Throughout Latin American History Essay Example

gathered to create his own vision, and that is what made the Latin America independence movement so successful.

From these goals that Simon Bolivar wanted to achieve we can see that his vision stood out from all the rest. In that he wanted nothing more then to fashion Latin America into the greatest nation in the world for her freedom and glory, but not because of its wealth and prosperous land that it had.This is what made Simon Bolivar as a leader stand out from all the other leaders in history, is that he showed he cared more about freedom and glory than anything and seemed not to care so much about his own virtue, wealth and power. Since it was said that Simon Bolivar even sacrificed his families’ fortune of 200, 000 pesos just to achieve his goals of freedom and glory for his country. It showed he wanted freedom and unity for his country more than anything else and he even suggested if his own death would help the nations in becoming free from Spanish rule and become united that he would die in peace just for his country as his last wish.Simon Bolivar as a revolutionary not only showed that he wanted change and independence for his country, but he got involved in the wars.

He was always seen as being front and center or at least part of the battles fighting along with his man for the goal of independence, rather than just suggesting a battle and sitting back on the sidelines hoping that this goal was going to happen. This was important for Latin America independence in that it showed

people during this time that even the leader Simon Bolivar was willing to risk his life for the goal independence, so maybe they should and that is just what most of them did.Being considered an intellectual during the early-nineteenth century was seen as being quite rare, since there were not many people who could read or write well during this time. Yet Simon Bolivar on the other hand was one of the rare cases that could be seen as an intellectual man, since he was not only able to read and write in French, but also in the Italian language quite well. Simon Bolivar encountered enlightenment ideas when he was young during his travels in Europe from people that were his tutors, such as Simon Rodriguez and Andres Bello.

Some enlightment ideas that Simon Bolivar learned through Europe and believed in, and advocated to citizens in his homeland, was the idea of opposition to an absolute monarchy and individual’s rights and freedoms. This exposure to new ideas played a crucially important role in the independence movement for Latin America, in that Simon used these ideas he was taught to influence the people of his country. Without Simon Bolivar’s avocation of these enlightment ideas to the people of Latin America, independence for these states may not have been possible.Since Simon Bolivar could be seen as responsible of the one advocating how important it is for citizens to fight for their rights and freedoms, and these ideas where the reason that ignited the movement towards independence.

During the nineteenth century, many people needed some kind of guidance about how they should act and think in regards to being

inferior to Spanish rule that had a hold on their country like Latin America experienced throughout Spanish colonial rule. Simon Bolivar and his enlightment ideas were just what the citizens needed in leading them towards independence, since it seemed like they were lost without his guidance.Perhaps Simon Bolivar was just the right intellectual at the right time, since it seemed that people during this time needed someone to guide or speak for them, and that they ultimately couldn’t think or act for themselves so Simon guided them. It was said that Simon Bolivar was considered an intellectual and that people followed his ideas and visions because his campaigns were so swift, and that he had the gift of persuasion and was also able to inspire confidence in others.

This played a crucial role in the Latin American independence movement, in that Simon Bolivar brought about positive aspects for the citizens and their country with his wisdom and persuasion, and that is exactly what they needed at a time like this when they felt lost and hopeless under Spanish colonial rule. This is why he is also known as the liberator since he could be seen as the teacher of the vision and goals for his country he set out, and that the citizens where the students of the country that would join him and make these goals of independence work.The people of Latin America saw Simon Bolivar not only as a liberator, an intellectual, but also that he inspired beauty, nobility, and grandeur within its citizens. Since Simon Bolivar was one of the few that could read, write, and speak well, this played a crucial role

in the independence movement in that Bolivar could make his intentions clear to the citizens of Latin America and make it easier on them to understand fully his intentions and if they should join him in this independence movement.People needed a liberator, a revolutionary, and someone that could guide them towards this goal of independence and that is exactly what Simon Bolivar did.

Not only did he have the courage to try and overturn Spain’s power on Latin America, but he had the wisdom to accomplish his goals through the influence of his ideas on the people. Though Simon Bolivar was seen as being a revolutionary and an intellectual, he was also seen, as a visionary to most people because he used his own vision of what he thought would be the best way of accomplishing his goal for independence.He was a person who not only envisioned his goals such as gaining independence for his homeland, but he was seen as someone that believed in his visions could and would happen. He put a lot of belief in his own vision and this is what gave him so much power and also an advantage over other leaders. Simon Bolivar was known to inspire soldiers with his belief of how his vision of independence would work and, to encourage them to fight against long odds in the battles such as the soldiers did.

