Bolivian National Revolution

The Movimiento Nationalista Revolucionario (National Revolution Movement) party, or MNR, was founded in 1941 and born out of the political and social upheaval in the aftermath of the Chaco War. The MNR promoted social reforms that were then opposed by the Concordancia (a coalition of right wing and traditionalist ruling parties). The MNR was the first party in Bolivia with widespread popular support. However, while they were able to cause upheaval and contribute to the ousting of certain leaders, they could not gain control of the government. After a failed coup in 1949, MNR candidate Paz Estenssoro triumphed in the 1951 election, but the military prevented the party from gaining control. In response, on April 9, the MNR seized arsenals in La Paz and gave weapons to civilians [Hudson & Hanratti. 1991]. 

After three days of fighting, the army surrendered, and Estenssoro became president on April 16^th. In the months that followed, the MNR established universal suffrage, enfranchising the entire indigenous population. They also nationalized the mining industry at the demand of the largely Aymara mine workers. An Agrarian Reform Law abolished forced labor and distributed land to the indigenous peasants who worked it. After these reforms, however, the revolution lost steam. Some characterize the revolution as unfinished, though the movement led to the first changes to empower the Aymara and other indigenous groups since the Spanish Colonization began four centuries prior [Morales, 2011].