Grammarama - Article about the history of
independence in the Río de la Plata region
Argentine bicentennial

Times of independence in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
Beginning of the 19th century

In 1808, the unstable situation of Spain because of Napoleon´s invasion unleashed the American revolutionary process. It was during this year that Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, designated Joseph Bonaparte, his brother, as king of Spain, displacing Fernando VII, son of Carlos IV of Spain. At the beginning, the American revolutionary process did not seek independence. The legalists proposed that since the legitimate monarch was absent  (Fernando VII), the South American countries had to assume sovereignty until the king could return.

On the other hand, independence supporters wanted to separate from Spain once and for all. This fairly small group which had a low influence on the May Revolution of 1810, little by little was rising in number and eventually was support by the majority of the country in 1816. 

Viceroyalties As the map shows, the situation of Latin America in the 18th century: its entire territory depended, politically speaking, on the European powers, being Spain and Portugal those that had the largest colonies, and whose political structure was to be called viceroyalties.

Santiago de Liniers Viceroyalty

In 1806, king Carlos IV of Spain designated Santiago de Liniers, born in France, as viceroy of of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. The capital of this Viceroyalty was Buenos Aires. This territorie was formed by roughly the present day territories of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and part of Brazil. At that time Spain and France were allies. However, in 1808, when Napoleon invaded Spain the situation of the Viceroy Liniers got complicated.

Two political allegiances arose: one supported the king Fernando VII of Spain and the other prefered to depend on France. These differences generated a mutiny against Viceroy Liniers who was deposed and replaced by Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, the new Viceroy.


Cisneros Viceroyalty

At the beginning of 1810 foreign newspapers had no doubt that Napoleon was going to invade Spain. This situation raised great uncertainty in the Viceroyalty. Although Viceroy Cisneros tried to calm the Creoles, they demanded from him to allow the call for an Open Town Hall (Cabildo Abierto) to discuss this situation.


Open Town Hall (Cabildo Abierto)

In accordance with Viceroy Cisneros` instructions, the Open Town Hall commenced on May 22nd. The meeting was formed by 250 neighbors of the city and took place at a building located across from the `Plaza Mayor´ of Buenos Aires, which is now called `Plaza de Mayo´.

The Open Town Hall held on May 22nd was the legal revolution that finished with the Spanish rule and decided to replace the viceroy with a Governing board (Junta de Gobierno).


Governing board (Junta de Gobierno)

The Open Town Hall formed a Governing board presided by Cisneros. On June 24th the Governing board swore loyalty to the king of Spain. The former Viceroy Cisneros was elected president in order to satisfy both principal political allegiances: the legalists and the king´ supporters.

Most of the members of the Governing board were in disagreement with Cisneros´ appointment as president. Many young patriots and military officials thought that the legalists tendency  of the Open Town Hall held on May 22nd had not been observed. They considered that Cisneros exhibited a notable tendency toward the king´ supporters.


First National Governing board (Primera Junta)

Cisneros resigned under pressure on May 25. A new Governing board called the First National Governing board (Primera Junta) was established to govern in his place. The Primera Junta was formed by nine members. President: Cornelio Saavedra. Committee member: Juan Castelli, Manuel Belgrano, Miguel de Azcuénaga, Manuel Alberti, Domingo Matheu y Juan Larrea. Secretaries: Mariano Moreno y Juan José Paso.

The May Revolution, whose tendency was legalist, finished on May 25th. People from the city of Buenos Aires represented by a group of Porteños (born in this city) established their own Governing board, named the First National Governing board, against the Open Town Hall´s decision.

The May Revolution was not a popular movement. The majority of the 600000 inhabitants of the Viceroyalty did not participate. They eventually heard of the May Revolution and agreed with it right after such acknowledgement.


Big Governing board (Junta Grande)

The First National Governing board ruled a little more than half year, than is, until December, 1810. It delivered the message to every one of the Viceroyalty municipal councils, notifying them of the new Governing board  which replaced the viceroy and of formation of a General Congress. This Congress was formed by delegates from the Interior, elected by popular vote, who asked for their effective incorporation into the governing body. When the representatives from the Interior arrived in the capital of Buenos Aires, a new Governing board named the Big Governing board (Junta Grande) was established.


The First Triumvirate

An appreciable number of members (more than 20) and successive struggles of power showed the inefficiency of the Big Governing board. People asked to replace several delegates. There were also military problems. All these reasons resulted in a change of form of government. On September 25th, 1811, the Big Governing board created an executive authority named the First Triumvirate formed by three members: Juan José Paso, Feliciano Chiclana, and Manuel Sarratea. The Big Governing board was then renamed as the Conservative Governing Board of Sovereignty of Fernando VII.

The First Triumvirate ruled a little more than one year. After a few days of taking over, it ordered the dissolution of the Conservative Governing Board and the delegates of the Interior had to return to their provinces.


The Second Triumvirate

At that time there were several battles which had not been approved by The First Triumvirate. This situation caused the fall of the government.  Then the Congress designated a Second Triumvirate on October 8th, 1812, formed by Juan José Paso, Rodríguez Peña, and Álvarez Jonte. This Triumvirate had to organize an assembly.


The Assembly of 1813

The Assembly of 1813 started their sessions on January, 1813. Its first action was to take on the representation of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata sovereignty and proposed sanctioning a constitution. From the very beginning there were different opinions that determined the failure of the Assembly. One group wanted to declare the independence immediately and the other did not want to break off diplomatic relations with Spain until Napoleon fell.

The Assembly developed a vast legislative activity pro individual freedom: approved the National Anthem, written by Vicente López y Planes and instituted May 25th as a patriotic date.

The Assembly and the Second Triumvirate were shook by several lost and won battles.


The Supreme Director

On January, 1814, the Second Triumvirate was dissolved and a unipersonal system of government was created where Gervasio Posadas was designated as Supreme Director. This centralization of authority brought out “the centralism of the Porteños” (people born in Buenos Aires) which tended to put the interests of the capital before those of the Interior. This political scenario led to a civil war that lasted many years.


Federal Revolution

The big differences between the provinces and the central government caused a military insurrection which led to the resignation of Posadas who was replaced by General Carlos María de Alvear.

De Alvear´s government was dictatorial. For this reason people asked his resignation through an uprising known as “Federal Revolution”. The Open Town Hall (Cabildo) removed him.

In order to find a remedy for this situation of lack of leadership the Open Town Hall designated Ignacio Álvarez Thomas as provisional Director. He was accompanied by a Governing board to advise him. The Governing board announced a provisional Statute which was rejected by the provinces.

This insubordination led to the resignation of Álvarez Thomas in 1816. The Open Town Hall (Cabildo) designated Antonio González Balcarce.

The Conservative Governing Board called for a General Congress to organize definitively the state. The Congress took place in Tucumán where representatives from all of the provinces went.

Congress of Tucumán (1816).

The  Congress of  Tucumán and the Declaration of the Independence

On March 24th, 1816, the Congress of Tucumán started their sessions and elected Juan Manuel de Pueyrredón as Supreme Director.

On July 9th, 1816, the memorable session was held in which they announced the declaration of the independence.

A few days later, on July 25th, the national flag created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812 was adopted.

On January 1817 the Congress held their last sessions in Tucumán, and it continued its work  in Buenos Aires on April.

On December a Provisional Statute was passed which stated laws until the sanction of the Constitution.



Bibliography
Drago, Alfredo L., "Historia 2", Ed. Stella, Buenos Aires, 1993.


Acknowledgement
Gabriela Di Paola, a Certified Translator, for her contributions when proofreading and correcting my translation of this work from Spanish into English.