This soldier and statesman, earned the nickname El Libertador (the liberator), during his resistance against the Spanish colonial occupation. Simon Bolivar was born in Caracas on July 24th, 1783 and enjoyed education in both the Venezuelan capital city and Spain in private schools. Bolivar first fought the Spaniards under the command of Francisco de Miranda in 1810. They were defeated and Bolivar fled the country. In 1812 he undertook a new attempt and one year later, he freed Caracas that he subsequently lead as a dictator. In 1814 the Spaniards resurfaced and Bolivar had to seek refuge in Jamaica and later in Haiti. Bolivar did not give up and joined forces with Jose Antonio Paez and European volunteers. In 1817 he was victorious in his homeland and he installed a revolutionary government at Angostura, which would later be renamed Ciudad Bolivar. Even later he was elected president of Venezuela.
In 1819, Bolivar's forces moved through the Andes to Nova Granada, the former name for Colombia. The Spaniards were defeated with relative ease, so that this area was liberated. Several months later, on December 17, 1819, the Republic of Colombia was announced. This new republic included Nova Granada and Venezuela at this time. Bolivar was the president. The Spaniards tried to retake this area another time, but on June 24th, 1821 he was able finally to ensure the independence after the Battle of Carabobo.
Bolivar dreamed of a united Hispanic America. In 1822 he was able to liberate Quito, which is now known as Ecuador, from Spain. Quito was also annexed in The Republic of Colombia. In 1824 Bolivar led the revolutionaries who wanted to liberate Peru and one year later he became president of that country. In May 1925 he formed a new republic within Peru, now known as Bolivia, which was named after him. To ensure the independence of the new countries Bolivar organized inter-American conferences. But he failed in his quest for a political unity. In August 1828 he resigned as president on April 27, 1830, and he withdrew himself fully as a disillusioned man. In Venezuela and Bolivia his birthday is still the national holiday and in other South American nations, he is still honored as El Libertador. In Colombia you will find many statues of Simon Bolivar. On national holidays people lay flowers on his statues.
In 1819, Bolivar's forces moved through the Andes to Nova Granada, the former name for Colombia. The Spaniards were defeated with relative ease, so that this area was liberated. Several months later, on December 17, 1819, the Republic of Colombia was announced. This new republic included Nova Granada and Venezuela at this time. Bolivar was the president. The Spaniards tried to retake this area another time, but on June 24th, 1821 he was able finally to ensure the independence after the Battle of Carabobo.
Bolivar dreamed of a united Hispanic America. In 1822 he was able to liberate Quito, which is now known as Ecuador, from Spain. Quito was also annexed in The Republic of Colombia. In 1824 Bolivar led the revolutionaries who wanted to liberate Peru and one year later he became president of that country. In May 1925 he formed a new republic within Peru, now known as Bolivia, which was named after him. To ensure the independence of the new countries Bolivar organized inter-American conferences. But he failed in his quest for a political unity. In August 1828 he resigned as president on April 27, 1830, and he withdrew himself fully as a disillusioned man. In Venezuela and Bolivia his birthday is still the national holiday and in other South American nations, he is still honored as El Libertador. In Colombia you will find many statues of Simon Bolivar. On national holidays people lay flowers on his statues.
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