The Conquistadors

                The conquest of the Indians by the Spaniards led to a new revolution in forming Argentina. Juan Diaz de Solis and Sebastian Cabot were the first European explorers to reach Argentina and established many settlements during the 1500’s. Juan de Solis and Sebastian Cabot’s arrival sparked the initial conquest of the natives that lived there.

                The earliest inhabitants to live in South America were Natives. They lived in Patagonia and were later affected by the conquest of the Spaniards. Historians say, in 1516, the Spanish explorer Juan Diaz de Solis became the first European to reach Argentina. He had landed on the shores of Rio de la Plata. (1) However, in 1527, historians also say Sebastian Cabot, an Italian, found the first European settlement around present day Rosario, and it was him gave the name River de la Plata, River of Silver, for the local Indians who wore silver on the river bank. (2) In 1536, Spaniards found a short-lived settlement on the bay. The earliest permanent Spanish settlements in Argentina were made by colonists who came over the Andes Mountains from Peru. During the mid-1500’s, they found Santiago del Estero, Tucuman, and other Northwestern mountain towns. The Spaniards established Buenos Aires in 1580. (3) Europeans were successful in arriving in Argentina and establishing settlements.

The Good Ol' Colonial Days

The Colonial Experience:

                Spain ruled Argentina for 300 years; earliest settlements came in search for gold and silver. Settlements grew more rapidly than Buenos Aires and other coastal towns. The Spanish settlers forced many Indians in the Northwest to work for them by farming the land and weaving wool into cloth. Many Indians died of European diseases or were killed by Europeans. They also intermarried with Spaniards, creating a mixed white and Native population. Natives in the south kept control of Patagonia and the Pampa. Spaniards brought horses, sheep, and cattle form Spain.

During the 1600s, Spanish economy declined and the Spanish government was forced to sell big parts of land in Argentina. Rich Europeans and the Criollos (people of Spanish descent born in Latin America) bought the land and created large estates. (4) In 1776, the Viceroyalty of La Plata was established, which includes present day (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, part of Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile).  Buenos Aires became the capital of this Viceroyalty and began to thrive as center of trade. (5) In the 18^th century (1880-1914), Argentina experienced a growth era.  Argentina entered its “golden age”, an era of increasing prosperity based on the exportation of meat and grain, and on the importation of manufactured goods from abroad. (6) As we can see, Argentina struggled to maintain control of Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina, but they established a Viceroyalty with Buenos Aires at the capital, causing Argentina to thrive as a center of trade.

Independence

Independence:

Independence for the Argentinian people was achieved through their persistence and motivation. Jose de San Martin remains a hero to this day because of his sacrifice to gain independence for his country. Although it was difficult afterward to create a nation again, the Constitution of 1853 settled all disputes and created Argentina. In 1806 and 1807, British troops tried to seize Buenos Aires to establish a foothold for trade, and the people of Argentina fought them off without the help of the Spaniards, and it made their confidence grow. In 1807 and 1808, France invaded Spain. The criollos of Spain took advantage of Spain’s vulnerability and fought for their independence. They declared their independence on May 25, 1810 but King Ferdinand of Spain refused to acknowledge their plea. However, Jose de San Martin led the fight to formally declare independence from the Spaniards. They did so in Tucuman on July 9, 1816 and they became the United Provinces of La Plata. Jose de San Martin was not done though. He wanted to expel Spain from all of South America, so he led troops across the Andes Mountains and surprised the Spanish in Chile, and they won Independence in Peru. Jose de San Martin is known as the greatest hero in Argentina. (7)

As a result of Argentinian Independence, the Constitution of 1853 was created. The constitution established a confederation of the Provinces, Justo Jose de Urquiza was elected as confederation president in 1853. President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who ruled from 1868-1874, promoted education. Now Argentina has 96 percent literacy rate. Indian Wars of 1870s and 1880s, pressure to get more land. Indians in the Pampas and in Patagonia were exterminated and lands were taken by officers. In 1880, Buenos Aires became a federal district. (8)  Jose de San Martin took advantage of Spain’s vulnerability and led the fight against the Spanish and started revolutions that soon lead to victory and Independence.

Also, in the 18^th century, Argentina faced extreme urbanization. Such examples of urbanization included, architectural activity, massive human movement, income from building trades had attracted the notice of the public, pulperias (a free-flowing combination of dry-goods store, bar, gambling house, information center, and hostel. By the second half of the 18^th century, no city could compare to commercial city of Buenos Aires. (9) At the end of creating this nation, Argentina was the most productive commercial city in the world.