
Why did Bolivar want independence from Spain? Bolívar believed that past subjugation under Spanish colonial rule left many of the American people ignorant and unable to acquire knowledge power or civic virtue. Therefore in the name of the greater good Bolívar believed that these people should be freed.
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What was Bolívar's ultimate goal?
Describe what Bolivar's ultimate goal for South America was. His goal was to make most South American countries independent and free from Spanish rule.
What was Simon Bolivar's plan against the Spanish?
Simón Bolívar, the dashing Liberator, conceived of a brilliant yet seemingly suicidal plan: he would take his 2,000 man army, cross the mighty Andes, and hit the Spanish where they were least expecting it: in neighboring New Granada (Colombia), where a small Spanish army held the region unopposed.
Why did South America want independence from Spain?
They wanted more political and economical power. They believed the colonial system was unfair, as they were excluded from the political decision making process.
What did Bolívar think was wrong with the Spanish system of colonization?
What did Bolivar think was wrong with the Spanish system of colonization? It was oppressive to people not born in Spain. Why might the Spanish government have forbidden colonists to grow crops that could be grown in Europe? To keep them dependent on buying them from Spain.
How did Venezuela gain independence from Spain?
Venezuela effectively achieved its independence from Spain by 1819 as part of the Republic of Colombia, and the United States recognized the Colombian federation in 1822. After Venezuela separated from Colombia in 1830, the United States recognized and established diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 1835.
Why did Latin America rebel against Spain?
There were restrictions on trading with foreigners, restrictions against growing crops that would compete with crops grown in Spain, and restrictions on making goods that would compete with goods made in Spain. Taxes imposed by Spanish authorities were also annoying.
How did Latin America gain independence from Spain?
The French Revolution in Europe followed, and collectively these events had profound effects on the British, Spanish, Portuguese, and French colonies in the Americas. A revolutionary wave followed, resulting in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America.
What was one factor that inspired the independence movement in Latin America?
The immediate trigger of the conflict was Napoleon's invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) in 1807 and 1808, but its roots also lay in the growing discontent of creole elites (people of Spanish ancestry who had been born in Latin America) with the restrictions imposed by Spanish imperial rule.
Why was Bolívar's dream of a united Latin America not realized?
Bolivar hoped Gran Colombia would be the beginning of a union of all Latin American states. However, Gran Colombia fell apart in 1830 as each country went its own way. Geographic factors and regional nationalism made it difficult to unite Latin Americans in a common federation similar to the United States.
What were Simon Bolivar's social and political goals?
Bolivar's basic objectives were liberation and independence, and his criticism of the ancien regime was conditioned by these. Liberty, he said, is 'the only object worth the sacrifice of a man's life'.
Who did Simon Bolivar fight against?
Simón Bolivar is remembered today as the greatest leader of South American independence. Highly influenced by the examples of the United States, the French Revolution and Napoleon, he led a massive revolt against Spanish colonial rule in South America, beginning in 1810.
What was Bolívar's hope for the future of Gran Colombia?
He envisioned independent countries brought together under a pan-American entity. While Bolívar wanted to unite all the freed viceroyalties under a common ruler, he strayed away from the U.S. federal model and embraced a system with a strong central leader.
Who was Simón Bolívar?
Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan soldier and statesman who played a central role in the South American independence movement. Bolívar served as presi...
What was Simón Bolívar’s early life like?
Simón Bolívar was born on July 24, 1783, in Caracas, Venezuela. Neither Bolívar’s aristocrat father nor his mother lived to see his 10th birthday....
What role did Simón Bolívar play in the Latin American independence movement?
Simón Bolívar penned two political treatises—the Manifiesto de Cartagena (“Cartagena Manifesto”) and the Carta de Jamaica (“Letter from Jamaica”)—e...
Why was Simón Bolívar called “The Liberator?”
Simón Bolívar first liberated Venezuela in 1813. Upon entering the capital city of Venezuela on August 6, 1813, Bolívar was given the nickname “El...
How did Simón Bolívar die?
There is some controversy surrounding Simón Bolívar’s death. According to official reports, Bolívar died of tuberculosis on December 17, 1830, at a...
What was Simón Bolívar’s early life like?
Simón Bolívar was born on July 24, 1783, in Caracas, Venezuela. Neither Bolívar’s aristocrat father nor his mother lived to see his 10th birthday. Bolívar was instead raised by his uncle, who administered his inheritance and provided him with tutors. One of Bolívar’s tutors—a man named Simón Rodríguez—introduced him to the world of liberal thought. Under Rodríguez’s guidance, Bolívar read and studied the likes of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It’s likely that Rodríguez’s early lessons in liberalism influenced Bolívar in his later decision to rebel against Spanish rule.
