The Primera Junta or Junta Provisional Gubernativa de las Provincias del Río de la Plata, is the most common name given to the first government of what would eventually become Argentina. It was formed on 25 May 1810, as a result of the events of the May Revolution. The Junta initially only had representatives from Buenos Aires. When it was expanded, as expected, with the addition of representatives from the other cities of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, it became popularly known instead as the Junta Grande or Junta Provisional Gubernativa de Buenos Aires. The Junta operated at El Fuerte, which had been used since 1776 as a residence by the viceroys.
Primera Junta
The Open cabildo of 22 May decided to replace the viceroy with a Junta.
1897 lithograph of the members of the Primera Junta.
Mariano Moreno, Secretary of War, was one of the most important members of the Primera Junta.
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This Spanish colony included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and parts of Brazil. The result was the removal of Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros and the establishment of a local government, the Primera Junta, on May 25.
The open cabildo on May 22, 1810, by Pedro Subercaseaux, depiction of the May 22 open cabildo
The rule of Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain was resisted by Spaniards, and cast doubts on the legitimacy of the Spanish viceroys.
The US Declaration of Independence inspired similar movements in the Spanish colonies in South America.
William Carr Beresford surrenders to Santiago de Liniers during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata.
