History: A Country's Beginnings (Chapter 1)

Way back in 1776, after the “Conquest” of America, the kingdom of Spain staked off a portion of land, a large triangle in the south of the continent, and organized it into the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata. The Viceroyalty was an immense territory controlled by a representative to the Spanish crown and contained what are today: Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay. The economy was fueled by silver mined in Potosí (in today's Bolivia), carried over land to the port of Buenos Aires and, from there, exported to Spain. Legend has it that so much silver was mined that it would have been enough to build a bridge between America and Europe. Buenos Aires, due to its strategic location, became the capital of this new viceroyalty.

Although no one yet knows it, the days of the great Spanish Empire are numbered and interesting days lay ahead for the Viceroyalty. In 1808, the Spanish king, Fernando VII, is captured by the French emperor, Napoleon who gives the crown to his brother, José Bonaparte. Although Spanish subjects naturally resist the destitution of their king and French rule (and fight to maintain their control over America), it's a losing battle. Two years later, they admit defeat and Napoleon takes charge.

Meanwhile, the news reaches America and in cities from the north to the south of the continent, juntas form to essentially kick out the viceroys in various regions and take control. (The essential power structure, however, is in many ways maintained since it’s not native, indigenous people taking power but rather –in most cases- a white, American-born or Creole elite.) In Río de la Plata, the revolution to bring about liberation from Spanish control, takes place on May 25, 1810, suitably dubbed “la Revolución de Mayo”. (Now a national holiday in Argentina.) However, not all regions of the huge Viceroyalty are in agreement. Several regions including Paraguay, Montevideo and Alto Perú resist, remaining loyal to the Spanish crown, and the once vast region is divided for years by conflict.

Finally, in 1816, despite continued fighting, representatives of many areas meet and declare official independence. July 9 is observed in today’s Argentina as National Independence Day. The new country faces two great challenges: ongoing struggle with the loyalists and a civil war in the western part of its territory. The new leader, Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, supports an army general and future hero, José de San Martín, who goes on a liberation campaign, heading up into the Andes. San Martín liberates the territories of Chile and Perú, contributing to the definitive end of Spanish power in the Americas.

All of this war, however, weakens the control of a struggling government and the region ends up divided in three in 1820. Each of these regions or provinces has its own government, leaders which will eventually turn into caudillos, or local strong-men. One of the three regions, Buenos Aires, is the least affected by all the conflict and actually grows stronger by healthy exportation and trade with Europe. Strong enough that it is soon able to exert power over the other regions and extend its territory south. (Territory which had, until then, been controlled by indigenous peoples and which Buenos Aires “conquers”.)

(During a major conflict and with British intervention, the small country of Uruguay is formed.)

Argentina is divided by the struggle between two main groups, in a conflict over territory: Federalists and Unitarians. The Unitarians want a central government while the Federalists (remember the caudillos?) defend the sovereignty of each province. Though mixed throughout the territory, Buenos Aires is (logically) mostly Unitarian while the west, the “inside” of the country, is mostly Federalist.

In an 1826 Constitution –one that never became official—the name Argentina is used for the first time. It comes from the Latin word for silver, argentum. But though the new country now has a name, the often bloody struggle between Unitarians and Federalists continues on...

Based on the series Historia de un país Argentina siglo XX.