The Sons of Guayas in search of freedom. Historiographic analysis of the socio-ethnic protagonism in the Independence of Guayaquil according to the History textbooks (1915-2015)

Abstract

The present work consists of a historiographic analysis of the protagonism that the different socio-ethnic groups had in the Independence of Guayaquil according to history textbooks published between 1915 and 2015. History textbooks have been used as historiographical sources, because since the 20th century Ecuadorian educational policies have used them as ideological instruments to carry out the construction of a common national identity based on the assumptions of the 19th century Homeland History. The use of history teaching through school textbooks to consolidate this 19th century national identity is evident in the analysis of the socio-ethnic protagonism in the Independence, where these texts explain this event as a national construction project led by the Creole elites whose supposed main objective was to liberate all “Guayaquileños” from a presumed monarchic oppression exercised by a foreign enemy: the “Spanish”. Although there are authors who have stated that indigenous people, blacks, mestizos, zambos, pardos, mulatos, obtained few benefits from the Independence, all school textbooks do not hesitate to confirm that thanks to the liberating gesture undertaken by the Creole elites of Guayaquil, the Ecuador was able to be free.

Enviado el (Submission Date): 23/04/2021

Aceptado el (Acceptance Date): 4/05/2021