This Week in History

CWA # 1425
This Week in History
28 July 1821: Peru declares independence from Spain

Vaneeta
2 August 2024
Photo Source: World Atlas

On 28 July 1821, General José de San Martín declared independence from Spain in a public ceremony in the town hall balcony of Lima, Peru. The ceremony was attended by Almost 16000 people, including local leaders, citizens, and military personnel. 

The liberator an Argentinian hero said "Viva la patria! ¡Viva la libertad! ¡Viva la independencia! From this moment on, Peru is free and independent by the general will of its people and by the justice of its cause that God defends.!" After almost 300 years of colonial rule by the Spaniards, Peru became independent.

The declaration was celebrated with public ceremonies, speeches, and the raising of the new national flag and to spread the news of independence to the masses, Argentine military and politicians repeated his proclamation in many places around the capital, such as the Plazuela de la Merced, in the Lima Centre, and the Convento de los Descalzos, in the district of Rímac.

The road to declaration of independence 
Argentina and Chile, after their liberation, signed a treaty on 5 February 1819 to invade Peru as the Spanish monarch had a stronghold in Peru. José de San Martín believed that Argentinian liberation would not be complete without the liberation of Peru. Therefore, José de San Martín built a strong army combining Argentinian and Chilean forces.

The path to Peru’s independence was marked by a series of strategic moves and decisive action. First, the fleet of Jose San Martin sailed with 4,500 soldiers on 20 August 1820, intending to liberate Peru. In November 1820, they managed to capture a strategic town on Peruvian land named Pisco. Early in 1821, San Martín conducted a series of military manoeuvres and negotiations to weaken the Spanish forces and gain support from local populations. He wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and destruction by encouraging peaceful surrender and collaboration.

Later, in July 1821 San Martin’s forces surrounded the capital Lima cutting any reinforcement. On 6 July, Viceroy José de la Serna leaves Lima with 6,000 men abounding the city due to increasing pressure from San Martín’s campaign. Consequently, on 10 July Jose San Martin entered Lima and began rallying support for the cause of independence. On 15 July, a significant milestone was achieved with the signing of the Act of Independence of Peru. This document was a formal declaration of Peru’s intention to become a free and independent nation which was by Manuel Pérez de Tudela, who would later serve as Peru’s minister of international relations. At last, the culmination of these efforts and preparations was the grand proclamation of independence on 28 July 1821.

The following are major factors that led 28 July 1821. First was the early resistance and rebellion. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there were various uprisings and resistance movements against Spanish rule. Although these uprisings were suppressed, they left an impact. Figures like Túpac Amaru II led revolts which inspired future generations.

Second the regional influence of liberation movements. The success of independence movements in neighbouring countries like Argentina and Chile influenced Peru. The liberator José de San Martín led these campaigns of liberation in the south and Simon Bolivar in the north of South America. 

Third the economic tensions. The Spanish crown's high taxes and monopolistic trade practices stifled economic growth and widened the gap between the wealthy Spanish elite and the rest of the populace.

Fourth the social unrest in Peruvian society. Peru’s society was divided by a rigid caste system, with Spanish-born peninsulares at the top, followed by criollos (locally born people of Spanish descent), mestizos (mixed Indigenous and Spanish blood), Indigenous peoples, and African slaves. This stratification led to dissatisfaction and unrest among people due to marginalisation by colonial policies.

Fifth was the influence of external revolutions. The successful revolutions in the United States (1776) and France (1789), followed by the Haitian Revolution influenced local people and rooted the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The legacy of 28 July 1821 
After the declaration of independence, Peru became a protectorate state of José San Martín for one year and 17 days. The declaration of independence on 28 July contributed to the formation of a Peruvian national identity. The sense of one identity helped unify the diverse population of Peru, fostering a collective sense of pride and purpose. 

Moreover, Peru's independence declaration was part of a broader wave of decolonization in Latin America, inspired by successful liberation movements in neighbouring countries such as Chile and Argentina. This regional momentum not only facilitated Peru’s liberation but also strengthened the wider Latin American struggle against colonial rule.  

The declaration had few negative aspects. Peru struggled with political instability as the new nation sought to establish a functional and representative government. 

Additionally, the biggest challenge was strong resistance from royalists who had established their capital in Cusco after leaving Lima. The war between royalists and liberators left deep scars, and the struggle for power among various factions often led to internal conflicts. This period of turbulence was a testament to the complexities of transitioning from colonial rule to self-governance. However, the legacy of the independence movement laid the foundation for future political developments and the eventual stabilization of the Peruvian state.

About the author
Vaneeta is a postgraduate student at UMISARC-Centre for South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University.

Also this week published in This Week in History, Vol. 1 Issue #05, 03 August 2024

4 August 2007: The US launches Phoenix, a mission to Mars
5 August 2011: Yingluck Shinawatra, becomes the first woman Prime Minister of Thailand
29 July 1957: IAEA comes into force
28 July 1914: Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia, starting World War-I
28 July 2005: IRA announces the end of its armed campaign
29 July 1958: The US establishes NASA
 


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