Every year since 1825, Bolivians have celebrated the country’s independence from the Spanish crown on August 6. Although Bolivia was declared sovereign as early as 1809, it took another 16 years to prove its independence in fierce battles.

Since 1533, the Spanish conquistadors seized the lands of modern Bolivia. In the middle of the 16th century the country became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and was named the province of Upper Peru.

The discovery of a large number of silver deposits led to the oppression of the indigenous population, who were forced to work in the mines in unbearable conditions. This provoked the appearance of riots by disgruntled local residents against the colonial authorities. In 1781, the largest rebellion led by the Latin American revolutionary Tupac Amaru II was suppressed.

The introduction of the quartermaster system in 1784 led to a conditional division of the population into 3 groups. Indians were classified as a lower class that had to serve the Spanish masters. In May 1809, another uprising took place in the capital of the country, Chuquisac, and later, the revolution of La Paz, which was defeated, but became the beginning of the struggle for the liberation of the country from Spanish rule.

On August 6, 1825, at a congress of representatives of the provinces of Upper Peru, the creation of the sovereign Bolivian Republic was announced, which was named after the outstanding military leader and fighter for the country’s freedom, the first president, Bolivar Simón.