Who was Simón Bolívar?
Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan soldier and statesman who played a central role in the South American independence movement. Bolívar served as president of Gran Colombia (1819–30) and as dictator of Peru (1823–26). The country of Bolivia is named for him.
What was the Latin American independence movement?
The Latin American independence movement was launched a year after Bolívar’s return, as Napoleon’s invasion of Spain unsettled Spanish authority. Napoleon also failed completely in his attempt to gain the support of the Spanish colonies, which claimed the right to nominate their own officials. Following the example of the mother country, they wished to establish juntas to rule in the name of the deposed Spanish king. Many of the Spanish settlers, however, saw in those events an opportunity to sever their ties with Spain. Bolívar himself participated in various conspiratorial meetings, and on April 19, 1810, the Spanish governor was officially deprived of his powers and expelled from Venezuela. A junta took over. To obtain help, Bolívar was sent on a mission to London, where he arrived in July. His assignment was to explain to England the plight of the revolutionary colony, to gain recognition for it, and to obtain arms and support. Although he failed in his official negotiations, his English sojourn was in other respects a fruitful one. It gave him an opportunity to study the institutions of the United Kingdom, which remained for him models of political wisdom and stability. More important, he fostered the cause of the revolution by persuading the exiled Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda, who in 1806 had attempted to liberate his country single-handedly, to return to Caracas and assume command of the independence movement.
Who was the Liberator of Venezuela?
With backing from the patriots of New Granada, Bolívar led an expeditionary force to retake Venezuela. In a sweeping hard-fought campaign, he vanquished the royalists in six pitched battles and on August 6, 1813, entered Caracas. He was given the title of Liberator and assumed political dictatorship.
When did Venezuela gain independence?
After long deliberation, the national assembly declared Venezuela’s independence on July 5, 1811. Bolívar now entered the army of the young republic, whose commander in chief was Miranda, and was placed in charge of Puerto Cabello, a port on the Caribbean Sea west of Caracas that was vital to Venezuela.
What happened to Miranda after he was rescued from Venezuela?
An armistice was signed (July 1812) that left the entire country at the mercy of Spain. Miranda was turned over to the Spaniards —after Bolívar and others prevented his escape from Venezuela—and spent the rest of his life in Spanish dungeons.
How long did it take Bolivia to become independent?
Bolivia’s Independence. Bolivian Independence, achieved after centuries of Spanish colonial rule, was a process that spanned more than 15 years, from 1809 to 1825, and involved numerous battles and countless deaths.
When is Bolivia's independence day?
Today, Bolivia’s Independence Day is now celebrated every year on 6th August. Celebrations are held throughout the country and it is a common sight to see schoolchildren parading through the streets in their school uniforms while proudly carrying the Bolivian flag.
Why did the junta in Charcas become a junta?
The junta in Charcas was created by the removal of the President, Ramon Garcia Leon de Pizarro, by the Audience because the Spanish Oidores suspected him of wanting to join with Portugal. The representatives of the Monarchy decided to convert Upper Peru into a junta that would remain loyal to Spain in spirit while isolating itself politically from the other surrounding regions including the Viceroyalty of Peru. In La Paz, the junta there was an effort to break free from Spanish rule altogether and wanting complete independence from any European power. These juntas ended up being short-lived, however, and soon fell back under Spanish control thanks to the intervention of the Viceroy of Peru and the better equipped Royalists easily defeated the nationalists, who were lacking in money, resources and military experience.The defeat of the juntas did not mark the end of the independence movement; they constituted an important part of the history of Bolivia. The juntas were able to promote and encourage the independence movement which was kept alive by a six guerrilla armies that formed away from the cities and took control of various regions of Bolivia.
Why did Napoleon invade Spain?
In 1807, Napoleon invaded Spain in a quest to increase his empire. This created an enormous vacuum of power and oversight in South America permitting the independence movements to begin their fight in earnest while the Spanish Monarchy was distracted with its own problems back home.The first wave of nationalist uprisings in Bolivia occurred in 1809 when the government juntas of Charcas and La Paz were formed as a reaction to the events in Spain—the chaotic, almost anarchic, situation in Spain was duplicating itself in Bolivia.
How did Bolivia get its name?
Ultimately, this new and independent country, Bolivia, would get its name from the Simon Bolivar, the military and political leader that changed the course of Colonial South America.
