Independence Day in Argentina

July 9 is Independence Day in Argentina. Below is a description of the events that led up to this holiday, by Frann Leach, the Webmistress of “Which Day.com.”

“Independence Day is celebrated as a public holiday in the Argentine Republic (usually called just Argentina), on 9th July every year. The holiday marks the Argentine Republic’s declaration of independence on 9th July, 1816 after the war with Spain. As with many public holidays around the world, most people enjoy the day off and the general enjoyment of the occasion without being particularly committed to the reason for the celebration.

Argentina is on the East coast of South America. In terms of land area it is the second largest state in South America, eighth in the world. It was a Spanish colonial possession from the late 16th century until the date of independence.

During the Napoleonic wars, in 1806 the British Army launched an invasion and actually occupied Buenos Aires for 46 days before being expelled by the local native population. In 1807 a second invasion attempt resulted in the occupation of Montevideo in Uruguay for several months, but after losing half their forces the British were forced to surrender, again by the local militia.

Seeing that they were able to resist such a force with no support from the Spanish Kingdom, the citizens of Buenos Aires created the First Government Junta, after rumours of Napoleon’s overthrow of King Ferdinand were confirmed. This May Revolution took place on 25th May 1810. Formal independence from Spain was declared on 9th July 1816 in Tucumán.”

^{©2007 Frann Leach. All rights reserved.
Frann (”Tiggsy”) Leach is the webmistress and owner of Which Day and TheWebsiteDesign.co.uk. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.}

^{(image courtesy of CIA World Fact Book)}