The 5 Countries that Simon Bolivar released Correspond to the present Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. These independence processes were carried out between 1819 and 1830.
Bolivar was a Venezuelan military leader who played a fundamental role in the revolutions against the Spanish Empire during the nineteenth century. He was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Venezuela.
Background
During the eighteenth century, relations between the Spanish and Portuguese monarchies, and their respective colonies in the Americas, had been strained by modernist reforms, rebellion, and wars in Europe for the time being.
The liberalization of the trade monopoly had created much prosperity for most colonies, yet the resident population there did not benefit much from such advances.
On the contrary, the money went directly to the coffers of the Iberian monarchies and the Spanish landowners. The Creole population in Latin America was also frustrated by their subordination to the Spaniards.
The invasion of Napoleon to Spain in 1808 was the event that finally began the struggle for Latin American independence in Spain. Napoleon named his brother Joseph Bonaparte as monarch of the empire, which caused uprisings within the same Spain.
This appointment also produced crisis in the Americas since it was not clear who had the command over these lands. In this way the Creoles formed together, coming to assume the provisional sovereignty of New Granada, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile.
Venezuela
Simón Bolívar, on his return from Spain in 1808, led the Patriotic Society of Caracas which was responsible for the numerous revolts that finally led to independence.
In April of 1810 the governor of the colony was deposed, forming an independent junta of Cadiz. On July 5, 1811, the Society declared independence and formed the first Republic of Venezuela.
Nevertheless, 12 of March of 1812 a small group of Spaniards arrived of Puerto Rico fight and submit to the forces of the Republic. Bolivar manages to escape to New Granada where he manages to regroup.
In 1813 Bolivar enters again to Venezuela and manages to declare a second Republic assuming a roll of military dictator. This second phase only lasts a few months and Bolivar again returns to New Granada before going to Jamaica in 1815.
In 1814 the throne of Spain is returned to Fernando VII and, among its measures, decides to send in 1815 an army of 10,000 men to America to regain control over the colonies. By 1816 both Venezuela and New Granada returned to control of the empire.
In 1817, Bolivar together with José de San Martín Decide to start new independence campaigns in both the north and the south of the continent. Bolivar begins its trip again in Venezuela by the east, with the taking of the strategic town of Angostura.
The New Granada
After several unsuccessful attempts to take the north of the Venezuelan territory, Bolivar undertakes a more ambitious plan with the idea of crossing the central plains and mountains of the Andes to make a surprise attack in Bogota.
Its march began the 26 of May of 1819 and many men died of hunger, illnesses and exhaustion.
On August 7 they find the royal forces in Boyacá on their way. The patriots were outnumbered, but still managed to win this decisive battle. After this fact, the Spaniards leave Bogotá and Bolivar assumes the command.
The victory at the Battle of Boyacá initially liberated the territories of New Granada. For December of that same year, the independence is proclaimed for all the provinces and the Great Colombia is created with Simón Bolívar at its head.
The territory included the present states of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela and portions of Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras ceded later.
In June of 1821, Bolivar wins the battle of Carabobo and, with the subsequent fall of Caracas, Venezuela was completely declared free of the Spanish dominion.
Later 'El Libertador' moves to the south and conquers the province of Quito. On July 27, 1822, Bolivar again meets with Jose de San Martín in the city of Guayaquil. The latter was in trouble because of his campaigns in Peru and Chile.
Peru
After his meeting with San Martin, Bolivar undertook a new march through the Andes. This time to Peru, with the ultimate goal of developing the definitive offensive against the empire. By 1824, it achieved a strategic victory in Junin, which would open the way to Lima.
Bolivia
After his victory in Ayacucho, the commander Antonio José de Sucre Begins to legalize the state along with independence groups that were in Peruvian territory. The territory of Bolivia decides to maintain its independence from the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata as well as from Peru.
In 1825 the act of independence was written and it was decided that the new state should have the name of the liberator, Bolivar. This same declines the possibility of being president of the new formed republic and in its place it designates the commander Sucre to carry out this work.
Post-campaign
From 1824 to 1830, Bolivar served as president of Venezuela. The new independent nations in South America did not operate as planned and many riots would have occurred. Bolivar finally gives up his job as president due to disunity and latent opposition. The 17 of December of 1830 to the 47 years of age passes away in the city of Santa Marta in Colombia.
In 1831, shortly after his death, La Gran Colombia was legally dissolved following continued political strife that fragmented relations between the three territories. The leadership of New Granada passes into the hands of Francisco de Paula Santander, from Venezuela to José Antonio Páez and from Ecuador to Juan José Flores.
References
- Beck, S. (2006). Bolivar and South American Liberation. Retrieved on February 23, 2017, from san.beck.org.
- Bio.com. (March 11, 2016). Simón Bolívar Biography. Retrieved on February 23, 2017, from biography.com.
- Biography Online. (February 11, 2013). Simon Bolivar Biography. Retrieved on February 23, 2017, from biographyonline.net.
- Lynch, J. (s.f.). History Today. Retrieved on February 23, 2017, by Simon Bolivar and the Spanish Revolutions: historytoday.com.
- Saylor Foundation. (S.f.). Simón Bolívar and José de San Martin. Retrieved on February 23, 2017, from saylor.org.