Simon Bolivar - The Liberator
Simon Bolivar was proclaimed “Liberator” by his own people and a world-renowned figure in his day. His prophetic vision of hemispheric solidarity lives today, and his political thinking serves dictators and democrat alike in contemporary Latin America. This paper explores the impact the days of colonialism and revolution, in which treatment of Creoles was inferior to Peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain). And this was a long-standing cause of frustration and resentment that contributed to the desire for independence from Spain. In addition, this paper analyzes some facts of one of the greatest minds of the 18th century “Simon Bolivar”. There is abundant evidence that Bolivar worked extensively to create a
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[2] There was also the long standing antipathy of provincials for the people of the capital, which resulted in many country people siding with the royalists simply because the upper classes of Caracas supported the patriot cause. In the confused struggles that followed in the 18th century, Creoles and Peninsulares were found in both patriot and royalist armies, and at first Negroes generally sided with the latter. [1]
Bolivar was from the elite class at the Villa San Pedro Alejandrino near Santa Marta, of Caracas, Venezuela .[1] According to Donald E. Worcester, Bolivar was about five feet, six inches in height, with broad chest, slender body, and the small hands and feet of the aristocrat. He had a high forehead, black hair, and high cheekbones. His facial expressions changed as rapidly as his moods .[3] He disliked being alone, and was almost never without women companions, even on campaign.[2] To understand Bolivar’s tenacity it is necessary to consider the Spanish-American cult of machismo, part of the legacy of the conquistadores. The macho is, or believes himself to be, the kind of man that women pursues and men follow willingly, a combination of Casanova, torero, and gaucho. The typical macho makes a constant display of his manliness –in its pure state machismo reflects courage, honor, and dignity, but too often it is mere gloating. Would-be machos boast of their endless triumphs yet assert that they marry only virgins and defend their sisters’ honor to the
With other Latin American uprisings occurring Simon Bolivar led the South American independence. Bolivar was a wealthy Creole born in Venezuela but educated in Spain. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas, Bolivar called for independence for all South Americans. He gained firm control of his native Venezuela in 1819. His armies then turned toward Columbia and Ecuador. In the south Jose de San Martin rallied Argentinean forces against Spain. Bolivar and San Martin met in Peru, which became independent along with Upper Peru (Bolivia) in 1824. Although Bolivar was unsuccessful in uniting South Americans into a single nation, he is known as the continent's "liberator."
Those creoles pushing towards revolution to free themselves from Spanish rule felt that the Spanish crown was only abusing, discriminating and holding them back form growing economically. The elite felt they were not part of a revolution seeing themselves only as people who were All those part of the social context of Latin America, felt differently within Indians, on side of the Spanish King, though great abuse fell through. "Nonetheless, the Indians of New Spain (and elsewhere) enjoyed a set of legal privileges, exemptions, and protection which significantly interferes with their complete integration into colonial society, and kept them in a legal bubble of tutelage ruptured only with the advent of independent Mexican nationhood in the third decade of the nineteenth century (Van Young, 154). The point here is that where these and other legal and administrative remedies were applied in favor of the Indians of colonial New Spain, they were applied in the kings' name. Furthermore, religious and civic ritual of all kinds constantly stressed the centrality of the Spanish king to the colonial commonwealth, and his benevolence and fatherly concern with the welfare of his weakest subjects (Van Young 155). "Situated as they were between the Spaniards and the masses. The creoles wanted more than equality for themselves and less than equality for their inferiors" (Lynch, 44). The creoles discriminated against those in lower classes than themselves.
After the age of enlightenment, colonies and nations around the world began questioning their rulers and ruling nations. Liberal and nationalist ideas spread across Europe and the world, especially after the French Revolution. When these beliefs spread to the colonies of America, independence movements and revolts occurred. The Latin American revolution and Haitian revolution were both significant events during the 19th century that affected both their respective nations and the world. While both revolutions resulted similarly such that a social hierarchy based on race existed after independence, they differ in that while the Latin American revolutions placed an emphasis on ending the Spanish casta system, Haitian revolution was based on freeing slaves.
Outside of France, the struggle for freedom was troubling colonial subjects as well. Simon Bolivar was a political leader in Latin America at this time and after helping his people escape from Spanish rule, Bolivar still could not form the stable colony he had planned. His people had gotten so accustomed to living under Spanish rule, that when that tie
This exposure to new ideas played a crucially important role in the independence movement for Latin America, in that Simón used these ideas he was taught to influence the people of his country. Without Simón Bolívar’s avocation of these enlightment ideas to the people of Latin America, independence for these states may not have been possible. Since Simón Bolívar could be seen as responsible of the one advocating how important it is for citizens to fight for their rights and freedoms, and these ideas where the reason that ignited the movement towards independence. During the nineteenth century, many people needed some kind of guidance about how they should act and think in regards to being inferior to Spanish rule that had a hold on their country like Latin America experienced throughout Spanish colonial rule. Simón Bolívar and his enlightment ideas were just what the citizens needed in leading them towards independence, since it seemed like they were lost without his guidance. Perhaps Simón Bolívar was just the right intellectual at the right time, since it seemed that people during this time needed someone to guide or speak for them, and that they ultimately couldn’t think or act for themselves so Simón guided them. It was said that Simón Bolívar was considered an intellectual and that people followed his ideas and visions because his campaigns were so
The Latin American revolutions occurred during the 18th- and 19th- centuries. These revolutions had multiple issues that shaped their independence and wars, such as the social structures of their colonies. At the top of Spanish society were the Peninsulares, which were the most powerful people who were born in Spain, and the only class that could have jobs within the government. They also had power over economy and government. Whereas the Creoles were
“A call to arms by Francisco Madero, a leader of the prodemocracy forces, united the disparate groups opposed to Diaz which succeeded in overthrowing the Porfirian government and forcing Diaz into exile” (Vanden & Prevost 319).
