Biografia Simon Bolivar

Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Educación
Petare –Estado Miranda
Instituto: Libertad
Semestre: 10
Turno: Noche
Materia: Ingles

BIOGRAPHY de simón bolívar

Profesora:
Cesar David Hernández
Alumno:
Angel Fajardo
CI: 24.331.761

Carcas 18/2/2013Simón Bolívar: Liberator of Latín América

Simón Bolívar (SEE-mohn boh-LEE-vahr) was one of the most powerful figures in world political history, leading the independence movement for six nations (an area the size of modern Europe), with a personal story that is the stuff of dramatic fiction. Yet today outside of Latin America, where he is still practically worshipped, his name is almostunknown.

Born to wealthy Creoles in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 24, 1783, his father died when he was three and his mother six years later. Simon was reared by an uncle with a tutor who exposed him to the writers of the Enlightenment, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, who were inspirations for the French Revolution. The tutor, Simon Rodriguez, fled the country when he was suspected of conspiringto overthrow Spain's colonial rule in 1796.

At 16, Bolivar was sent to Spain to complete his education and on the way, his ship stopped in Vera Cruz. During an audience with the viceroy, he audaciously praised the French Revolution and American independence, both of which made Spanish officials nervous.

In 1802, he married the daughter of a nobleman in Spain and returned to Caracas, only tohave her die a year later from yellow fever. As a way of keeping his mind off of his grief, Bolivar decided to return to Europe to immerse himself in the intellectual and political world he had found so stimulatin.

While in Paris, he met Alexander von Humboldt, the great naturalist who had just returned after five years in South America. As von Humboldt spoke of the enormous natural resourcesand wonders of the continent, Bolívar remarked, "In truth, what a brilliant fate--that of the New World, if only its people were freed of their yoke."

Von Humboldt responded, "I believe that your country is ready for its independence. But I can not see the man who is to achieve it." It was a fateful comment Bolivar was to vividly recall the rest of his life.

He also witnessed the coronation ofNapoleon as emperor on December 2, 1804. Bolivar was appalled at what he felt was a betrayal of the principles of the Revolution, yet he took note of the ability of one man to change the course of history.

Bolivar had met up with his old tutor, Rodriguez, and the two traveled to Rome, where they again crossed paths with von Humboldt. On August 15, 1805, Bolivar found himself with Rodriguez onMonte Sacro (Aventine Hill), a place associated in Roman history with freedom from oppression. The 22-year-old feel to his knees and, grasping his teacher's hands, vowed to free his country. After returning to Paris, Bolivar sailed for America, stopping often along the east coast before arriving home in 1807.

In March 1811, a national congress met in Caracas. Though not a delegate,Bolivar gave his first public speech to the group, saying, "Let us lay the cornerstone of American freedom without fear. To hesitate is to perish." The First Republic was declared July 5, Venezuela becoming the first colony anywhere in the Spanish empire to attempt to break free.

Like many in the aristocracy, Bolivar had slaves, and in the spirit and excitement of the independence movement he was thefirst to set them free. 12 He was later to call for the abolition of slavery across the entire Western Hemisphere.

Although he had no formal military training and no battlefield experience, Bolivar was made Lieutenant Colonel serving under Miranda. He participated in his first engagement on July 19, an assault on the Spanish stronghold of Valencia in which he distinguished himself, but the...