The United States Declaration of Independence took place in 1776.
Independence is the quality or condition of being independent (being autonomous and not dependent on another). The concept is usually associated with freedom . For example: "I will never get married because I want to maintain my independence and not be accountable to anyone" , "To achieve independence from my parents, I need to find a job that allows me to meet my expenses" , "Due to a painful illness, the artist has lost his independence and must have the permanent assistance of a nurse" .
The notion of independence refers to a state that is neither dependent on nor subject to another state. It emerged as a political concept after the United States Declaration of Independence was presented in 1776. From then on, many other countries began to respond to European colonialism with their own declarations of independence, which were often the result of complex processes.
Before achieving independence, the colonies had to wage wars or carry out revolutions. Only then, through the use of force , did the colonizers end up ceding power over their domains.
The Spanish War of Independence
Spain is another of the many countries that at certain times in its history has been plagued by various conflicts regarding independence. Thus, for example, in the period between 1808 and 1814, the well-known Spanish War of Independence took place, in which the natives of the nation fought with all their might with the clear objective of not falling into the hands of what would become the First French Empire, whose supreme leader was Napoleon Bonaparte.
Among the most important events that make up this war, we should highlight the Uprising of May 2, which was one of the events that would be established as the origin of the war. It basically consisted of a popular uprising due to the confusion and political instability that would be contained by the French troops.
Argentina declared its independence in 1816.
The case of Israel
No less important historically is the so-called Declaration of Independence of Israel, which took place in 1948, the year in which the British legally ceased to rule over the country. It was the result of various conflicts, such as those between Jews and Arabs, who longed for the same thing: Palestine.
The plan that sought to put an end to this problem established a division of the lands into two, one for the Arabs and one for the Jews. However, the former did not accept it at all and this is how this declaration was created and a subsequent Arab-Israeli war was launched, which ended with Israel's victory.
Different types of independence and the difference with autonomy
Political independence has spread to most countries in the world, with few territories in conflict. However, economic independence and cultural independence are symbolic, as the most powerful states impose their conditions on the rest. This is why many progressive political movements promote a new independence, beyond political sovereignty.
It should be noted that independence is not the same as autonomy. The latter concept is linked to the decentralization of power that grants certain powers and competences to a community that ultimately remains dependent on a central government.