Simon Bolivar; South America

Simon Bolivar:

Simon Bolivar was a unique kind of revolutionary…. What kind of revolutionary was he? He was heavily European-influenced, particularly by the Enlightenment, and he wanted to create a South American self-governing leadership. The Enlightenment was a return to classical ideas and the creation of increasing amounts of scientific progress throughout Europe. Bolivar was influenced by the Enlightenment because he took the classical, scientific, and leadership ideas to accomplish his goals of creating a South American nation-state. Bolivar was a major player in history and helped create the modern South American state. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he became a South American leader who wanted to lead a major revolution to throw off the European yoke and create a South American self-governed democratic superpower. Bolivar was a unique revolutionary in that the democracy that he was trying to create (but failed) was particularly large.

Simon Bolivar was taught and influenced in Europe, was educated in Europe, and led a major campaign against the Europeans to create a South American self-governing country separate from colonial rule. Bolivar was a military general, statesman, revolutionary, campaigner, leader, and academic. He was an important leader- he left a significant legacy for his future descendants and future nation-mates to enjoy a better future, not under colonial rule. He was contradictory because he supported democracy, wanted to end colonialism, but he wanted a strong central government.

Bolivar came back to South America in 1807.[1] His goal was to free South America from colonial rule like the United States.[2] He was trying to free South America, like America, Canada, and Mexico, which created a self-governing nation-state.[3] Simon Bolivar had just come back from France, and the peak of France under Napoleon Bonaparte.[4] Bolivar learned from Napoleon about the ins and outs of war, leadership, Europe, and statesmanship. Bolivar learned from Napoleon because Bolivar took French ideas and took the French Revolution to heart. He was a talented and well-trained general. He led major campaigns against the colonial occupiers in Central and South America. 

Bolivar was a world-changing leader, an ethical and strong revolutionary. He led major campaigns against the Europeans and other important leaders. Simon Bolivar was a European battle-hardened and European-level school-trained general and statesman. He was around the Napolean wars and the French Revolution, so he directly experienced and learned what he needed to do.

Bibliography:

  “Simón Bolívar.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simon-Bolivar 

  Bolívar: American Liberator. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2013.

  “Simón Bolívar: Liberator of South America.” History.com. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/simon-bolivar-liberator-south-america-venezuela

[1]Bolívar: American Liberator (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2013).  Pg. 76

[2] Ibid Pg. 77

[3]Ibid Pg. 78.

[4]Ibid Pg. 79