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Why did Buenos Aires become Argentina’s national capital in 1880?

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Panoramic aerial view of Buenos Aires, Argentina, featuring the Obelisk monument, wide avenues lined with trees, and dense city buildings under a blue sky. — Buenos Aires Aerial view of the city center, including the obelisk (center), Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires became the official federal capital of Argentina in 1880 following a long-standing power struggle between the city and the interior provinces.12

For much of the 19th century, the relationship between Buenos Aires and the rest of the country was marked by conflict over political control and the distribution of wealth, particularly customs revenues. While Buenos Aires had served as the seat of government since 1862 under the leadership of Bartolomé Mitre, its status remained a point of contention.13

The resolution occurred during the transition to the presidency of Julio Argentino Roca in 1880. Following a rebellion in Buenos Aires that was suppressed by national forces, the city was officially designated as a federal territory and the permanent national capital. To accommodate this change and resolve the provincial status of the city, a new capital for the province of Buenos Aires was established at La Plata. This move solidified the centralization of the Argentine state, ending the perennial uncertainty regarding the city's political role.31