Spanish Schools in Uruguay

Country Name:
Long Form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Short Form: Uruguay
Directory of Spanish Schools, Spanish School Directory, Spanish schools in Uruguay, Study Spanish Uruguay, Learn Spanish Uruguay, Spanish Schools Uruguay
Population: 3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)
Median Age: 36.8 years
Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
GDP: $10,700 U.S

History:
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By year end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties.

-information courtesy of the World Factbook