Simon Bolivar - Hero of South American Independence

Known as El Libertador (The Liberator) and thevictory for Bolivar and the revolutionary patriots
"George Washington of South America", Simonover the Spanish.
Bolivar was a great general and statesman inAt the end of 1822, Ecuador was liberated by
South America.Bolivar's forces and this was followed in 1824 by
He led revolutions against Spanish rule in thethe liberation of Peru.
Viceroyalty of New Granada (an area thatBolivar was now president of Gran Colombia (an
included present-day Colombia, Panama, Ecuadorarea that comprised present-day Colombia,
and Venezuela).Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama) -- a country
To do this, he won military victories againstalready recognized by the United States -- and
Spanish forces in Bolivia, Panama, Colombia,dictator of Peru.
Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. These victories ledIn 1825, Bolivar's forces, under Antonio Jose de
to the end of Spanish colonialism and the beginningSucre, liberated Upper Peru. This country was
of national independence in each of thoserenamed Bolivia, in honor of Simon Bolivar.
countries.Bolivar had hoped to form a union of the new
Born into an aristocratic family in 1783, he wasSouth American nations, from Chile and Argentina
inspired by Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaireto Mexico; but in fact nationalist sentiments quickly
and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and vowed to liberatecame to prevail over pan-continental ideals and, by
his country, Venezuela.the year 1830, Gran Colombia had split into three
He captured Venezuela but his victory was onlydifferent countries -- Colombia (including Panama),
short-lived as the Spanish counter-attacked andVenezuela, and Ecuador.
captured control of the country, forcing Bolivar toAt the end of his life Bolivar experienced great
flee.opposition and was almost assassinated. He died
While in exile, Bolivar wrote La Carta de Jamaicaon December 17, 1830.
("The Letter from Jamaica") in which he outlinedDespite his weaknesses, being a conservative
his vision for South America: constitutionalwho was not adverse to dictatorship, Simon
republics with upper and lower houses (modeledBolivar's presence is still felt everywhere in Latin
on the government of the United Kingdom) and,America -- with streets, places, monuments,
ominously, a president chosen for life.statues, banknotes, coins, stamps, and even a
After returning to Venezuela, he engaged thecountry bearing his name. He is remembered
Spanish forces in the Battle of Boyaca (1819) andthroughout the continent to this day as the hero
the Battle of Carabobo (1821), culminating in a finalwho brought national independence.