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The Jamaica letter Written in Kingston, Jamaica, September 6, 1815. Simon Bolivar responds to the inquiries of a gentleman of the island of Jamaica. In this letter bolivar offers his political and philosophical views about the American revolutionary movement for independence. To begin with, he is very optimists that the Spanish colonies may achieve independence. He states, “success will crown our efforts, because the destiny of America has been irrevocably decided; the tie that bound her to Spain has been severed”. In order to justify the independence movements, Bolivar appeals to the atrocities committed by Spain against the colonies ever since the colonizadores arrived to America. He also appeals to the subjugation that Spain was imposing …show more content…
over the colonies. He explains that mistrust have grown between Spanish America and their motherland so they are fighting desperately to achieve freedom and equality. He explains, “The chains have been broken; we have been freed, and now our enemies seek to enslave us anew.
For this reason America fights desperately, and seldom has desperation failed to achieve victory”. He also describes the overthrown of King Ferdinand VII by Bonaparte as sings of retribution for the crimes committed by Spain against the great Indian empires as those of Montezuma, Atahualpa and so forth. Also, as proof that God would aid Spanish America to achieve independence. Moreover, Bolivar gives the correspondent a response on what he thinks about the whole liberation movement. He also admits that “It is even more difficult to foresee the future fate of the New World, to set down its political principles, or to prophesy what manner of government it will adopt”. However, he gives and insight on what he thinks may be the end result. He gives many examples such us: “Their sublime example is proof to those fighting in Chile that a people who love independence will eventually achieve it”. Regarding New Granada, General Murillo would be defeated in Cartagena. Mexico will be free, in Peru “the fact remains that it is not tranquil, nor is it capable of restraining the torrent that threatens most of its provinces”. Venezuela suffer devastation because of the war and the earthquake but remains strong on their fight …show more content…
for independence, e.t.c. At some point he expresses his fears that Spanish America may not have enough political skills to guide themselves. He explains that “The Americans have risen rapidly without previous knowledge of, and, what is more regrettable, without previous experience in public affairs, to enact upon the world stage the eminent roles of legislator, magistrate, minister of the treasury, diplomat, general, and every position of authority, supreme or subordinate, that comprises the hierarchy of a fully organized state”. Most importantly, Bolivar expresses his strong desire for a unified nation. He insists, “I shall tell you with what we must provide ourselves in order to expel the Spaniards and to found a free government. It is union, obviously; but such union will come about through sensible planning and well-directed actions rather than by divine magic”. Last but not least, by stating “As soon as we are strong and under the guidance of a liberal nation which will lend us her protection, we will achieve accord in cultivating the virtues and talents that lead to glory”, Bolivar request the aid of a powerful nation to achieve his purposes. The feared revolution. Factors such as enlightenment ideals, lack of representation of the creoles in the government, examples of the French, Haitian and American revolutions, class inequality, among others, contributed to Creoles desire to break with their mother country- Spain.
However, rather than ideals, an event was the culprit of the revolutionary movement. The event of forceful removal of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon Bonaparte, could be appointed as the vent that initiated the Spanish American revolutionary movement. “The reaction to Ferdinand’s overthrow in Spain and Spanish America was one of defiance and rebellion” (Langley, 166). Rebellion became an excuse to brake from a monarchy that was no longer supporting their colonies but rather exploiting them. As the revolution for liberty began, the Creoles understood they did not command a unified nation. Opinions about liberty and independence were really divided. Royalist remained loyal to the crown while patriots wanted independence from Spain. On the one side, “aversion to independence was instinctive response of a dominating landed aristocracy in a colonial export economy dependent on a slave labor force” (Langley, 167). The elite population, specially the slave owners, were frightened about the rebellion because they did not want to lose their slaves or their power. They were afraid about the consequences of independence. On the other side, oppression by part of the monarchies was greater and political problems were greater, hence
prompting creoles to want to seek independence from the mother land. Often creoles did not have the same rights as Spaniards born in Spain, which created great disagreement and tension between the creoles and the monarchy. Also, Throughout Spanish America the reactions varied regarding the political situation Spain was going thru. Nevertheless, one thought was common place among the two groups, they did not want to be governed by France. Hence, “Napoleon’s actions provided the opportunity the creoles had long waited” (Langley, 167). Then encouraged by the news about the American, French and Haitian revolution, Spanish Americans embarked in a quest for independence. Then, even powerful creole planters and merchants donated money to aid the independence movement. Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar among others were key to the success of American Revolution against the Spanish monarchy. For instance, “they fashioned the patriotic society into a political forum where the creole elite people were able to express their conception of independence: ‘a cercle de pensee with aspirations of political control of the movement, and it effectively pushed the congress . . . to declare on 5 July 1811 the independence of the Republic of Venezuela." (Langley, 176). In general, although the colonies were prompted by similar factors when they started the revolutionary movement of independence, the events and end results varied from colony to colony. For instance, Since Spain had been weakened by the French invasion, Spain many times failed to defend its colonies. This left the Porteños with no choice but to organize their own militias to protect themselves. “As the Spanish viceroy and the wealthy fled into the interior, they organized the mobs of blacks and mulattoes into a militia to protect the city and their property” (Langley, 170). Given the vulnerability of their city, the Porteños understood it was time to take action and try to achieve independence. “Dynamics of race and social identity complicated the revolutionary strategy in Venezuela and perhaps made inevitable the war to the death that followed the demise of the first republic”. (Langley, 177). Although, creole’s view were divided regarding the independence movement, they succeeded in achieving liberty. Creole leaders such as Bolivar and Miranda had a lot to do with such victory. In Mexico, another Creole, Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla, also played an important role in the independence war. Moved by all the injustices and differences in class he saw in Mexico, “Hidalgo resolved to act, however, on September 16, 1810, as people arrived for Sunday mass, he declared the grito de Dolores, less a call for national independence (though, ultimately, it became identified as the initial demand for independence than a passioned appeal for an end to the injustices suffered by Indians and castas”. (Langley, 180). In general, factors such as France’s invasion of Spain, the overthrow of King Ferdinand VII, racisms, inequalities, injustices, and rebellion were all causes that prompted creoles to break with their mother country.
