June 4, 2017 - Simon Bolivar

Simón Bolívar

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios is one of the greatest men in South American history.  He has a long name, but someone as great as he is deserves such a name.  He is the father of many South American nations, including Bolivia, which was named in his honor in 1825.  South Americans will tell you, "George Washington gave birth to a nation; Simón Bolívar gave birth to a continent."

When Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808, naming his brother the new King of Spain, the Spanish American colonies rebelled.  France did not have the resources to fight a multi-front battle across the Americas, so most were left alone to fend for themselves.  That created a climate of independence in the hearts of Latin America, beginning in Mexico and soon spreading across two continents.

Bolívar began the rebellion in Venezuela, his homeland.  By 1813, he had wrested control of Venezuela from the Spanish, but civil war erupted even as he was El Libertador (the Liberator).  He was forced to flee to Jamaica, where he devised a plan for a united South America, with a British style parliamentary system.

He quickly returned to South America, fighting in numerous battles.  In 1821, he was able to create the Republic of Gran Colombia, which included Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador.  In 1824, he was declared dictator of Peru and a year later Bolivia was created and named in his honor.  These two countries became the Confederation of the Andes.

Bolívar had a dream of not only a united South America, but a land where all peoples were free.  This included freeing of the slaves of African origin in the Caribbean areas of Venezuela and Colombia.  He wanted the peoples of indigenous origin to be free as well.  Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador include the majority of their populations of indigenous origin, especially the Quechua, whose numbers are in the millions today.  But, as always, the people who exploited the weaker members of society gained control.

By the late 1820s, it was obvious that his dream of a united South America would not be fulfilled.  His empire was collapsing around him and quickly broke into the nations of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.  In 1830, he stepped down as the President of Gran Colombia, dying later that year.

He is still remembered as El Libertador across South America.  Every city in Bolivia has a statue of him.  Every city has a street named after him.  He is not forgotten.