Simon+Bolivar

__Simon Bolivar__  __By Emma Hamilton, Andrea Arrigunaga, Chanler Kelly, and Samantha Wasson__  

**__Synopsis __** Simon Bolivar was one of the greatest South American Political leaders and military commanders. He lost both his parents at age 10, and grew up with ideas of liberty taught to him by tutors and nannies. After a trip to Europe, Simon Bolivar returned to South America and took control of a patriot army and began fighting for South American independence from Spain. He brought freedom to Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama through his military victories against oppressive Spanish forces. After becoming Dictator of Gran Colombia, Simon Bolivar passed away from a fatal case of tuberculosis.

**__Video Summary of Simon Bolivar __** media type="youtube" key="13gVT1Hzv4o " width="425" height="350" **__Early Life of Simon Bolivar __** Simon Bolívar was born in 1783 into a wealthy and distinguished family in Venezuela. His roots were traced up to the mountainous region of Vizcaya in Northern Spain. Fourth of four children, he grew up spoilt, bossy, capricious, and accustomed to getting his own way. At age three he was given away to the family lawyer, Miguel Jose Sanz to be disciplined. Within eighteen months Sanz had enough, so he was given again to the care of his mother. She by now had handed control of the family affairs to Feliciano Palacios, who advised her then to send Simon to a clerk of his, Simon Rodriguez. So Rodriguez accepted the task of taking care of the troublesome boy Simon, officially when Bolivar’s mother, Doña Concepción had died in 1792. These five years between the ages of nine and fourteen were the formative ones of Bolívar’s life.

 At age twelve he was taken back to Caracas and entrusted again to the care of his uncles. Arguing furiously with his guardians, he was sent as a cadet to the elite Whites of Aragua corps, which had been founded by his grandfather. There he quickly shone as leader of men, capable, charismatic, if disrespectful and impertinent, young commander. Almost at age sixteen, is uncles decided for him to go to his family’s original domain of Bolivar. Another of his uncles, Pedro, decided to take him to a modest establishment in central Madrid, where he got education. On May 26, aged almost 19, he married Maria Teresa Rodriguez, aged 21. They went back to Caracas, Venezuela, and purchased a hacienda at San Mateo. It seemed like the couple were to have a life of rural tranquility, but it was not to be. Two months later, Maria Teresa contracted a fever, and died on January 22, just eight months after their marriage. Now in place of finding perfect love, Bolivar began the search for another seemingly impossible task: the liberation of a continent.

**__The Beginning of Bolivar’s Revolution __** After returning from Europe in 1804, Bolivar became inspired by European Enlightenment writers and thinkers such as Voltaire. At this time, the idea of independence in South America was brought to his mind. He joined an independence movement which removed the Spanish governor from Caracas, Venezuela in 1810. Bolivar traveled to London, hoping to gain support and aid from the British, but was unsuccessful. When he returned to South America the revolution was destroyed by Spanish troops, causing Bolivar to flee the country. Unfazed by the new shift in dynamics, Bolivar took control of a patriot army and recaptured his hometown Caracas in 1813. 

The Spanish forces forced Bolivar and his patriot army to retreat to New Granada (which is now called Colombia). There he captured the city Bogota, but had to retreat further to Haiti in order to acquire weapons and supplies for his tired troops. After resting in Haiti Bolivar conquered Angostra (now known as Ciudad Bolivar) and became dictator there. During 1819, Bolivar led his army across the lands taking the Spanish army by surprise. He won many military victories and became the president of the new independent nation, Gran Colombia- Modern day Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. In 1824, he and his army crushed the last of the Spanish Royalists under the command of Antonio Jose de Sucre.

**__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24px;">After the Revolution __** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">After uniting the State of Grand Columbia (Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama), Simon Bolivar was appointed the lifetime president of the new republic. He soon came across troubles in governing the newly freed states. As a result Bolivar temporarily pronounced himself dictator in attempt to regain control. However, Bolivar realized his attempts to hold the republic together were failing, and resigned from presidential office in 1830. Simon Bolivar’s life came to an end later that year on December 17, 1830 when he contracted a deadly case of tuberculosis at age 47.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Even after his death, Simon Bolivar’s his legacy as a revolutionary leader will continue to live on. He freed the countries of Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama from Spanish rule earning him the title of the “George Washington of South America”(1). In a display of gratitude the country of Bolivia was named after him.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Works Cited:

"Simon Bolivar Biography." //Bio.com//. A&E Networks Television. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. < @http://www.biography.com/people/simon-bolivar-241196 >.

Pateman, Robert, and Marcus Cramer. //Bolivia//. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2006. Print.

// 1. Johnson, Harvey L. "History of Simon Bolivar." Welcome to Bolivar Missouri. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. <http://www.bolivarmo.com/history.htm>.//

//Smith, Scott S. "Biography of Simon Bolivar." Military Heritage Weapons and Uniforms (Swords, Muskets and Other Sutler Goods). Web. 01 Apr. 2012. <http://www.militaryheritage.com/bolivar.htm>.//

//YouTube. Dir. CloudBio. YouTube. YouTube, 26 Jan. 2012. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13gVT1Hzv4o>.//

Harvey, Robert. "Young Bolivar." //Liberators: Latin America's Struggle for Independence, 1810-1830//. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 2000. Print.