The 1810 May Revolution: Argentina's First Step

This episode goes back to where it all began: the May Revolution of 1810 in Buenos Aires. We explore the week of events that led to the formation of the first local government, the Primera Junta, and how it sparked a chain reaction across the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Lucas and Luna discuss key figures like Cornelio Saavedra, Mariano Moreno, and Juan José Paso, the role of the British invasions of 1806-1807 in weakening Spanish authority, and the tension between moderates and radicals in the early independence movement. We also look at the broader context of the Napoleonic Wars and the captivity of King Ferdinand VII, which created a power vacuum in Spain. The episode examines the conflicting loyalties among porteños and the explosive open cabildo of May 22, 1810, where the decision to depose Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros was made. We consider the legacy of the May Revolution as both a foundational myth and a contested historical event, with different groups in Argentina later claiming its meaning for their own political agendas.

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