Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolivar was the reason independence was achieved in the colonies of Northern South America; namely Venezuela. He was unselfishly dedicated to liberating the colony, and was not discouraged when a battle was lost or when Spain regained control of his Republics. As each of the three Venezuelan Republics were created and quickly destroyed, Bolivar never lost sight of his ultimate goal of independence. His hopes of combining all of South America into one independent nation always remained intact.

Along with other Spanish colonies in South America, Venezuela had a vast mixture of races that was partnered with a strict caste system. Oppression between ethnic origins and classes was great, and caused a large amount of conflict. Spaniards were considered superior to those born in the colonies. Because of this, the king of Spain would not allow the building of a University in Venezuela because he didn’t feel that the colonists needed an education. Trade was also restricted, which made it difficult for the merchant class to make money through importing and exporting goods. Simon Bolivar lived in this colony, experienced these events, and sought to fix them. He was born in Venezuela in 1783 of noble blood, and went to school in Europe where he directly experienced the effects of the French Revolution. On his way back home after he finished studying in 1809, Bolivar traveled through the United States and saw the positive effects of democracy on a newly independent country. This experience would later change the course of history.

After Bolivar came back to Venezuela, he became a member of a secret group of patriots who wanted their colony to become a free nation. At the time, 700,000 to 800,000 Venezuelans were unconcerned with the goal of independence. The cruelty towards people of non-European races, along the severe caste system, angered Bolivar, and he felt that each and every citizen should be considered equal. Spain’s restrictive economic plans put strain on Venezuela’s economy and created more poverty than there was before. Bolivar was also furious that the king was representing the people, as opposed to the people deciding what was best for their nation. In April 1810, Bolivar led the patriots in a revolt in Caracas, overthrowing the governor and freeing the city. The city of Caracas and six other Venezuelan provinces created a junta that later became the First National Congress in Venezuela. This cabal opened Venezuelan trade to the world, lessened taxes, established equality among people, and cleared the Spanish rule; showing the beginnings of a new republic. Bolivar traveled to London to gain support from the British, who extolled him greatly , but declined aiding Venezuela. This was a result of the Napoleonic age in Europe, so, inconveniently; Britain and Spain were united against Napoleon’s conquest of Europe. After much fruitless persuasion, Bolivar returned to Venezuela with General Francisco Miranda, who would lead the armies of the new republic. The National Congress was beginning to decide when they should declare Venezuela’s independence when Bolivar advised them not to “take into account Spain’s intentions…What shall we care if she chooses to keep us slave or sell us to Bonaparte, since we have decided to be free?” On July 5, 1811, independence for Venezuela was affirmed. Less than a year later, Spanish armies came to newly independence country and defeated their army, easily regaining power and ending the First Republic.

Bolivar, not to be deterred, became the most important leader of the revolution after Miranda’s defeat. He left Venezuela for Colombia, which had become independent itself. He asked for military help from Colombia’s president in September 1812. Fifteen days later, he made his way through the Andes Mountains into Venezuela while battling Spanish troops that were much more powerful than his own. As he traveled, Bolivar’s army became stronger, and he changed the views of many Royalists when he passionately cried “War to the Death!” On August 7, 1813, Bolivar invaded Caracas once again. The people there were thrilled, named him El Liberatador, and gave him complete control of the city. The Second Republic began, although Spanish forces were not entirely defeated. An extremely cruel group of llaneros, who were similar to cowboys, made up a military to fight the Republic’s armies. Reinforcements of Spanish troops were returning to Venezuela and created another spark of violence. Once again, the Spanish won control of Venezuela and, as a result, ended its Second Republic less than a year after it was established.

Bolivar was exiled to Jamaica where he wrote an important letter concerning the futures of countries in Latin America and his hopes for their independences. Determined to regain Venezuela’s independence, he left Jamaica for Haiti, where he organized a group of refugees to fight with him. In December 1816, this group, along with British troops, attacked the eastern coast