Argentina In the early 1800s Buenos Aires, which was by then the capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, was attacked during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata. As regular military forces were insufficient to counter the British attackers, Santiago de Liniers drafted all males in the city capable of bearing arms into the military. These recruits included the criollo peoples, who ranked low down in the social hierarchy, as well as some slaves. With these reinforcements, the British armies were twice defeated. The militias became a strong factor in the politics of the city afterwards, as a springboard from which the criollos could manifest their political ambitions.Lyman Johnson, Workshop of Revolution: Plebeian Buenos Aires and the Atlantic World, 1776–1810, Duke University Press, United States p. 264 They were a key element in the success of the May Revolution, which deposed the Spanish viceroy and began the Argentine War of Independence. A decree by Mariano Moreno derogated the system of promotions involving criollos, allowing instead their promotion on military merit.
aRgeNTiNa in the earLy 1800s bUeNos aires, WhICh was By then thE Capital of the vicEroyAlty Of The Río De La pLaTa, waS AtTackEd dURing thE britiSh iNvaSions of the ríO de La platA. as regUlaR miliTAry forcES WerE iNsufficIENt to Counter tHe brItIsh attaCkeRs, santiAGo de lInIeRs drAfted aLl maLEs iN the ciTY CapaBle of beARiNg arMs into the military. these recruitS InCluded ThE CrIollo pEoPles, who RaNKed Low doWn in the soCial hiERarchy, aS well As soMe SlAVes. WIth theSe ReinFoRCements, The british Armies weRe twice Defeated. the miLitias becAme a sTRonG FActor in ThE PoLitics of ThE city AftErwards, aS a sPringBoaRd From wHIch ThE crIolLOS coUld manIfest thEir PolItiCal AmBitionS.lymAn JohnsoN, workShOp Of RevolUtIon: plEbeian buenoS AIRes and The atlantic worLd, 1776–1810, duke uNiveRsiTy PREss, uNiteD states p. 264 They were A Key ElemeNt In thE sUCceSs of The mAy ReVOLUTIOn, Which dePoseD tHe SpanIsh Viceroy And bEgan thE ArgeNtiNe WaR of IndEpendencE. a decrEe By mariAnO mOreno DerogateD tHe SySTEm of prOmOTiOns InvoLViNg Criollos, aLLowing InsTEad theIr PromoTion oN militarY merIT.