With an educational background of grammar and philosophy, he became a highly skillful orator and political figure, attaining the position of the Attorney General.

The same year, Spain was invaded by the French, and Acevedo participated in the oath of allegiance to King Ferdinand VII, but also stated the need to form a Governing Board.

He became interested in the emerging proposals for the emancipation of the American colonies and decided to begin organizing meetings with other intellectuals and leaders of the city which culminated with the Cry of Independence of Colombia of July 20, 1810, when street riots began, turning chaotic and ineffective.

Popular leaders proclaimed their tribute to Acevedo, trying to harness his excellent oratory skills, and he addressed the crowd at the central square of the city with a speech that fueled the need to seize the moment to organize as an autonomous government.

He stated: Along with six other patriots such as Camilo Torres Tenorio, Francisco Jose de Caldas, Jorge Tadeo y Lozano, he met on 20 July 1810 and proclaimed the independence of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.

This group's decision called the junta proclamation stated that “it no longer recognized the Supreme Regency Council, marking a decisive moment: no corporation or person located in or hailing from the peninsula have authority over these lands except for Ferdinand VII.”[7] During the period known as "Patria Boba", Acevedo participated in the independence rebellions of Cundinamarca and Tunja.