QUESTION 1: Explain the main causes, features and consequences

of the Independence process of Argentina.

Introduction

The area that today are known as the republic of Argentina, has been
shaped in a process over the course of several centuries, involving many
conflicts and wars. The book born in blood and fire by J. Chasteen are
describing for the line of events that eventually created and shaped the
country. The Argentina we know today, was a part of the territory known
as the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata. This colonial territory was created
with the intention of being able to resist invasion by Spains enemies. But
were in fact one of the drivers that would lead the colony to independence
from Spain. The history of Argentinas independence is strongly influenced
by the processes that were happening, and the introductions of new ideas
who arose at the time in the old continent.
Reforms
Until 1776, the Argentine territories was - in effect, under the control of
Peru, but with the Bourbon reforms Spain had the intensions of secure
their position in the new continent. The Bourbon kings was Felipe V,
Fernando VI and Carlos III. The establishment of the Viceroyalty of the river
plate, lead to a resurgence in trade between Argentine territories and
Spain. The new Virreinato de Rio de la Plata consisted of Bolivia, Argentina,
Paraguay and Uruguay. The reformist wanted to centralize power in the
region, and decrease the autonomy in trade and governance. This in order
to secure Spains hold.

This was an effect of the commercio libre the free and protected trade
between Spain and its colonies. In 1768, the areas saw an increase of
Jesuits from Europe. This lead to more development and ideas which came
in the form of the Bourbon reforms. The reforms had its roots in the wave
of Enlightenment in Europe, and its influencers used the ideas from the
emerging economies of Europe to speed up the development of the
Viceroyalty. One of the main objectives of the reforms was to make the
economies of the colony more diversified and self-sufficient, but at the
same time control the British powers and illegal trade. One of these
objectives was the promotion of agriculture and import of slaves for
increased labor needs in this sector. The trans-Atlantic trade was boosted
with the establishment of new harbors and the goal to maximize
transactions, rather than restrict the supply of European goods. The Ideas
of the reform, was received by all classes of the society in the colony. Also
the Burgess classes adopted this new way of a more capitalistic approach,
and took a part of the development. The reforms can also be seen as a
driver to a divide between rich and poor, and Creoles and Spaniards, this
because of the demand for higher taxes with unrest and rebellion as a
result. The new economic reforms can be seen as a major cause for the
development and growth of the city Buenos Aires, as well as improved
contact and trade between the city and the territorys hinterlands.
The way to independence
In the late part of 1805, the British shattered much of the Spanish navy in
the battle at Trafalgar. Contact between Spain and River plate was
effectively disrupted with British navy blockades, and Buenos Aires and its
hinterlands trade with other colonies arose again. In June 1806, Buenos
Aires was invaded by British forces in an unauthorized attack by Sir Home
Popham. However, this was welcomed later by the British crown who sent
out more ships to back the invaders. However, the local militias, who was
lead by Crillos with Spanish decent took over control again, after the
British invaders had dissolved the local Spanish administration.
2

With the Spanish losses in the old continent, due to the invasion from
Napoleon lead France in 1808, the insurgents saw their chance to continue
their path to independence. With the new feeling of national identity and
the urge for independence amongst the people, after the victory over the
British invaders. In May 1810, the news of Napoleons invasion of Spain hit
the streets of Buenos Aires, and the citizens decided it was time to
establish their first Junta, because Spain did not have any king or effective
government anymore. Since the Argentine territories was considered less
attractive than the British colonies, they where not as strategic for
Bonapartes rule over Spain. Therefore, they encouraged the insurgents
wish for independence. The Cabadilo, a militia of 8000 men that had been
established after the first British invasion, had been formed by Santiago
Liniers had now became the viceroy and ruled Buenos Aires. On July 9th
1816 finally left its dependence from Spain and was declared a nation. The
road to independence was also influenced by the revolutions in the
Americas. In 1776, the British colonies in what is now United States of
America signed the independence act, due to an uprising of what was seen
by it population as an unfair tax burden by England. The rebellion in Haiti
of 1791 was also seen as an inspiration for independence, with the result
of the former slave colony became the first independent country in LatinAmerica.
2. Explain the main causes of civil war in Argentina after
independence
Introduction
After Argentine declared its independence from Spain in 1810, the country
was nowhere near a united nation, with mutual interests in the urban
areas and the hinterlands. It would be decades before some sort of feeling
that the country had became and entity would take place in the people.

The gap between rich and poor, village and city sparked many conflicts,
and this would define the next century.

Causes of the civil wars, Rosas, Urquiza

The Argentine civil wars were a series of conflicts that took place between
1814 and 1880.
After the independence from Spain, there were still not a national unity in
the country, the different territories of the country were different both
political and economical. The federal party in the provinces and Unitarian
party had large differences in the opinion how to rule the country. Buenos
Aires had become a hub for trade and power, and this was a central cause
of the conflicts. The Unitarians in the city had strong intensives to keep a
grip of both economic and political influence in the country. These was
mainly the wealthy elite, with strong bonds to the old continent, and had
Eurocentric ideas. While the Unitarians aimed for a capital that would be
the economic power. The Federalist movement wanted the political power
to be distributed amongst provinces with would consist of equal states.
Buenos Aires had a monopoly of international commerce because of its
harbors. The realization that the country, even though it was now
independent, but was not unified resulted in Bernardino Rivadavia was
elected president in 1826. This did not fell in good hands in the provinces,
and was seen as another attempt to sustain the hegemony of Buenos
Aires. Rivadavia was only president for a short period of time, before Juan
Manuel de Rosas was elected as president for the federales. Rosas, called
the Caligula of the River Plate, was from simple means and nothing more
than a While he was in power, things calmed down and the power was to
been shared between the provinces and Buenos Aires. He became
governor in 1829, and gained many members from the blacks, mullatos
and urban poor in the city. In 1832 Rosas left office, and soon after the
provinces demanded a new constitution, and a new civil war was
threating. Rosas was reelected and demanded dictatorial authority. While
4

he was away, he had lead expeditions to the south with the aim to open
more land for agriculture and drive out the Indian settlements. This gained
him large respect amongst the people when he stepped back into the
politics. In hes second period, those who resisted and spoke up against
Rosas dictator-like way of governance would be the victim of his regime of
terror, many of his opponents was killed or sent in exile.
Under Rosas regime, the countrys economy worsened day by day. Much
because of his conflicts with Brazil and Bolivia. In 1841 alone, the military
budget absorbed three-quarters of the budget of Buenos Aires. The
external conflicts while Rosas was in command would be devastating for
the economy. And blockades such as the British blockade of Buenos Aires
1845-1847 had great impacts on the economy. To tackle some of this,
Rosas distributed land which was appropriated during his expedition,
mainly to high ranking members of his military. Rosas rule would end after
the battle of Caseros, when the army of Buenos Aires was defeated by
Justo Jose de Urquiza. This lead to Urquiza becoming the first constitutional
president of the country, and Rosas would flee Argentina.