Argentine Declaration of Independence

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Declaration of Independence of the United Provinces of South America, in Spanish and Quechua

The Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán.

The May Revolution took place heavily influenced by the fact that Spanish king Fernando VII was removed from his throne by Napoleon, removing the authorities of the Viceroyalty of the River Plate, and replacing it with the Primera Junta.

Upon the return of the king in 1814, the kingdom was decided to recover the control over its colonies in the Americas. The royals were victorious in the battles of Sipe-Sipe, Guaqui, Vilcapugio and Ayohuma, in what was the Viceroyalty of Peru. From there they planed to attack the bases of José de San Martín, and make themselves way to Buenos Aires.

On April 15, 1815, a revolution ended the mandate of Carlos María de Alvear, and demanded to call a General Congress. Each representing 15,000 inhabitants, delegate deputies were sent from all the provinces to the sessions that started on March 24, 1816. Nevertheless, several territories that until then belonged to the Viceroyalty of the River Plate did not send any delegates, the Banda Oriental ("Eastern Bank", today Uruguay) that was faithful to Artigas, Paraguay, who had already proclaimed its independence, and the Gran Chaco, still fighting the aboriginal resistance.

The congress was inaugurated in the city of Tucumán, with 33 deputies, and as decided, the presidency of the congress would be rotated monthly. Because the congress had freedom of choosing the topics to discuss, endless discussions arose.

The voting finally ended on July 9, with the declaration of independence of the country. At the time the president of the Congress was Francisco Narciso de Laprida, delegate from San Juan Province. Following discussions centred on the form of government that the surging state should have.

The congress continued its work in Buenos Aires in 1817, but it dissolved in 1820 after the Battle of Cepeda that deepened the differences between Unitarians and Federals.

The house where the declaration was made was rebuilt and is now a museum and monument, the House of Tucumán.