Argentina is a Spanish-speaking nation in southern
South America. Following independence from
Spain in
1816, the country experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After
World War II, a long period of democratically elected Peronist
? government was followed by a military junta that took power in
1976. Democracy returned in
1983, and four free elections since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation.