Simón Bolívar El Libertador

Assignment presented to
Nadine Elizabeth Korte

By
Luis Carlos Tenorio Garcia

Champlain College
April 24 2014
History of Western Civilization
 A very well-known and praised man in Spanish speaking countries, Simón
Bolívar acquired his reputation by freeing 6 countries from Spain’s Absolutism in
the 19th century. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela 1783. His family was already
infiltrated in the colonial aristocracy when he was born and his father being a
militia colonel enabled him to climb the ranks pretty quickly. 1 His parents
unfortunately died when he was of young age, but he became a “subteniente” or
sub lieutenant at only 15.2 His interest in social affairs emerged at 21 when his
Spanish wife died of yellow fever.3 A few years later on a trip to Europe he makes
an oath with Rome, sealing Spanish America’s liberation in his heart. After an
immense amount of battles, a couple of retreats and political speeches, Bolívar
managed to liberate New Granada (former Colombia), Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru
and the highlands of Peru(Bolivia), by 1824. His vision of Spanish America as a
whole came true for a short period of time before crumbling because of political
struggles and revolts leading to his resign and death in 1830.4 But why did he
commit so much time and effort into the independence movement, what inspired
this individual to fight for Latin America’s freedom…? I think the three main
causes of Simón Bolívar’s actions were: Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, the
oppression and tyranny inflicted by Spain and the vision Bolívar had of uniting
Spanish America into one grand Country.

To begin with, Bonaparte’s invasion of Spain in 1807 played a big role,

Napoleon depleted Spain’s strength significantly giving liberty in a silver platter to
Venezuelan and Latin American Republicans.5 Bolívar has been compared many
times to Napoleon, even though Simón only saw Bonaparte in person once in his
lifetime, it was an important and essential part of his life.6 Weeks later from his
encounter he most likely had Napoleon wandering inside his mind while he made
an oath to Rome that he would liberate Spanish America from the “yoke of
Tyranny” as he tends to say during his speeches.7 Napoleon’s commitment made
Bolívar think of his own country reigned under oppression and slavery, it also
inspired his desire to participate in the liberation of Spanish America: “I began to
1
Frederick H. Fornoff and David Bushnell. El Libertador: Writings of Simon Bolivar(Cary, Oxford University, 2003),
14.
2
Fornoff and Bushnell, 14.
3
Peter Mcdermott. PADRE DE LA PATRIA(America 210.10, 2014),32
4
Fornoff and Bushnell, 18.
5
Mcdermott, 32.
6
John Chasteen. Americanos: Latin America’s Struggle for Independence(Cary, Oxford University, 2008), 29
7
Chasteen, 29.
flatter myself that one day I would be able to participate in her liberation.”8 In
fact during most of his political speeches he would base his arguments on those
imposed by Napoleon. 9 To conclude, Napoleon’s intervention led many
revolutionists, such as Bolívar, to take their liberty into their own hands,
otherwise Napoleon would’ve.

Secondly, Colonial Spain wasn’t the nicest player in the block, their
absolute monarchy meant they had undeniable power depriving America from
any involvement with civil, political, military or religious functions.10 Simón Bolívar
describes it as being “enslaved by the triple yoke of ignorance, tyranny, and vice,
we American people have never experienced knowledge, power, or virtue”.11
Spain profiting from these principles meant that America was not only missing out
on freedom but its involvement in public affairs. In one of his famous letters, The
Jamaica Letter 1815, Bolívar states that restriction of government responsibilities
and economic opportunity justifies revolution and declaring that such rights were
granted by God and nature.12 Americans had no identity in this case, they were
nor Indian nor European, stuck in a confusing position. Although America had
bonds with Spain, these bonds were cut as Spain lost its sense of community and
showed ideas of incipient nationalism.13 Furthermore, the abolition of slavery was
also present in Bolívar’s mind. In the Bolivian constitution of 1824, he wrote:
“Legislators! Slavery is the violation of every law. […] What possible justification
can there be for its perpetuation”.14 Meaning slaves were equally oppressed,
violated of their dignity and equality therefore abolition was a spark for
revolution. Not only did he grow up in a plantation, his nanny was a black slave.15
Coexisting with slaves developed close relationships and paternalism was
common to make it less of a living hell.16 Paternalism eventually allowed slaves to
buy their freedom mainly through military service. He actually managed to free
his slaves by military service in 1814, five years later a hundred more profited.

8
Lynch, John. Simon Bolivar: A Life (New Haven: Yale University, 2006), 25.
9
Lynch, 263.
10
Fornoff and Bushnell, 86.
11
Fornoff and Bushnell, 87.
12
Lynch, 112.
13
Lynch, 112.
14
Fornoff and Bushnell, 114.
15
Chasteen, 18.
16
Chasteen, 18.
Finally, Bolívar fought for rights he believed we were born with and did so
ironically with people who were neglected from their dignity and equality, slaves.

Last, but not least, unity was Bolívar’s ultimate goal for Spanish America. It
was no rumor what he had in store for the newly independent countries, after
experiencing deprivation of self-rule from Spain, he knew that Americans needed
a strong and stable authority.17 He stressed the fact that the only way to relieve
the republic from chaos was unification, even making his motto “Unity, unity,
unity”.18 Even before completely exiling Spain out of South America in 1813,
Bolívar argued that his vision was not only intended for Colombia but for
Venezuela as well to hopefully inspire a greater Spanish American unity.19 In 1828
he sent a message to the Convention of Ocaña, stating “No nation ever won
favorable regard except through the practices of these advantages; no nation
ever won respect without the strength that comes from unity.”20 Although on
paper it may seem very innovative, Bolívar knew that this level of unity was
impossible unless God came into play to manage all the resources and people.21
Bolívar tried to maintain order in each republic he liberated, but unfortunately it
began crumbling in 1826 because of political stirrups.22 His delusion led him to
convey numerous constitutional congresses to try to hold everything in place but
without success.23 Eventually he exiled himself after an immense amount of
dedication and effort. His health was at the lowest point at the time which caused
his death on his way to Cartagena.

17
Lynch, 86.
18
Fornoff and Bushnell, 101.
19
Lynch, 240.
20
Fornoff and Bushnell, 146.
21
Lynch, 240.
22
Christopher Rose,”Episode 13 : Simón Bolívar(Blog)”.University of Texas at Austin, February 20, 2013, accessed
April 24, 2014, https://blogs.utexas.edu/15minutehistory/2013/02/20/episode-13-simon-bolivar/
23
Rose, Blog.
 In conclusion, this revolutionary figure will always be remembered as a
liberator. His intentions were nearly as delusional as Hitler’s but this time it came
with a good cause. Three aspects pushed this man into delusion; Napoleon most
certainly influenced him with his reign of iron fists, the oppression and tyranny
Colonial Spain was inflicting Americans and the vision he had of Spanish America
united to flourish. He died a similar way from Napoleon’s death in 1821 that I
think was the first domino to fall in consequence creating a domino effect.

Works Cited
Bolivar, Simon Fornoff and Frederick H. Bushnell, David. El Libertador: Writings of Simon Bolivar. Cary:
Oxford University Press, 2003. Ebrary.

Chasteen, John. Americanos : Latin America's Struggle for Independence. Cary: Oxford University Press,
2008. Ebrary.

Mcdermott, Peter. Padre De La Patria. America 210.10: 32-35, 2014. Ebscohost.

Lynch, John. Simon Bolivar: A life. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. Ebrary.

Rose, Christopher.”Episode 13 : Simón Bolívar(Blog)”.University of Texas at Austin, Feb 20, 2013. Web.
April 24, 2014