Who was the leader of the revolution in South America?
In Venezuela, this man, Simon Bolivar was beginning a revolution of South American independence from Spain. His struggle would take him all over South America and his cause gained followers every day that passed. After having liberated Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, Bolivar was now close to liberating Peru in 1821.
Who was the liberator of Bolivia?
A constitutional congress was summoned and on August 6, 1825, to create a new Magna Carta as well as a name to this newly independent country Bolivia in honor of the aristocrat turned liberator, Simon Bolivar. From August 12 to December 29, 1825, Bolivar led Bolivia on the path to democracy and independence and after he stepped down fellow war ...
What happened to Latin America after independence?
Once the Independence happened, all local oligarchies’ own interests became more and more evident and, given that the cohesive strenght of Spain was gone , the “balkanisation” of Latin America was unavoidable.
How did Spain solve its problems?
The three hundred or so years of being a colony (less if you were not from Mexico or the Caribbean, which was conquered first) were good in the sense that they brought these countries into the Western European mold, but Spain had a lot of problems at the time and they invariably solved them by simply extracting wealth from Latin America and generally behaving terribly dismissive towards their cash cow.
What did the Oligarchies want?
The oligarchies wanted power, and if Spain would not give it to them, they would use figures like Bolívar and get for themselves that power. But it did not mean a change of social and economic institutions. Colonial-like socioeconomic structures began to be slowly replaced in Latinamerican countries since 1850.
Why were the Spanish colonies isolated from each other?
The rationale behind of this was 1) facilitate the flux of goods (specially gold) from the colonies to Spain and viceversa and 2) guarantee the comercial and economic superiority of Spain over the Colonies creating an industrial and a commercial monopoly.
What were the privileges of the Portuguese nobility during the mandate of Felipe IV?
During the mandate of Felipe IV the privileges of the Portuguese nobility were limited. Taxes increased and the population impoverished, with the empire being threatened by England and the Netherlands, traditional enemies of Castile.
How long did it take for a colony to become a colony?
The three hundred or so years of being a colony (less if you were not from Mexico or the Caribbean, which was conquered fir
How long did the Portuguese fight for Spain?
The national effort was maintained for 28 years, with which it was possible to conquer in successive attempts of invasion of the armies of Felipe IV of Spain. In 1668 the Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was signed by which Spain recognized the sovereignty of the neighboring country. The victory of the Portuguese restorers was largely due to the Uprising of Catalonia, since all the best Castilian soldiers were there, as well as the diplomatic efforts of England, France, Holland and Rome to limit the power of the Spanish Empire.
What was Bolivar's goal in 1819?
His enemies assumed he would never be so insane as to cross the Andes where he did. He quickly recruited new soldiers from a population eager for liberty and set out for Bogota . There was only one army between him and his objective, and on August 7, 1819, Bolivar surprised Spanish General José María Barreiro on the banks of the Boyaca River. The battle was a triumph for Bolivar, shocking in its results: Bolívar lost 13 killed and some 50 were wounded, whereas 200 royalists were killed and some 1,600 were captured. On August 10, Bolivar marched into Bogota unopposed.
What happened to Simon Bolivar?
Death of Simon Bolivar. As the Republic of Gran Colombia fell around him, his health deteriorated as his tuberculosis worsened. In April of 1830, Bolívar was disillusioned, ill, and bitter, and he resigned the presidency and set off to go into exile in Europe.
What happened to Bolivar in 1812?
Bolivar was defeated and went into exile. In late 1812, he went to New Granada (now Colombia) to look for a commission as an officer in the growing Independence movement there. He was given 200 men and control of a remote outpost. He aggressively attacked all Spanish forces in the area, and his prestige and army grew. By the beginning of 1813, he was ready to lead a sizeable army into Venezuela. The royalists in Venezuela could not beat him head-on but rather tried to surround him with a number of smaller armies. Bolívar did what everyone least expected and made a mad dash for Caracas. The gamble paid off, and on August 7, 1813, Bolivar rode victoriously into Caracas at the head of his army. This dazzling march became known as the Admirable Campaign.
What happened in Venezuela in 1819?
In early 1819, Venezuela was devastated, its cities in ruins, as royalists and patriots fought vicious battles wherever they met. Bolívar found himself pinned against the Andes in western Venezuela. He then realized that he was less than 300 miles away from the Viceregal capital of Bogota, which was practically undefended. If he could capture it, he could destroy the Spanish base of power in northern South America. The only problem: between him and Bogota were not only flooded plains, fetid swamps and raging rivers but the mighty, snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains.
