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A Brief History of Argentina - Travelsur

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ARGENTINA<br />

José de San Martín, the great Argentine general who led the independence movement in the<br />

Southern Cone (Théodore Gericault, ca. 1819)<br />

in exchange for their eventual freedom. Chile levied special taxes to<br />

support the new patriot army, just as the citizens <strong>of</strong> Mendoza had supported<br />

the liberation <strong>of</strong> Chile. In 1820, 23 ships carrying a patriot army<br />

<strong>of</strong> 4,500 soldiers set sail for Lima.<br />

The campaign in Peru did not unfold according to plan, however.<br />

San Martín disembarked his troops at Pisco, 125 miles south <strong>of</strong> Lima,<br />

and sent the fleet on to blockade the port <strong>of</strong> Callao. His patriot column<br />

then marched north, circling around the viceregal capital <strong>of</strong> Lima and<br />

setting up a headquarters at Huacho. San Martín’s presence sparked<br />

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