Representations on the Independence of the United Provinces of South America in the Cultural Tucumán at the End of the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

This paper explores the representations about Argentine Independence from the celebrations promoted by cultural associations, secondary and university students at the end of the nineteenth century. The hypothesis that guides this research argues that these patriotic celebrations organised by the civil society -particularly the patriotic pilgrimages of the youth carried out during the decade of 1890’s- were installed as practices and articulated with actions deployed by the political power tending to build a collective homogeneous memory about the origins of nationality, converting the precinct where independence was declared a symbolic capital which allowed the national projection of Tucumán. The methodology applied to research combines the analysis of primary sources (official government documents, periodical press, and record books of associations) along with sources edited as cultural journals of the period and published reports, which enabled to establish a dialogue with the specialised bibliography.