Did Simon Bolivar Contribute To Latin America's Liberator

Simon Bolivar: The Latin America’s Liberator
Regarded as Latin America’s greatest genius, Simon Bolivar in his days was of international renown. There are few figures in history of Europe, Asia, Africa and United States who display his unique combination of strength, character, weakness, temperament, poetic power and prophetic vision that defined him. He played a key role in the independence from Spain of present-day countries of Bolivia (named after him), Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Peru. During Latin America’s struggle for independence, Bolivar led audacious military attacks against royalists and Spanish armies; one of those attacks in New Granada is considered one of the most daring in military history all over the world (Langley

Left with nowhere to go in Latin America, Bolivar fled to Jamaica (Lynch 88). To establish a stable government, Bolivar believed, there was a need to obtain support from Britain. Bushnell, David reveals that in a bid to convince the British that it would serve them better if the Spanish colonies were free, Bolivar wrote a letter, Carta de Jamaica (Letter from Jamaica). In the letter, he highlighted factors that led to the failure of the Second Republic, pointed out reasons that supported Spanish colonies need to be free and called upon European countries to help free Latin American people from Spanish rule. The letter from Jamaica is one of the most important documents in Latin American history of the fight for independence. In the letter, Bolivar says, “A people that love freedom will in the end be free” (Bushnell 29). He also used the letter to present himself to the British as an internationalist who looked forward to the unity of all Latin American nations. The letter however failed to win aid from Great Britain and he had to turn to Haiti for money and weapons. Haiti had successfully toppled French rule

For his efforts, Bolivar has been honored not only in his home continent but across the world. Many places are named after him; statutes that honor his memory dot numerous countries. The highest honor is however the naming of Bolivia after him making him one of the few leaders to have an entire country named after him. In addition, his native Venezuela also features his name in its official name (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela). In addition, the currencies of Venezuela and Bolivia i.e. Venezuelan bolivar and Bolivian boliviano respectively are named after