Assembly Resolution No. 709

BY: M. of A. Rozic

COMMEMORATING the 201st Anniversary of Argentina's
Declaration of Independence on July 9, 2017

WHEREAS, Prior to being under Spanish rule, Argentina was originally
inhabited and ruled by a range of indigenous American groups, such as
Quechua, Guarani and Mapuche; and

WHEREAS, In 1516, Spanish Explorer Juan Diaz de Solis discovered
Argentina, where in 1536, Spanish conquistador Pedro De Mendoza landed
on the southern shore of the Rio de la Plata, and named the settlement
Puerto Nuestra Senora Santa Maria del Buen Aire, which is now present
day Buenos Aires; and

WHEREAS, In 1573, Jeronimo Luis de Cabrera founded the City of
Cordoba in Central Argentina; at the time, Argentina was part of the
Spanish colony the Viceroyalty of Peru; and

WHEREAS, In 1776, Buenos Aires became the new capital for a new
Spanish colony called the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plate which
compromised Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and present-day Bolivia;
and

WHEREAS, Buenos Aires became one of the most important commercial
centers of the region due to its flourishing port in terms of goods,
production of cattle, export of leather and political power; and

WHEREAS, On May 29, 1806, the Spanish viceroy fled after British
Fleets captured the city of Buenos Aires, upon which a Creole militia
led by Santiago de Liniers recapture the city, and for three years
Liniers rule in place of the absent viceroy; and

WHEREAS, Napoleon I's invasion of Spain in 1808 and capture of
Spanish King Ferdinand VII, allowed the New America's Spanish Supreme
Central Junta under Spanish law to govern themselves until the
restoration of the lawful king; and

WHEREAS, On May 22, 1810, numerous creole official meet upon the
news of the precarious state of the Spanish government and decided that
the viceroy, Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, had to step down as Spain was
no longer an independent state; on May 25, 1810, Cornelio Saavedra was
declared President of the Primera Junta; and

WHEREAS, January 26, 1812, marked the beginning of a long,
protracted military struggle, fought under the leadership of the
revolutionary and military strategist General Jose de Martin; regarded
as the father of his country, he was born in 1778 and died in 1850; and

WHEREAS, Ferdinand VII, King of Spain, restoration in January 12,
1814, demonstrated his powerless position within Spain, leading an
assembly of the members of the viceroyalty to meet at a home in San
Miguel de Tucuman to discuss the situation; and

WHEREAS, July 9, 1816, the Congress of Tucuman passed a resolution
declaring independence from Spain of the Provincias Unidas de America
del Sur which also included Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia; Juan Martin
de Pueyrredon was declared the Supreme Director; and

WHEREAS, Many Argentinian's have made New York their home, and this
Legislative Body is justly proud to thank the Argentinian people for
their contributions to this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 201st Anniversary of Argentina's Declaration of
Independence on July 9, 2017.