| Spanish possessions in South America went | | | | the corps of "Granaderos" took over the |
| from the northwestern coast all the way to | | | | military post, its arms and ammunition. The |
| the south of the continent. For over two | | | | Spanish authorities, mainly the Commander and |
| centuries, Lima was the main Spanish | | | | the Governor were detained and by dawn the |
| administrative center, as capital of the | | | | citizens of Guayaquil were celebrating the |
| Viceroyalty of Peru, which extended over all | | | | triumph of the revolution. The Act of |
| Spanish possessions. In the 18th Century the | | | | Independence of Guayaquil was signed that |
| territory was divided into three main | | | | same day. |
| administrative centers: the Viceroyalty of | | | | |
| New Granada, established in 1717 (Venezuela, | | | | Both liberators, who led the struggles for |
| Colombia, Panama and Ecuador); the | | | | independence in the Andean Viceroyalties: |
| Viceroyalty of Peru, in 1542 (Peru and | | | | Simon Bolivar in New Granada and Jose de San |
| Chile); and the Viceroyalty of La Plata, in | | | | Martin in La Plata arrived to Guayaquil in |
| 1776 (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and | | | | July 1822, where they had a historical |
| Bolivia). This division remained until the | | | | encounter and determined that Guayaquil would |
| end of the colonial period. | | | | be annexed to the Gran Colombia. The |
| | | | beautiful monument of La Rotonda at |
| The struggles for independence in what is now | | | | Guayaquil's Simon Bolivar Waterfront shows |
| Ecuador started early, in 1809, but it was | | | | both liberators shaking hands. |
| not until 1822 when the Spanish were defeated | | | | |
| and Ecuador became part of the Gran Colombia, | | | | In October, the celebration of the |
| formed by Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru | | | | Independence of Guayaquil is the perfect |
| and Bolivia. | | | | excuse for many artistic and cultural |
| | | | activities in the newly restored city of |
| Shortly after midnight on October 9, 1820 a | | | | Guayaquil, also called "The Pearl of the |
| group of patriots of Guayaquil , allied with | | | | Pacific". |