Americans in Uruguay

Americans in Uruguay are mostly persons born in the United States and living in Uruguay. There are as well some Uruguayan-born persons of American descent.

History

What is now known as Uruguay has maintained intense relations with the United States since colonial times. In 1811, a Spanish translation of Thomas Paine's most important works circulated in Montevideo, including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the constitutions of five U.S. states,[1] and this was inspirational to Uruguayan national hero José Gervasio Artigas, who embraced Paine's ideas.[1] Many of Artigas's writings drew directly from Paine's, including the Instructions of 1813, which Uruguayans consider to be one of their country's most important constitutional documents.[1]

Americans in Uruguay, although usually only a few as compared with the more numerous local Britons, made significant contributions to the country, notably the naval commander Jonas Coe, who took part in the combats which ultimately led to independence.[2]

American presence on Uruguayan soil increased with the establishment of diplomatic relationships in the late 19th century.

In 1970, American agent Dan Mitrione was assassinated in Uruguay.[3]

Present

The 2011 Uruguayan census revealed 2,800 people who declared the United States as their country of birth;[4] as of 2013, there were more than 300 American citizens registered in the Uruguayan social security.[5]

There is also another migration-related issue: during the 1960s, several Uruguayans migrated to the United States and had their children on North American soil. Lately, there are many of those people returning to Uruguay, so there are American-born children and young people who are now living in Uruguay.[6][7]

An educational institution, the Uruguayan American School (established 1960) serves both Uruguayan and American children.[8]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay is present since 1947, with lots of American missionaries acting in Uruguay.

Education

The Uruguayan American School serves American families in the Montevideo area.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 John Street, Artigas and the Emancipation of Uruguay (London: Cambridge University Press, 1959), 178-186.
  2. ↑ Historia y Arqueologia Marítima -Garibaldi: Combate de Costa Brava (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Blum, William: Killing hope: US military and CIA interventions since World War II. Zed Books, 2003, page 201. ISBN 1-84277-369-0, ISBN 978-1-84277-369-7
  4. ↑ "Immigration to Uruguay" (PDF). INE. Retrieved 6 March 2013. (Spanish)
  5. ↑ "Foreign workers in Uruguay". EL PAIS. Retrieved 4 November 2013. (Spanish)
  6. ↑ Uruguayans coming back
  7. ↑ "Uruguay has 77,000 immigrants". Montevideo.comm. 17 June 2013. (Spanish)
  8. ↑ Uruguayan American School
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