Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolívar was a Venezuelan military leader who was instrumental in freeing Latin America from the Spanish Empire. After Napoleon named Bonaparte king of Spain's colonies in theNew World. Bolívar joined and eventually led the resistance movement. Under his leadership, the country of Bolivia was created. He united much of South America and many plazas are named after himthroughout the world.

Simon José Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas. Bolívar was born into a prosperous family, who took their money from richgold and copper mines they owned in Venezuela. Young Bolívar moved to Spain in 1799, after the deaths of his parents. In Spain he continued his education, begun in Venezuela with tutors, and marriedMaria Teresa Rodríguez del Toro. When the young couple returned to Venezuela to visit in 1803, however, Maria Teresa sickened and died of yellow fever. For several years, after her death, Bolivar returnedto Europe and kept company with Napoleon. Bolívar returned to Venezuela in 1807 and when Napoleon named Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain and its colonies, which included Venezuela, Bolívar joined theresistance movement. The resistance group based in Caracas gained independence in 1810, and Bolívar traveled to Britain on a diplomatic mission. The fight for control of Caracas, Venezuela, and most ofSouth American continued on back home. Finally, Bolívar returned to Venezuela and began a campaign to wrest control of that country from the Spanish. He and his followers invaded Venezuela on May 14,1813.

Simon Bolívar had succeeded in uniting much of South America in a federation free from Spanish control, but the government was fragile. Despite his desire to create a union of statessimilar to that which created the United States of America, Bolívar faced opposition from internal factions throughout the huge Gran Colombia. As a temporary measure, Bolívar declared himself dictator in...