Military rule
In 1964 a military junta overthrew President Paz Estenssoro at the outset of his third term . This event was the start of a 20 year rule . Towards the end of Paz ' s second term , Barrientos had succeeded in coopting the peasant unions formed in the wake of the 1953 agrarian reform forming Pacto Militar- Campesino . In the 1960s Barriento leveled the
peasant unions against labor unrest in the mines . In 1969 President René died which led to a succession of weak governments the military elected Hugo Banzer Suárez as President in 1971 . The MNR supported him from 1971 to 1974 . The economy grew impressively during Banzer ' s presidency b demand for greater political freedon undercut his support . in 1978 plunged Bolivia into turmoil once again . After a military rebellion forced out García Meza in 1981 , three other military governments within 14 months struggled with Bolivia ' s growing problems .