SIMN BOLVAR &

VENEZUELAN
INDEPENDENCE
By Jessie Potter

Introduction
In this presentation you will see:
1. the early life of South American hero and general Simn
Bolvar
2. how he waged wars of independence against Spain of his
home country of Venezuela
3. the major events that happened during those wars
4. the outcome of the wars and how he also liberated four
other countries

statue of Bolvar
in Venezuela

Early Life
full name is Simn Jos Antonio de la
Santsma Trinidad Bolvar y Palacios
was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas, New
Granada (which is now Venezuela)
born into a wealthy family who got their
money from mines they owned in
Venezuela

Early Life

after his parents died in 1799, he

moved to Spain where he continued
his education
he fell in love with and married a
woman named Mara Teresa Rodrguez
del Toro y Alaysa in 1802
he and his wife returned to visit
Venezuela a year later
while there, Mara contracted yellow

Bolvar and his wife

fever and died shortly after

Early Life
after Maras death, Bolvar returned to Europe, where he
studied and became close with Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon appointed his older brother, Joseph, King of
Spain and all of its colonies after the French invasion of
Spain in 1808
Venezuela was a Spanish colony and therefore, was now
under Bonapartes rule
Bolvar returned to Venezuela once again and joined a
resistance movement to gain independence in Venezuela
Joseph Bonaparte

Venezuelan Independence
The Start of the Event
many Venezuelans had been wanting to become
independent for years, but felt a sense of loyalty
to Spain
with Spain overthrown and a French man for a
king, that sense of loyalty was gone
the movement was successful and the group
gained independence in 1810, when the Spanish
government was officially cut off from Venezuela

Simn
Bolvar

Venezuelan Independence
Major Events
after independence, Bolivar traveled to England to gain

support on a diplomatic mission

while there, he convinced Francisco de Miranda, an exiled

Venezuelan who had attempted liberation before, to come

back and take military and political command of the
independence movement
on March 26, 1812, an earthquake struck Venezuela, and in

the chaos, the Spanish managed to regain control of the

country

Francisco de Miranda

Venezuelan Independence
Major Events
Bolvar went into exile, but soon returned and joined the
fight for independence that Venezuela was still waging
in 1815, Spain sent across an extremely large and
strong force led by Commander Pablo Morillo
Bolvar, having already been denied help from the U.S.
and England, went to the newly independent country of
Haiti, where he gained weapons, money and support
three years of battles followed with wins and losses for
both of the sides

Spanish General Pablo Morillo

Venezuelan Independence
Major Events
in 1819, Bolivar came up with a new plan of attack,

which today is considered one of the most daring to

take place in military history
Simn Bolvar led 2,500 men into battle along with

Francisco de Paula Santander in August of 1819

the men were marched over the Andes Mountains and

were able to advance on the Spanish soldiers unseen

they took the Spanish by surprise and overcame them,

sealing their victory

Andes Mountains

Venezuelan Independence
Outcome
after winning independence temporarily, Bolvar was named president
and military dictator of Venezuela
Francisco de Paula Santander was made vice president
when fighting soon resumed between Spain and Venezuela, Bolvars
new position of power made it easy to defeat Spanish forces
after finally securing Venezuelas freedom, Bolvar left the country in
the hands of Santander
he continued his military campaign, liberating not only Venezuela, but
also Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia, which is named after him

Francisco de Paula Santander

Conclusion
Simn Bolvar was a great military general and leader who believed
that all countries and people deserved freedom and independence
he helped five countries to gain that freedom and established a spot
in each of their histories
Bolvar and his soldiers overcame numerous barriers and hardships
fighting and he succeeded in freeing and uniting much of South
America
he died on December 17, 1830 after fighting off tuberculosis, but his
legacy still remains in countless towns and cities that honor him with
statues or are named after him

Works Cited
1. http://www.biography.com/people/simon-bolivar-241196#death
2. http://www.britannica.com/biography/Simon-Bolivar
3. http://
latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/latinamericaindependence/a/simonbolivarbiog
raphy.htm