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Uruguay breaks diplomatic ties with Cuba, after Cuba accuses it of being a US lackey for sponsoring a UN resolution which calls on Havana to implement human rights reforms.
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Julio Maria Sanguinetti elected president.
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Army and political leaders agree on return to constitutional government and the release of political prisoners; law grants amnesty to members of the armed forces accused of human rights violations during years of dictatorship; Julio Maria Sanguinetti becomes president.
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British ambassador to Uruguay Geoffrey Jackson kidnapped by Tupamaros guerrillas and held for eight months. He is freed shortly after a mass jail break-out by Tupamaros convicts which officials deny was arranged in exchange for Jackson's release.
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President replaced with nine-member council in accordance with new constitution.
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Reformist Jose Batlle y Ordonez (Colorado Party) gives women the franchise and establishes a welfare state, disestablishes the church and abolishes the death penalty during two successive terms as president.
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Civil war between Blancos, or Whites - the future conservative party - and Colorados, or Reds - the future liberals.
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Brazil, Argentina renounce claims to territories which become the Eastern Republic of Uruguay.
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Spanish found Montevideo and take over Uruguay from the Portuguese; many of the indigenous people are killed.
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Armed forces seize power and promise to encourage foreign investment, but usher in a period of extreme repression during which Uruguay becomes known as "the torture chamber of Latin America" and accumulates the largest number of political prisoners per capita in the world.
