▁inv aded ▁Spain , ▁capt uring ▁and ▁over throw ing ▁Ferdinand ▁VII ▁Bour bon , ▁the ▁Spanish ▁King . ▁ ▁The ▁situation ▁was ▁clear : ▁with ▁the ▁authority ▁of ▁the ▁vice - reg ency ▁gone , ▁there ▁was ▁a ▁power ▁vac u um . ▁ ▁Le ading ▁figures ▁in ▁Buenos ▁Aires ▁quickly ▁arranged ▁a ▁meeting ▁and ▁after ▁much ▁discussion ▁it ▁was ▁decided ▁to ▁replace ▁the ▁Spanish ▁rule ▁with ▁a ▁local ▁Jun ta . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁May ▁Revolution , ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁provinces ▁of ▁the ▁former ▁Vic ero yal ty ▁of ▁the ▁Río ▁de ▁la ▁Pl ata ▁joined ▁to ▁form ▁the ▁United ▁Provin ces ▁of ▁the ▁Río ▁de ▁la ▁Pl ata , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁United ▁Provin ces ▁of ▁South ▁America ▁in ▁ 1 8 1 0 . ▁The ▁four ▁provinces ▁of ▁Upper ▁Peru ▁( current - day ▁Boliv ia ) ▁were ▁occupied ▁by ▁Spanish ▁Royal ist ▁forces ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁ten ▁provinces ▁were ▁under ▁pressure ▁from ▁Royal ist ▁forces . ▁ ▁José ▁Ger vas io ▁Art ig as ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 1 0 , ▁Spain ▁moved ▁the ▁headquarters ▁for ▁the ▁Vic ero yal ty ▁of ▁the ▁River ▁Pl ate ▁to ▁Monte video ▁after ▁the ▁May ▁Revolution ▁forced ▁them ▁to ▁abandon ▁Buenos ▁Aires . ▁On ▁February ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 8 1 1 ▁José ▁Ger vas io ▁Art ig as ▁left ▁his ▁home ▁of ▁Monte video ▁and ▁moved ▁to ▁Buenos ▁Aires ▁to ▁offer ▁his ▁military ▁services . ▁The ▁people ▁of ▁Spanish ▁America ▁were ▁fighting ▁for ▁their ▁freedom ▁and ▁Art