Being that Simon Bolivar was considered a visionary and believed in his vision so much, this played a crucial role in Latin America independence in that this is just what the people needed. The people needed the belief in positive goals and outcomes for

their country and that is just what Simon Bolivar did. He reassured the people of Latin America that there is a positive outcome in the end of going to battle for independence for there country and that they will ultimately succeed and Spanish rulings will fail.Because of Simon Bolivar’s confidence for his own visions, most people during the early nineteenth century felt that Simon Bolivar had the best vision for gaining independence and that his vision should be the one they should follow, and that is what took place.

This is why it is said that Simon Bolivar was so crucial in the independence movement since people during this time not only needed a vision or a plan to gain independence, but a person with a vision that was self confident and believed in their vision so much that people could also be more confident about this vision and more willing to join and fight for this goal.Simon Bolivar fit this profile the best since it showed he never second guessed himself or underestimated himself and made it clear to the citizens that they weren’t not going to try and accomplish independence, but that they were indeed going to be successful in gaining their independence. Simon spoke to the citizens of the country with such belief of his vision, that overall encouraged the people of Latin America that it was possible to gain independence from Spanish rule, which ultimately helped Simon in achieving his goal of gaining independence.Simon’s own confidence and belief in his own vision could be seen through his writing, and also how he spoke of his goals and vision. A great example

of how Simon Bolivar talked to the citizens with such belief and courage was during the battles. Simon influenced the people with belief that they were going to be successful in rebelling, that they are only inferior because they are on their knees, and ultimately they can fight back for independence, and will win if they don’t give the enemy the upper hand.

Simon Bolivar’s confidence and how he showed his confidence in his visions and goals are what made it possible for Latin America independence to succeed as it did Thus, it is clear that the success of the independence for Latin America depended largely on Simon Bolivar and him being considered a revolutionary, an intellectual, and a visionary man.It is said that Simon Bolivar is what the country needed since he is probably considered the person out of everyone that wanted independence the most, that he brought intellectual ideas to the people, and that his belief in his vision is what made the independence movements so successful in the nineteenth century. Samuel Brunk & Ben Fallaw, Heroes and Hero Cults in Latin America (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2006), 23. Jerome R. Adams, Liberators and Patriots of Latin America: Biographies of 23 leaders (North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc, 1991), 28.

Richard W. Slatta, Simon Bolivar’s Quest for Glory (Texas: Texas A & M University Press, 2003), 28. Lecuna Vicente, Selected Writings of Bolivar: Proclamation to People in Columbia. Translated by Lewis Bertrand (New York: The Colonial Press, 1951), 765.

Christon Archer I. , The Wars of Independence in Spanish America (Wilmington: A Scholarly Resources Inc, 2000), 190. Jerome R. Adams, Liberators and Patriots of

Latin America: Biographies of 23 leaders (North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc, 1991), 38. Christon Archer I.

The Wars of Independence in Spanish America (Wilmington: A Scholarly Resources Inc, 2000), 190. Samuel Brunk & Ben Fallaw, Heroes and Hero Cults in Latin America (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2006), 21. Richard W. Slatta, Simon Bolivar’s Quest for Glory (Texas: Texas A & M University Press, 2003), 24.

John Lynch, Latin American Revolutions 1808-1826: Old and New World origins (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), 270. John Lynch, Latin American Revolutions 1808-1826: Old and New World origins (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), 270.Jerome R. Adams, Liberators and Patriots of Latin America: Biographies of 23 leaders (North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc, 1991), 31.

Bibliography Primary sources Archer, Christon I. The Wars of Independence in Spanish America. Wilmington: A Scholarly Resources Inc, 2000. Lynch, John.

Latin American Revolutions 1808-1826: Old and New World origins. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994. Vicente, Lecuna. Selected Writings of Bolivar: Proclamation to People in Columbia. Translated by Lewis Bertrand.New York: The Colonial Press, 1951.

Secondary Sources Adams, Jerome R. Liberators and Patriots of Latin America: Biographies of 23 leaders. North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc, 1991. Brunk, Samuel.

& Fallaw Ben. Heroes and Hero Cults in Latin America. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2006. http://site.

ebrary. com/lib/macewan/Doc? id=10185713&ppg=45 Slatta, Richard W. Simon Bolivar's Quest for Glory. Texas: Texas A ; M University Press, 2003. http://site. ebrary.

com/lib/macewan/Doc? id=10046129=35