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 Bolivar’s “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/latinamericaindependen
ce/a/simonbolivarbiography.htm
 http://www.militaryheritage.com/bolivar.htm