The secularization of civil status records in South America, anticlericalism or nationality?

Abstract

Several South American republics established state civil registries during the latter half of the 19th century. Traditional historiography has attributed their origin to doctrinal conflicts between liberal governments and ecclesiastical authorities in each country. These tensions led to the promulgation of so-called secular laws governing cemeteries, marriages, public education, and population records. However, this process was also intertwined with the consolidation of administrative institutions, where state civil records played a crucial role in identifying the national population, independent of social, racial or religious differences. This article examines three regions in South America: the northern part of the continent, the southern Andes, and the area surrounding the Río de la Plata. A more detailed analysis of each nation reveals important nuances regarding the doctrinal conflicts, the mission assigned to the new state service by authorities, and its significance in the construction of the Nation-State. These factors contribute to a broader and more comprehensive understanding of these record systems and their role in shaping the national identities of the American states.