Napoleon's Defeat and the Rise of Independence Movements

Napoleon's Defeat and the Reorganization of Europe

Napoleon was defeated by the British, Prussians, Austrians, and Russians. Trade wars with England led to mutually imposed blockades. The invasion of Russia marked the beginning of Napoleon's defeats, with many French soldiers dying from the cold.

The victorious powers reorganized the European map and restored the old regime at the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815).

Artigas and the Eastern Province

1811: The Eastern Band lifted the campaign against Montevideo. Artigas, initially hesitant, joined the uprising against Montevideo with the support of Buenos Aires.

May 18, 1811: Battle of Las Piedras (The Stones).

Following the triumph at Las Piedras, the siege of Montevideo began. Artigas and Rondeau besieged Montevideo.

October: Buenos Aires arranged a truce with Montevideo, halting the siege. To avoid repression by Elio and Portugal, the Orientals withdrew from the eastern territory (Exodus).

Artigas' Instructions of 1813

Instructions, 1813

Key ideas:

• Independence: Buenos Aires did not yet desire independence from the Bourbon monarchy.
• Republic: Buenos Aires had monarchist factions.
• Federalism: Autonomy for each province. Buenos Aires was centralized.

The instructions outlined the Eastern Province's project for the establishment of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata. A constituent assembly was convened in Buenos Aires, but the Eastern deputies were rejected.

The Federal League and Land Regulation

1815: Buenos Aires expelled Artigas from Montevideo. The Eastern Province formed agreements with other provinces as a federal anti-Buenos Aires alliance. This became the Federal League, comprising the Eastern Province, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Misiones, and Corrientes. Artigas was named Protector of Free Peoples.

September 1815: Artigas adopted a land regulation for the Eastern Province, prioritizing land distribution to free blacks, Zambos, Indians, and poor Creoles, while disfavoring European and American immigrants.

Portuguese Invasion and Artigas' Final Years

1816: Portuguese invasion (from Brazil).

1817: The Portuguese arrived in Montevideo.

1820: Artigas suffered a final defeat, beaten by former allies from Entre Ríos and Santa Fe, who had allied with Buenos Aires.

1820-1850: Artigas lived in Paraguay.

The Fernando Mask and Independence

The Fernando Mask: In Spain, the French deceived the Spanish king by claiming they would use the country as a bridge, but instead, they took over. The Spanish began a war against the French. As the Spanish forces pushed the French out, they formed juntas to govern the liberated territories. Similar juntas formed in America in 1808.

Unlike the Spanish juntas, the American juntas, while claiming to act in the name of Fernando VII, aimed for independence. They used the pretense of restoring Fernando's rule as a mask to ultimately achieve freedom.