National Independence Day
in Uruguay

Uruguays National Independence day is known as Independence of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

There is a controversy over the actual date of independence of Uruguay.

There are three significant events in Uruguay History and they are:

July 18, 1830: Constitution Day
1815 General Jose Gervasio Artigas declares the Independence of the Federal League
August 25, 1825: Independence of the Eastern Band from the Empire of Brazil.

At the end of May 1810, news came to Montevideo about the establishment of the First National Government in Buenos Aires. The people of Uruguay now begin to have feeling about emancipation.

On February 28, 1811, a group consisting of hundreds of patriots and led by Pedro Venancio José Viera y Benavides took the cities of Mercedes and Soriano. Once taken, he proclaimed the end of Hispanic domination. As the meeting place along the stream Asencio, this episode is known as "The Cry of Asencio.

Meanwhile, Jose Gervasio Artigas was organized in Buenos Aires and went with a group of men to Uruguay. He was greeted with euphoria by the people who proclaimed him the first chief of the East.

After achieving victory in Las Piedras, General Jose Artigas besieged Montevideo. Elio Viceroy sought help from the Portuguese. Therefore, Portuguese troops invaded the Banda Oriental, defeated Artigas and into Montevideo Uruguay.

Through the efforts of the Government of Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro authorities, these troops were withdrawn, Artigas returned with his army and returned to lay siege to the city of Montevideo Uruguay, supported by troops from Rondeau. This siege lasted almost two years.

In 1816 Portuguese troops invaded Uruguay again. Artigas Pueyrredón offered to help but he refused.

Artigas, 14 January 1820, suffered defeat and retreated Tacuarembó towards Argentina's Entre Rios province and the Eastern area belonged to the Kingdom of Portugal, with the name of State Cisplatin, continued to belong to Brazil when it became independent.

But the April 19, 1825, Juan Antonio Lavalleja, with one group of male refugees in Buenos Aires, landed on the Uruguayan coastline, with the purpose of besieging the city of Montevideo Uruguay.

These men were the 33 East, who were joined by townspeople and the troops under the command of patriots like Frutuoso Rivero. Besieged City, Lavalleja summoned the representatives of the people native to make an Assembly in Florida. The Assembly declared the independence of Uruguay and appointed Governor Lavalleja, August 25, 1825.

After the victory obtained by the patriots Sarandi, and having taken over the Banda Oriental as autonomous member of the United Provinces of La Plata, Argentina faced the war with Brazil. Ituzaingó's victory in February 1827, reaffirmed the independence of Uruguay.

In 1829 a Congress in session in Montevideo and on July 18, 1830 the Constitution of Uruguay was proclaimed.

José Gervasio Artigas was born on June 19 1764. Luego the loss to the Portuguese in 1817, deserted by many of his followers took refuge in Paraguay. Falleció in Asuncion on September 23, 1850.

During his Inaugral Adress to Congress on April 4, 1813 General Jose Artigas stated the following:

People of Uruguay: "people must be free. That character should be your sole purpose, and form the reason for his zeal. Unfortunately, three years will have our revolution, and still lack a general safeguard the right popular. We are still on the faith of men and are not assurances of the contract.

All end involves fatality, which is why an excessive distrust stifle the best plans, but is it any less terrible a overconfident? every precaution must be untiring when it comes to fixing our destiny.

It is very fickle probity of men, only the brake of the Constitution can affirm it. While she does not exist, it must take the measures being taken to the security it offers precious."

Preliminary Peace Convention: The October 4, 1828 was finally ratified the independence of Uruguay and the National Independence Day of Uruguay was achieved, after the meetings held between 11 and 27 August 1928 among the delegates of Brazil and the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, after which it was agreed to its independence.