How long has Argentina been Argentina?

Answer 1

Argentina was settled by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. It was part of the Viceroyalty of Perú and divided into different "provinces" (Intendencias, gobernaciones, etc.). These were founded and settled by different groups of Spanish "conquistadors" coming from different locations:

- From Perú, which founded Santiago del Estero, the oldest town in Argentina (1553), Córdoba, Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy.

- From Spain: which founded the first Buenos Aires (1536) abandoned in 1541 and re-settled in 1580.

- From Paraguay: The original Buenos Aires settlers moved up river and founded Asuncion in 1537. From there came a wave of Creoles that settled in Santa Fe (1573) and Buenos Aires (1580).

- From Chile: Mendoza (1561), San Juan, San Luis, Catamarca, La Rioja.

In 1776 Spain created the Viceroyalty of Rio de La Plata including what is now Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia.

In 1810 the people of Buenos Aires overthrew the Viceroy and formed a Junta to govern the territory until Napoleon freed the King of Spain.

This evolved into a war with "Royalists" in Perú and Chile.

In 1816 The "United Provinces of the Rio de La Plata" declared their independence (July 9th).

The war with Spain continued until the Royalists were defeated in the mid 1820s. Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay split and became independent.

Argentina went through a period of civil war between 1820 and 1835 when Rosas, governor of Buenos Aires pacified the country and recognized each province their "autonomy". Buenos Aires handled foreign affairs and defense, while each province was virtually independent in all other matters. Despite this apparent disunity, treaties were signed in the name of the "Argentine Confederation".

In 1853 Rosas' Dictatorship was overthrown and a Constitutional Assembly convened and formally re-united all provinces as the Argentine Republic. Buenos Aires would split and remain separated until 1860.

As you see, there are many dates!

Answer 2

Argentina declared it's independence from Spain in 1816, so there is over 200 years now.

Many people think Independence Day was in 1810, because in that year it was established the first patriot government, but it wasn't until July 1816 that Argentina declared the intependence fron Spain.

By the way, the name "Argentina" was first used in 1818. Until then the country was known as "Provincias Unidas del Rio de la Plata".