Broadside announcing the retirement of General San Martín

The independence movements of the Spanish colonies gained momentum in 1810 and spread with astonishing speed from South America to the northernmost parts of the empire. By 1821 most colonies had won their freedom. One year later, General José de San Martín announced in this broadside his retirement from public life, after leading independence movements in Argentina, Peru, and Chile. In this public message, he warned: “Peruvians: I leave you with an established national government; if you place your trust in it, count on triumph; if you don’t, anarchy will devour you.” San Martín’s message hinted at competing visions of governance and authority among South American revolutionary leaders as they set out to build independent nations.