Where did Bolivar meet Sucre?
Bolívar left Santander in charge of Gran Colombia and headed south to meet up with Sucre. On July 26-27, Bolivar met with José de San Martín, liberator of Argentina, in Guayaquil. It was decided there that Bolívar would lead the charge into Peru, the last royalist stronghold on the continent.
How did Santander anger Bolivar?
Santander had angered Bolivar by refusing to send troops and supplies during the liberation of E cuador and Peru, and Bolivar dismissed him when he returned to Gran Colombia. By then, however, the republic was beginning to fall apart. Regional leaders had been consolidating their power in Bolivar's absence. In Venezuela, José Antonio Páez, a hero of Independence, constantly threatened secession. In Colombia, Santander still had his followers who felt that he was the best man to lead the nation. In Ecuador, Juan José Flores was trying to pry the nation away from Gran Colombia.
Where did Bolivar die?
Died: December 17, 1830 in Santa Marta, Gran Colombia. Education: Private tutoring; the military academy of the Milicias de Aragua in Venezuela; military academy in Madrid. Awards and Honors : The nation of Bolivia is named for Bolivar, as are numerous cities, streets, and buildings.
Who was the Bolivian president?
The Bolivian Congress elected La Paz native Andrés de Santa Cruz as the new president. Santa Cruz had been a former royalist officer, served under José de San Martín after 1821 and then under Sucre in Ecuador, and had a short term as president of Peru from 1826 to 1827.
What were the guerrilla groups that controlled the backcountry of Bolivia?
The areas they controlled are called republiquetas (" petty republics") in the historiography of Bolivia. The republiquetas were located in the Lake Titicaca region, Mizque, Vallegrande, Ayopaya, the countryside around Sucre, the southern region near today's Argentina and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The republiquetas were led by caudillos whose power was based on their personality and ability to win military engagements. This allowed them to create quasi-states which attracted varied followers, ranging from political exiles of the main urban centers to cattle rustlers and other fringe members of Criollo and Mestizo society. These Criollo and Mestizo republiquetas often allied themselves with the local Indian communities, although it was not always possible to keep the Natives' loyalty, since their own material and political interests often eclipsed the idea of regional independence. Ultimately the republiquetas never had the size nor organization to actually bring about the independence of Charcas, but instead maintained a fifteen-year stalemate with royalist regions, while holding off attempts by Buenos Aires to control the area. Most of these quasi states were so isolated that they had no knowledge that the others even existed.
Why did the Criollos not unite against Spain?
Because the Criollos bore racial prejudice against the Native population, those two groups of people did not unite against Spain. Many revolutionary ideas spread from the University in Chuquisaca. In the early 1780s different students in the University distributed pamphlets in Charcas.
What year was the 100 year struggle for independence?
100 years of struggle for independence: 25 de Mayo de 1809 on a commemorative stamp. On May 26, 1809, the Audiencia oidores received rumors that García León de Pizarro planned to arrest them in order to recognize Carlotta.
What is the name of the region in Bolivia?
Charcas (modern day Bolivia) is also sometimes referred to as the Upper Peru. This region fell under the authority of Spanish colonial rule in the sixteenth century. It was originally placed directly under the rule of the Viceroyalty of Peru, however this location proved to be too distant for effective ruling so Phillip II established the Audiencia of Charcas , which was an autonomous governing body under the purview of the viceroy of Peru. This governing was composed of oidores or judges and a governor with the title of president of the Audiencia. The Audiencia was given authority to make final decisions when a viceroy was unavailable or absent. The Audiencia was centered in Chuquisaca, which started out as an indigenous community and later became known by its post-independence name, Sucre. This was the center of administration as well as cultural activities for Charcas. The Archbishop of Charcas lived there and one of the prominent universities in Bolivia, was founded there. The Audiencia was a great honor for the Charcas. Oidores mostly came directly from Spain and tended to be very proud, often making everyone bow to them. They were also incredibly ignorant about the peoples' needs and problems. As Spanish settlements expanded to the south, the jurisdiction of the Audiencia of Charcas grew to include not only present day Bolivia, but also Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and even parts of Peru. In 1776, the Audiencia of Charcas was placed under the authority of the viceroy of Buenos Aires in the newly created Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and most trade was redirected to Buenos Aires. This change was against Peruvian desires because they had wanted to keep Charcas for its enormous wealth in the mines of Potosí. For the next few decades, the question of the political and economic ties with Charcas was constantly fought over by Peru and Río de la Plata. On May 25, 1809 the citizens of Sucre participated in the first outbreak that was part of the initiation of the war of independence in Bolivia.
