War, money and State formation. Buenos Aires and the Argentine Confederation (1852-1862)

Abstract

This article analyzes the economic foundations that facilitated the leadership of Buenos Aires in its dispute with the Argentine Confederation during the period 1852-1862. Unlike a part of the literature that emphasizes the relevance of the fiscal and monetary reforms promoted by the Buenos Aires authorities (as a cause of the economic and institutional stabilization of that province), the work proposes that the decisive aspect to settle the dispute was the historical financial power that its fiduciary currency conferred on it. This power allowed it a practically unlimited military financing, which was not altered after the Battle of Caseros. For these purposes, distinguished works of Argentine historiography that support the sustained hypothesis are considered.

Keywords
Money; State building; Argentina