This project’s purpose is to record a people who have lived through the promises and outcomes of the Bolivarian Revolution, an idea that captured Venezuela’s spirit and spread across 16 Latin America nations as the Pink Tide. The poor and working class will be a fundamental component of this story as I investigate the role the revolution has played in shaping the lives of this perpetually overlooked group of people. Simultaneously, the nature of these issues will create a portal into the world of Venezuelan heritage, traditions, and political and civic culture. What I write will be the reality of the situation; the interpretation will be left up to the reader.
captures of the ideas they were fighting for: liberty, equality, and rights.1 News of this overthrowing of the government reached many places, one of those being Latin America. During the colonial period, a great social gap developed between the peninsulares (Spanish people born in
The very thought of peasants devising an insurgence terrified the Creoles. Leslie Bethell, the author of The Independence of Latin America wrote about the Napoleon Bonaparte and the invasion of Spain. “The Creoles had one eye on their masters, they kept the other on their servants.”(Doc F) Implying that the Creoles were very aware of the social classes due to the fact that the higher class was outnumbered. Living in terror of the uprising of their slaves. “They had to move quickly to anticipate popular rebellion, convinced that if they did not seize the opportunity, more dangerous forces would do so.”(Doc F) Creoles had to promptly protect themselves and prepare to defend due to the fall of the Monarchy in 1808, leaving their lives and property
Revolutions hit Latin America, and the fight for independence would change history forever. In the early 1800’s the lower class known as Mulattos, Mestizos and mid-class creoles were in a battle for a new form of government, against the abundant and powerful peninsulares. Rebellions in Latin America were fueled by the unjust distribution of food, wealth, and power.
Simon Bolivar, who had a reputation of being a liberator, took center stage. The common folk began to trust his words, as he talked about fighting for the resources that were theirs, ideals taken directly from the American Revolution itself. Also with the power struggle created by the Napoleonic wars, uprisings began. The most prominent of this movement was the uprising in Chuquisaca in 1809, which led to the formation of the Government Juntas. This group focused on taking the power from the Spanish and giving it to the people. Seeing the movement in Bolivia take shape, Latin Nations such as Peru began to provide military support to Bolivian liberators. Surprisingly, America didn’t live up to its reputation, having no negative impact on this revolution. Normally, America had been notorious for backing up the dictators or colonial powers and suppressing the Latin liberators. All in all, the combination of a power struggle brought upon by foreign wars, introduction of revolutionary independence ideals, proper leadership, and foreign aid, the Bolivian revolution was successful in liberating the nation from Spanish Colonial power after 16 years of conflict.
Models for post-revolutionary Latin American government are born of the complex economic and social realities of 17th and 18th century Europe. From the momentum of the Enlightenment came major political rebellions of the elite class against entrenched national monarchies and systems of power. Within this time period of elitist revolt and intensive political restructuring, the fundamental basis for both liberal and conservative ideology was driven deep into Latin American soil. However, as neither ideology sought to fulfill or even recognize the needs or rights of mestizo people under government rule, the initial liberal doctrine pervading Latin American nations perpetuated
Venezuela, located in the Latin American region, is a country that has been characterized by its abundance of oil reserve. A natural resource that has shaped the history and development of the country, affecting its economic, social and most important is political spheres. For many years Venezuela was controlled by authoritarian regimes. The country, being very important in the sense of geo-politics due to its abundance of oil, has been a key player in the international arena and most important, to those that for many years kept the country under their regime. It was not until 1958 that Venezuela experienced the change to democracy and a stable democracy was kept between the two main political parties of the time, Accion Democratica (AD)
Bolivars tone is one of authority and demand in which he shows his trust in the law by saying “ the rule of the law is more powerful than the rule of tyrants”, that he believes if it is done his way , a non-democratic way. Despite having some enlightenment ideas his thoughts on government organization(hereditary senate) and non-democratic governments go against these values. In contrast to Bolivar , L’overture doesn’t put as much trust in government on the contrary, he fears that there justifying detestable plans and justifying them as being acts of patriotism. He knows that the interests of those in power don’t have the people’s welfare at heart. He knows that slavery is not the way to a better Santo Domingo and that it being reinforced will only bring “total ruin and inevitable destruction”. His tone shows outrage and demand for him and his people to be