Independence days, land claims and a constitutional amendment: Why July 9 matters worldwide

9 July is marked as a significant date in the history of several countries across different continents, anchored by two national independence days, a Canadian Indigenous land claims anniversary, and a landmark US constitutional ratification.

In South America, Argentina observes 9 July as its independence day, commemorating the Congress of Tucumán’s 1816 declaration of independence from Spain under the name of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Known as “Nueve de Julio,” the date is a federal holiday marked with parades, fireworks and family gatherings.

In East Africa, South Sudan marks 9 July as its own independence day, having formally separated from Sudan on 9 July 2011 following a referendum in which 98.8 per cent of voters backed independence. The country became Africa’s 54th independent state and joined the United Nations five days later.

In Canada, 9 July is observed as Nunavut Day, commemorating the 1993 signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, described as the largest Indigenous land claim settlement in Canadian history, which paved the way for the creation of Nunavut as a distinct territory in 1999.

In the United States, 9 July 1868 marked the ratification of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to formerly enslaved people, after Louisiana and South Carolina supplied the final votes needed for ratification.