The Letter from Jamaica Was a document written by El Libertador Simon Bolivar , Father of the Independence of South America in September of 1815.
Simón Bolívar wrote this writing during his stay in the island of Jamaica. He was there refugee by a temporary defeat at the hands of the realistic general Pablo Morillo .
Letter from Jamaica via Agencia Andes.
The document was addressed to a subject of the British crown, Mr. Henry Cullen, who had shown interest in the pro-independence process of the Spanish colonies in America and had written to Bolivar before, asking him about the situation of each one of them.
In that sense, El Libertador responds to Mr. Cullen with a missive that broadly describes various aspects of the independence America.
Aspects mentioned in The Jamaica Charter
In the first place, Simon Bolivar mentions the great potential in terms of riches, population and territorial extension of the colonies.
It also expresses the need for trade development with such resource-rich nations. With this letter, Bolivar tried, among other things, to attract the attention of Great Britain to the liberating cause of America.
Later Bolivar analyzes the structure of the colonial regime, in which the criollo is considered a consumer subject to the commercial policies of the state, without any freedom in this aspect and who does not have access to executive positions in that regime of government.
On the other hand, it indicates the cession of the Spanish throne to Napoleón Bonaparte like a fact that breaks the bond between the colonies and the Crown.
In the letter, Bolivar also considers and analyzes the proper regime to be adopted by each of the colonies according to their particular characteristics. Finally, he expresses his dream of uniting the new nations into one, rejecting the monarchical system and unveiling the plan to unite Venezuela and New Granada in what he will call" The Great Colombia ".
The Charter of Jamaica is considered one of the most important pronouncements of Bolivar, as he reveals his ideas as a statesman. It is also said to be a"prophetic"document, since it sets out with great accuracy and accuracy what would happen a few years later in almost all American countries.
Importance of the Jamaica Charter
The Jamaica Charter was published several times, in both Spanish and English. The impact and importance of the Jamaica Charter has been evident in a number of areas, including:
1- It was the first expression of the purpose of liberation of the American continent
Some historians consider that the Charter of Jamaica was one of the documents on which the independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America was founded.
One of the main objectives of the letter was to break the ties that existed with the Spanish kingdom, making it see as a source of yoke and oppression for the American people.
Bolivar, found its justification in the fact that the Spanish Crown would have violated in a social contract, an agreement between the monarchy and the American settlers, by favoring in a biased way the people born in Spain as to the assignment of positions Important and other jobs without taking into account the Creoles.
Secondly, Bolivar was based on the repression that the regency of the Kingdom of Spain executed for the American independentistas, after the resignations in favor of Bonaparte, expressing that Spain was no longer the" motherland "But rather a" stepmother ".
2- Highlights the new identity of the colonies as independent nations of the Spanish Crown
Bolivar indicates the need for each nation to have its own organized and competent regime of government, in which the rights of man are respected and the various races that exist in each of them are recognized.
It also highlights the diversity originated by mestizaje, and the consequent emergence of a new"middle species,"a mix of Creole, Aboriginal and African-American whites who would have rights as"legitimate owners of the country."
On the other hand, it points out particular demands and needs that the regime in force at that time could no longer meet. This has been reflected over the years in the legal and constitutional recognition of the rights of Ethnicities Of each nation.
3- Proposes the integration of Latin American nations
Bolivar presents a vision of the region in which the union of American countries prevails through language and culture, with diversity as a fundamental basis.
This theme has transcended over the years and can serve as a guide to integration in current forms (organizations such as CELAC, UNASUR, MERCOSUR, among others), especially in the aspect of union and respect for the particular cultures of each nation .
The principles of integration contained in the Charter of Jamaica are perfectly applicable at the present time and should serve as a guide for future organizations and unions between countries.
4- It is a document of great literary and philosophical value
The Jamaica Charter has been the subject of various analyzes throughout history, even from the point of view of literature as a sample of the genre of the essay.
Bolivar, like other heroes, used to express in his writings his deepest feelings of American identity and considered them as an additional weapon for the independence cause.
On the other hand, the Charter constitutes a philosophical work because it is considered as an extension of the thought originated by the Illustration . An evidence of this is the inclusion of concepts developed by Montesquieu, as well as others such as the social contract and natural law.
Bolivar's ideas in this Charter would later become the liberal republican thought that inspired many leaders to continue the struggle for independence in Latin America.
It can be said that most of these ideas are applicable to the contemporary world, provided they are not considered in a strict and total way, since the historical context in which they were written is very different from the current and particular realities of each region .
References
- Cardona, M. et al. (2015). Of the city: The Charter of Jamaica, in force 200 years later. Recovered from: delaurbe.udea.edu.co.
- Carrasquero, Y. (2015). Prensa ULA: Letter from Jamaica: reading, South American integration and new ways of spreading history. Recovered from: prensa.ula.ve.
- Letter from Jamaica, 198 years of historical and geopolitical significance. Retrieved from: chile.embajada.gob.ve.
- Encyclopedia of Venezuela. Volume IX: Novel, Essay. Barcelona, Editorial Andrés Bello.
- Escalante, H. (2015). Correo del Orinoco: The Jamaican Charter continues to fuel the controversy 200 years after its writing. Retrieved from: correodelorinoco.gob.ve.
- Filippi, A. (2015). American Notebooks N ° 153: Bicentenary of the Charter of Jamaica of Bolivar (1815-2015). Recovered from: cialc.unam.mx.
- Subirats, E. (1994). The empty continent: The conquest of the New World and the modern consciousness. Mexico, Twenty-first Century Publishers.