however, he oversaw the cessation of land grants on the frontiers. His banking reforms of 1917 and the creation of a state bank based in La Paz undermined Sucre's role as the financial center of the nation. Montes's intransigence led to a split in the Liberal Party in 1914 and the creation of the Republican Party, which in 1921 took over the government in a coup.

See alsoBolivia, Political Parties: Liberal Party .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Herbert S. Klein, Parties and Political Change in Bolivia: 1880–1952 (1969).

Juan Albarracín Millán, El poder minero en la administración liberal (1972).

Additional Bibliography

Antezana Salvatierra, Alejandro Vladimir. Los liberales y el problema agrario de Bolivia, 1899–1920. La Paz, Bolivia: Plural Editores, 1996.

                                        Erick D. Langer

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Montes, Ismael (1861–1933)

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