Chuquisaca

On 25 May 1809 from Chuquisaca, in Upper Peru, today known as Sucre, Bolivia, an uprising occurred. This event is debated as to whether this uprising was truly the first cry of freedom for Latin American Independence from Spain. Nonetheless the established Government Juntas from Spain was a solid cause to rebel. This perspective towards the newly established government can be recorded through the Syllogism of Chuquisaca.

The Syllogism of Chuquisaca promoted the idea of self determination. The justification of this self determination was Ferdinand VII of Spain whom was impeded to reign. The syllogism then justified self determination due to, the “New World” or Indies, having been declared as a personal domain to the King. Given the King being impeded to reign scholars from the University of Chuquisaca debated over the legitimacy of the created Juntas, and for the right of the Indies to govern themselves. Furthermore, not only was the Government Juntas a questionable decision for individuals but it was rumored that the governor of Chuquisaca, Ramón García León de Pizarro, will turn over Bolivia to leaders of Portugal and Brazil. That being said, Chuquisaca has factors that are similar as to why the revolution for independence occurred but is not to be seen as a cause.

Given these points, is important to note that debates, and rumors make for a questionable reason as to establish the Chuquisaca Revolution as truly the first cry for independence. Notwithstanding, the Chuquisaca Revolution is important to study as an insight of what fueled Latin American individuals to rebel, and important debates held. Moreover, through Chuquisaca one can find ideological foundations for Independence from Spain.

Works Cited

“El primer gobierno libre latinoamericano”. La Razón (in Spanish). July 16, 2006. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2021.

Pigna, Felipe (2007). “La Revolución de Mayo”. Los mitos de la historia argentina (in Spanish) (26 ed.). Argentina: Grupo Editorial Norma. pp. 224, 225. ISBN 987-545-149-5. Spanish: El pensamiento, conocido como el “Silogismo de Chuquisaca”, será uno de los argumentos de los revolucionarios que se lanzarán a las calles de la ciudad universitaria, el 25 de mayo de 1809, y de La Paz, el 16 de junio.

Wittum, Caleb Garret. “The Chasquis of Liberty: Revolutionary Messengers in the Bolivian Independence Era, 1808-1825.” University of South Carolina Scholar Commons. University of South Carolina. Accessed April 30, 2021. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6836&context=etd.