Assembly of the Year XIII

Seal of the Assembly

Territories represented at the Assembly

The Assembly of Year XIII (Spanish: Asamblea del Año XIII) was a meeting called by the Second Triumvirate governing the young republic of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (modern-day Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Brazil and Bolivia) on October 1812.

One of the objectives of the assembly was to define an institutional government system for the republic. Without the presence of representatives from some of the provinces (such as the Oriental Province), it was inaugurated on January 31, 1813 (hence the name). At the same time, it was to proclaim independence from Spain, and write the first constitution of the young state.

Accomplishments

During the assembly, different interests delayed the declaration of independence, but a number of common points were successfully established:

• The national coat of arms was chosen.
• The national anthem was adopted, including the lines, "O hear the sounds of broken chains! / See noble equality enthroned!"^[1]
• The freedom of wombs law (Libertad de vientres), which ultimately put an end to slavery, was passed, dictating that children born from slaves since the passing of the law were automatically free citizens.^[1]
• All titles of nobility (from the colonial period) were voided and suppressed.^[1]
• The creation of the national currency was ordered.
• The Spanish Inquisition and the practice of torture were abolished.^[1]
• A statute was approved that replaced as Executive Power the Second Triumvirate for a unipersonal Supreme Directorship.

See also

• Argentine War of Independence
• Instructions of the Year XIII
• United Provinces of the Río de la Plata

References

1. Bushnell, David (1983). Reform and reaction in the Platine provinces, 1810–1852. University Presses of Florida. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0813007577.