Simon Bolivar

BRAIDEN WILLS

Early Life

Simon Jose Antonio de la Santisma Trinidad Bolivar y Palacios was

born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas, New Granada (which is now
Venezuela)

He was born into a prosperous family which made money from

gold and copper mines they owned in Venezuela.

When Bolivar was young, he moved to Spain in 1799 after the

death of his parents

He continued his education in Spain which begun in Venezuela

with tutors, and married Maria Teresa Rodriguez del Toro y Alaysa
in 1802

Return to Venezuela

When Bolivar and his wife returned to Venezuela, she got sick
and died of yellow fever

After her death, Bolivar returned to Europe and spent time with
Napoleon

Bolivar returned to Venezuela once more in 1807

After Joseph Bonaparte was named King of Spain and all its
colonies which included Venezuela, Bolivar joined the resistance
movement against the Spanish

Post-Revolution

Bolivar eventually captured New Granada from Spain which gave

him the power to defeat the rest of the Spanish colonists in the
northern part of South America

In September of 1828, he escaped an assassination attempt with

the help of his mistress and fellow revolutionary Manuela Saenz

He resigned from power in 1830 and made plans to travel to

Europe

On December 17, 1830, Bolivar died in Santa Marta, Columbia

after a battle with what might have been tuberculosis

Revolution in Venezuela

When Bolivar returned to Venezuela from Spain in 1807, he

joined the movement to overthrow the Spanish

In 1810 Venezuela declared independence from Spain and a new

government was created

Bolivar sailed to England in hopes of gaining their support, but

was unsuccessful

Initially the independence movement was defeated by Spain

Revolution in Venezuela

When Bolivar returned from England, he and his followers started

a campaign to take control of Venezuela and defeat the Spanish

On May 14, 1813 Bolivar and his troops invaded Venezuela

This attack marked the beginning of Bolivars Campana

Admirable meaning Admirable Campaign

As a result of this campaign the Venezuelan Second Republic was

formed a year later

Bolivar was hailed as El Libertador meaning The Liberator

Revolution in Venezuela

The Second Venezuelan Republic did not last

Bolivar was defeated by an army of savage plainsmen led by

Spaniard Tomas Boves at the second battle of La Puerta in June of
1814 and was forced to abandon the country

In exile, Bolivar was pushed back to the Andes Mtns. In western

Venezuela

He realized he was only 300 miles from the Viceregal capital of

Bogota, the main Spanish base of power, which was also
practically undefended

Revolution in Venezuela

In May of 1819 Bolivar and his army of 2,400 men began crossing
the Andes Mtns. To get to Bogota

They crossed the Andes at the Paramo de Pisba pass, and on July
6, 1818, they reached the New Granadan village of Socha

Bolivar recruited new soldiers that were eager for liberty and set
out for Bogota

On August 7, 1819, Bolivar surprised the Spanish on the banks of

the Boyoca River

The battle of Boyoca was a triumph for Bolivar, and on August

10, he marched into Bogota unopposed

Revolution in Venezuela

After the victory in Bogota, Bolivar controlled New Granada

With captured funds, weapons, and new recruits, Bolivar had the
power to eventually defeat the remaining Spanish forces in New
Granada and Venezuela

On June 24, 1821 Bolivar defeated the last major Spanish force in
Venezuela at the battle of Carabobo

Bolivar proudly declared the birth of a new republic- Gran

Columbia, which would include the lands of Venezuela, New
Granada, and Ecuador

Bolivar was named president of newly established Gran Columbia

Conclusion

Simon Bolivar played a major role in South American countries

gaining independence from Spanish colonists

He surprised the Spanish by leading an army through the Andes

Mtns. and capturing the Spanish base of power and capital of
New Granada, Bogota

He led independence campaigns and liberated six countries who

were initially under Spanish rule, including his home country,
Venezuela

He is remembered as El Liberator meaning The Liberator

Work Cited

http://www.biography.com/people/simon-bolivar-241196

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Simon-Bolivar

http://
latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/latinamericaindependence/a/
simonbolivarbiography.htm
http://www.militaryheritage.com/bolivar.htm