Eva Perón

Evita (cropped)

Eva Perón retrato.jpg Eva Perón in 1951

María Eva Duarte de Perón (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. She is often referred to as Evita, which is a Spanish diminutive form of "Eva". Eva Perón was the second wife of Argentine President Juan Perón (1895–1974). She served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952, and she remains an important figure in Argentine history and politics.

Early Life

Eva Perón was born in the small town of Los Toldos, in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. She was the youngest of five children. Her parents were Juana Ibarguren and Juan Duarte, a wealthy rancher. Eva moved to Buenos Aires in her teens to pursue a career in acting.

Rise to Power

Eva met Juan Perón in 1944 at a charity event in Buenos Aires. They married the following year. When Juan Perón became President of Argentina in 1946, Eva became the First Lady of Argentina. She used her position to fight for women's suffrage and improve the lives of the poor.

Political Influence

Eva Perón was a powerful and influential figure in Argentine politics. She was instrumental in the passage of the law that granted women's suffrage in Argentina in 1947. She also founded and ran the Eva Perón Foundation, which provided financial assistance and scholarships to the poor.

Health and Death

In 1951, Eva Perón was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite her illness, she continued to work tirelessly for the people of Argentina. She died on 26 July 1952 at the age of 33. Her death was mourned by millions of Argentines.

Legacy

Eva Perón remains a controversial figure in Argentine history. She is revered by many for her efforts to help the poor and for her role in the women's suffrage movement. However, she is also criticized for her association with the authoritarian regime of her husband.

In Popular Culture

Eva Perón's life has been the subject of numerous books, films, and musicals. The most famous of these is the musical Evita, which was later adapted into a film starring Madonna.

See Also

• Juan Perón
• Peronism
• Eva Perón Foundation
• Women's suffrage in Argentina