Why did the Catholic Church in Charcas split from the Audiencia?
During this time the Catholic Church in Charcas split from the "Audiencia" because of the tension between Moxó and the Oidores. 100 years of struggle for independence: 25 de Mayo de 1809 on a commemorative stamp.
When did the Spanish establish the intendancy system?
On May 25, 1809 the citizens of Sucre participated in the first outbreak that was part of the initiation of the war of independence in Bolivia. In 1784 the Spanish rulers created the intendancy system. Four main intendancies were constructed in La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosí, and Chuquisaca.
What was the Venezuelan War of Independence?
Venezuelan War of Independence. The Venezuelan War of Independence (1810–1823) was one of the Spanish American wars of independence of the early nineteenth century, when independence movements in Latin America fought against rule by the Spanish Empire, emboldened by Spain's troubles in the Napoleonic Wars .
Who led the Venezuelan independence movement?
As the Congress deliberated, a faction proposing outright independence quickly won favor. Persons such as Francisco de Miranda, a long-term Venezuelan expatriate, and Simón Bolívar, a young, Criollo aristocrat—both influenced by Age of Enlightenment ideas and the example of the French Revolution —led the movement.
What battle did the Spanish defeat in 1823?
The Spanish sent a fleet in 1823 to reconquer the country but were defeated at the Battle of Lake Maracaibo. In the following years Venezuelan forces, as part of the army of Gran Colombia, continued campaigning under the leadership of Bolívar to liberate the southern parts of New Granada and Ecuador.
What was the impact of the French invasion of Spain?
The French invasion of Spain in 1808 led to the collapse of the Spanish Monarchy. Most subjects of Spain did not accept the government of Joseph Bonaparte, placed on the Spanish throne by his brother, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France. At the same time, the process of creating a stable government in Spain, which would be widely recognized throughout the empire, took two years. ( See Junta (Peninsular War) .) This created a power vacuum in the Spanish possessions in America, which created further political uncertainty. On April 19, 1810 the municipal council of Caracas headed a successful movement to depose the Spanish Governor and Captain General, Vicente Emparán. A junta was established in Caracas, and soon other Venezuelan provinces followed suit. The reverberations of this act of independence could be felt throughout Venezuela almost immediately. Across Venezuela, towns and cities decided to either side with the movement based in Caracas or not, and de facto civil war ensued throughout much of Venezuela. The Caracas Junta called for a congress of Venezuelan provinces to establish a government for the region. Initially, both the Junta and Congress upheld the "rights of Ferdinand VII ," meaning that they recognized themselves to still be part of the Spanish Monarchy, but had established a separate government due to the French invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. As the Congress deliberated, a faction proposing outright independence quickly won favor. Persons such as Francisco de Miranda, a long-term Venezuelan expatriate, and Simón Bolívar, a young, Criollo aristocrat—both influenced by Age of Enlightenment ideas and the example of the French Revolution —led the movement. The Congress declared Venezuela's independence on 5 July 1811, establishing the Republic of Venezuela.
Which two provinces were not recognized by Spain?
Two provinces, Maracaibo Province and Guayana Province, and one district, Coro, never recognized the Caracas Junta and remained loyal to the governments in Spain. Military expeditions to bring Coro and Guayana under the control of the Republic failed.
When did Colombia become independent?
On 17 December 1819 , the Congress of Angostura declared Gran Colombia an independent country. After two more years of war, the country achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of its most famous son, Simón Bolívar. Venezuela, along with the present-day.
Which country inherited the role of capital from Spain?
Bogotá inherited the role of capital from Spain, but the royalists were entrenched in southern Colombia ( Popayán and Pasto ). Cali was a bastion of the independence movement just north of royalist territory. Cartagena declared independence not only from Spain but also from Bogotá.

Venezuela Under The Spanish
Miranda Invades Venezuela
April 19, 1810: Venezuela Declares Independence
The First Venezuelan Republic
The Admirable Campaign
The Second Venezuelan Republic
- Bolivar quickly established an independent government known as the Second Venezuelan Republic. He had outsmarted the Spanish during the Admirable Campaign, but he had not defeated them, and there were still large Spanish and royalist armies in Venezuela. Bolivar and other generals such as Santiago Mariño and Manuel Piarfought them bravely, but in t...
The Years of War, 1814-1819
Bolívar Crosses The Andes and The Battle of Boyaca
The Battle of Carabobo
After The Battle of Carabobo