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How long did Uruguay’s military dictatorship last, and when did it begin?

Uruguay's civil-military dictatorship is usually dated from 1973 to 1985—about twelve years.

Cities and regions of Uruguay

Answer

Uruguay’s civil–military dictatorship is usually dated from 1973 to 1985—about twelve years. Its start is associated with President Juan María Bordaberry’s dissolution of parliament on 27 June 1973, though political violence, emergency measures and the military’s growing role began earlier.

The period was accompanied by restrictions on political freedoms, persecution, imprisonment, torture and emigration. Therefore, it cannot be reduced to a single date of the coup: the preceding crisis and the subsequent transition to democracy are important for understanding.

You can explore the subject through the Museo de la Memoria, archives, memorial sites and material from Uruguayan state and human-rights institutions. For historical background, use sources that distinguish events before 1973 from the regime’s official period.

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