Argentina’s Early Nation-Building: Federalism, Independence, and Leadership
Federalism vs. Centralism in Early Argentina (1810-1852)
Between 1810 and 1852, various social groups with differing political projects confronted each other. The fundamental difference lay in the proposed form of political organization for the new state: one advocating centralism and the other federalism.
Political organization can take two primary forms:
- Centralism: All levels of government are subordinate to the central power. Usually, a general scheme unifies law and administration.
- Federalism: Based on voluntary association, where constituent entities delegate some of their powers to a central authority.
After 1810, the peoples of the interior provinces demonstrated strong localism in defense of their interests. They began to protest when they realized that the centralizing policy strengthened the historical privileges of the port city of Buenos Aires. All provincial governments declared themselves federal and expressed their willingness to build the country, believing a constitution was an appropriate tool to end the privileges of Buenos Aires. A federal constitution, they argued, would respect the autonomy of Buenos Aires and ensure the rights of all provinces in the distribution of income.
Among the federalists, two groups were distinguished: those advocating for provincial autonomy and those aligned with Buenos Aires. Since 1828, the autonomist movement became identified with Juan Manuel de Rosas, who stated that before organizing the federation, the provinces should improve their administrations.
The Congress of Tucumán: A Pivotal Assembly (1815)
The National Congress met in the city of Tucumán because there, Buenos Aires could not exert undue influence on the deputies. Most of these deputies were priests and lawyers. It was agreed that Congress would open when two-thirds of the deputies were present. The first problem was to replace the Director, Ignacio Álvarez Thomas. Regarding this, General San Martín wrote a letter to Tomás Godoy Cruz, wondering why independence had not yet been declared.
Declaration of Argentine Independence (July 9, 1816)
On July 9, 1816, Congress decided to address the declaration of independence. Congressman Juan Francisco Narciso presided over the meeting. Outside, people celebrated. After the session, there were many public celebrations.
On July 19, in an open session, the formula for the oath that members and institutions must provide was agreed upon:
“Do you swear by God our Lord and this sign of the cross to promote and defend the freedom of the United Provinces of South America and independence from the King of Spain?”
The same day, in a secret session, Deputy Medrano requested that the Act of Independence and the oath formula, which the Army would use, include the phrase “and all other foreign domination.” This addition, not present in the text originally approved in the public meeting, was prompted by a rumor concerning the Director and the Congress.
Manuel Belgrano’s Insights on Government (1816)
On July 6, 1816, Manuel Belgrano, who had returned from Europe, was invited by Congress to report on forms of government and present his opinion to the members. Belgrano then argued that the American Revolution had lost prestige and potential European support due to its “decline into disorder and anarchy continued for such a long time.”
Pueyrredón’s Supreme Directory and Challenges
The deputy for San Luis, Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, was named Supreme Director by the Congress. Meanwhile, the opposition expressed itself through periodicals and chronicles. It attacked the decision to establish a monarchy, particularly the idea of crowning an Inca descendant proposed by Belgrano.
Shortly after assuming office, Pueyrredón had to decide on the national government’s intervention in political crises spanning the governments of Santa Fe, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero. After the defeat of Sipe-Sipe, the Board sent José Manuel García to Rio de Janeiro. He sought the support of Portugal as an ally or protector, envisioning the possible annexation of its dominions, to confront the Spanish and the Eastern Province.
Pueyrredón’s Directory was unsuccessful in its attempts to enthrone the French Duke of Orléans as king of the Río de la Plata. The negotiations were entrusted to Valentín Gómez, but he was unsuccessful in his efforts at the French court.