Napoleon Invades Spain
The invasion of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte and the subsequent imprisonment of King Ferdinand VII created a power vacuum and triggered independence movements in South America.
1808
1810
The Beginning of the Independence Movements
The year 1810 marked the start of the South American wars of independence with revolts in Caracas, Buenos Aires, and Bogotá against Spanish rule.
1811
Venezuela Declares Independence
Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain, led by Francisco de Miranda and Simón Bolívar.
1816
Argentina Declares Independence
Argentina formally declared its independence from Spain on July 9, 1816, in the Congress of Tucumán.
1817
Battle of Chacabuco
José de San Martín led the Army of the Andes across the Andes mountains, achieving a decisive victory at the Battle of Chacabuco, which was crucial for Chile's independence.
1818
Chile Gains Independence
After the Battle of Maipú, Chile officially gained independence from Spanish rule, with Bernardo O'Higgins as the Supreme Director.
1819
Gran Colombia is Established
Simón Bolívar established Gran Colombia, a federation that included present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama, as a unified effort against Spanish rule.
1821
Peru Declares Independence
José de San Martín declared the independence of Peru on July 28, 1821, in Lima's Plaza de Armas.
1822
Guayaquil Conference
Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín met in Guayaquil to discuss the future of South America post-independence, though their visions for the continent differed.
1824
Battle of Ayacucho
The Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824, was the decisive military encounter that ended Spanish rule in South America, led by Antonio José de Sucre under Bolívar's command.
1825
Bolivia Gains Independence
Bolivia declared its independence from Spain on August 6, 1825, and was named in honor of Simón Bolívar.
1828
Uruguay's Independence
Uruguay declared its independence from Brazil and subsequently from Spain, following the Cisplatine War and the Treaty of Montevideo.
1830
Dissolution of Gran Colombia
The federation of Gran Colombia dissolved into separate nations: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama, due to political differences and regional tensions.
1831
Paraguay's Independence Recognized
Paraguay's independence from Spanish rule, initially declared in 1811, was formally recognized by Spain in 1831.
1844
Dominican Republic Gains Independence
The Dominican Republic declared its independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844, and subsequently from Spanish rule.
