The Revolutionary Vision of José Gervasio Artigas

The Concept of Popular Sovereignty

Artigas's Inaugural Prayer at the Congress of Tres Cruces introduced the fundamental idea of popular sovereignty. He famously stated: "My authority comes from you and it ceases to your sovereign presence." This established that the source of authority resides in the people. Another core idea appearing in the Oración Inaugural is that a Constitution must guarantee the rights of the people and serve as a deterrent to despotism.

The Instructions of the Year 13

In the Instructions of the Year 13, several key ideas emerged: Independence from any foreign power; a Republic with the separation of powers; the Rights of Man; and a Federation based on the sovereignty of peoples. This included an offensive-defensive alliance of the provinces for the duration of the war, until the formation of a Federal Republican state.

Economic and Social Regulations

The Regulation of Land (providing protection to landowners who supported the revolution and helping the campaign to progress) established organized ideas of social justice for the time. Additionally, the tariffs or customs regulations sought to regulate foreign trade by charging differential fees that aspired to promote American products over foreign ones. While Artigas fought for independence, the republic, and the unity of the people wanting to form the Great Fatherland, his proposal remains valid even if it did not fully materialize.

Foundations of the Artiguist Republic

Artigas considered it essential to declare independence from Spain and clearly define the objectives of the revolution. In the specifications of the Instructions of 1813, he called for the separation of state powers to prevent tyranny. Through this mechanism, he sought to avoid the concentration of too much power. Like other revolutionaries of the time, Artigas defended the rights of individuals to freedom, equality, property, security, and happiness. He argued that it was the duty of the government to seek to uphold these rights adequately. He was also a staunch defender of religious freedom. Throughout the course of the revolution, the Oriental people's decisions were respected through their sovereignty, as delegates were consulted to decide their fate.

Influence of John Locke and Constitutionalism

At the Congress of Tres Cruces, Artigas explained the importance of a Constitution to act as a brake on the abuse of power by rulers. He defended the Republican form of government, which is defined by popular sovereignty, respect for human rights, and the separation of state powers. He intended to retain the Councils as the real organs of the people, whose members would be elected popularly and renewed annually.

Artigas adopted from the English thinker John Locke the sound principle that all people have the right to rebel against the abuse of power by rulers. He further argued that military despotism was to be annihilated with constitutional constraints. During the stage of war, the peoples of the Río de la Plata would maintain an offensive-defensive union (confederation) to defend against the common enemy, which would subsequently evolve into a federation.