May Revolution facts for kids

The May Revolution happened from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires was the capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. It was a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. The result was the removal of Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros and the forming of a local government now called the "Primera Junta". In Argentina this is now celebrated as "May Week" (Spanish: Semana de Mayo).

The May Revolution was a direct reaction to Spain's Peninsular War of the previous two years. In 1808, King Ferdinand VII of Spain abdicated in favor of Napoleon. Napoleon gave the throne to his brother, Joseph Bonaparte.

The May Revolution began the Argentine War of Independence. No formal declaration of independence was made. The Primera Junta continued to govern in the name of the deposed king, Ferdinand VII. The Argentine Declaration of Independence was made at the Congress of Tucumán on July 9, 1816.

Images for kids

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  The rule of Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain was resisted by Spaniards, and cast doubts on the legitimacy of the Spanish viceroys.

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  The US Declaration of Independence inspired similar movements in the Spanish colonies in South America.

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  William Carr Beresford surrenders to Santiago de Liniers during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata.

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  The coronation of Infanta Carlota Joaquina was considered an alternative to revolution.

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  The coronation of Carlota Joaquina de Borbón was briefly considered an alternative to the Revolution.

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  Map of Cádiz during the French siege.

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  Secret meeting of the revolutionaries at the house of Nicolás Rodríguez Peña.

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  Juan José Castelli asks Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros for an open cabildo.

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  Invitation to the open cabildo of May 22

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  An open cabildo discussed the legitimacy of the viceroy and the new local government that replaced him.

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  Pedro Murillo

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  The proposal of Cornelio Saavedra got the majority of votes.

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  The people gathered in front of the Buenos Aires Cabildo

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  Members of the Primera Junta

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  The Primera Junta ruled after the revolution.

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  Mariano Moreno was an influential member of the Primera Junta.

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  Bartolomé Mitre wrote one of the first historical interpretations of the May Revolution.

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  The revolutionaries of the May Revolution declared loyalty to Ferdinand VII of Spain.

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  The May Pyramid, commemorative monument at Plaza de Mayo

See also

In Spanish: Revolución de Mayo para niños