The most noticeable similarity between The Haitian Declaration of Independence and the Jamaican Letter by Simon Bolivar, is that they both argue for the independence of American territories that are apart of the colonies of European powers. Both letters claim that there is a necessity for government to be based on the permission of the citizens who are being governed. Both The Haitian Declaration of independence and the Jamaican Letter discuss that the colonial powers have oppressed the colonies. The major difference between these letters is that Bolivar, is not assured about countries in Latin America being ordered as republics immediately after independence, he instead suggests a dictatorship at first before full freedom in the future. The Declaration, in contrast, sought to establish a self governed
“The Conquest of New Spain” is the first hand account of Bernal Diaz (translated by J.M. Cohen) who writes about his personal accounts of the conquest of Mexico by himself and other conquistadors beginning in 1517. Unlike other authors who wrote about their first hand accounts, Diaz offers a more positive outlook of the conquest and the conquistadors motives as they moved through mainland Mexico. The beginning chapters go into detail about the expeditions of some Spanish conquistadors such as Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, Juan de Grijalva and Hernando Cotes. This book, though, focuses mainly on Diaz’s travels with Hernando Cortes. Bernal Diaz’s uses the idea of the “Just War Theory” as his argument for why the conquests were justifiable
On the eve of the American Revolution, colonists have signified and ensured their newly discovered identity by coming together to rid the American colonies of the British monarchical influence. Throught means of newly developed legislatures, both passive and aggressive protests, and formation of propaganda were the American colonists able to engrave their identity on the future of America forever.
Bolivar illustrates the relationship between the Spanish American colonies and Spain. The relationship could be described as bitter, at least in the eyes of the Spanish colonies. Inferiority led the Spanish colonies to the ideas of revolution. Although their rights come from the Europeans, they do not acknowledge themselves as Europeans or Indians. The people of the Spanish colonies claim to be, according to Bolivar, “[…] a species midway between the legitimate proprietors of [America] and the Spanish usurper” (411). “Usurpers” meaning a position that is held by forces which entails an unwanted or uninvited relationship. It is because of the Europeans, as stated by Bolivar, that “we have to assert [European] rights against the rights of the natives, and at the same time we must defend ourselves against invaders [which] places us in a most extraordinary and involved situation” (411). This is also evidence of a bitter rela...
The Enlightenment period in Europe was a shift in the way that society thought about power and liberty. The ideals of this period helped to inspire the revolutions of the 18th century. The American colonies desired liberty from foreign rule, the French wanted to increase the power of the people in their class structure, and the Haitians fought for representation for the millions of slaves on their island. While the ideas of the enlightenment were not fully employed in each of these revolutions, they brought the nations closer to a fully representative government, rather than one of absolute power. The American revolution was a reaction to unfavorable tax policies from the King of England.
The demand for no taxation without representation was the primary force motivating the American revolutionary movement, and for many it became a symbol for democracy. Throughout the late 18th century, the British colony of America was oppressed by Parliament from "across the pond". This oppression included unequal rights compared to English citizens that lived on the mainland, unneeded taxation, and no representation in Parliament, which resulted in many laws that were unfavorable to the American colonists. It was this "taxation without representation" that was a powerful catalyst in firing up the American revolutionary movement. America was "all grown up", and no longer needed to be monitored on by Britain.
Latin America’s independence kicked of with the independence of Haiti. Before the the independence movement that overtook Latin America, Haiti had gained independence twenty years before the movement. The Spanish Empire had been in decline for a period of time after the rise of the English empire and many failed battles on the Spanish (class notes). The French Revolution and the American Revolution had inspired many of the Latin American countries to fight for independence (Chapter 3). They were inspired by the Enlightenment that washed over Europe. Of the inspired, one man stood out and took the movement by heart.
The American Revolution was sparked by a myriad of causes. These causes in themselves could not have sparked such a massive rebellion in the nation, but as the problems of the colonies cumulated, their collective impact spilt over and the American Revolution ensued. Many say that this war could have been easily avoided and was poorly handled by both sides, British and American; but as one will see, the frame of thought of the colonists was poorly suited to accept British measures which sought to “overstep” it’s power in the Americas. Because of this mindset, colonists developed a deep resentment of British rule and policies; and as events culminated, there was no means to avoid revolution and no way to turn back.
A revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. In 1775, America was ready for dramatic change, freedom, and a disconnection from Great Britain. Taxes, trade regulations, and overarching, power, made all colonists, aside from the loyalists, more than ready to detach from Great Britain’s rule. The American Revolution portrays many similarities and qualities of the French revolution, due to the inspiration of one to another. The similarities and qualities lie within their spiraling economies, selfish, money-worship-thirsty leaders, ideologies, and provocation.
In South America, Native Americans had rebelled against Spanish rule as early as the 1700s. These rebellions had limited results, however it was not until 1800s that discontent among the Creoles sparked a widespread drive for independence. Educated Creoles like Simo¢n Bolivar applauded the French and American Revolutions. He dreamed of winning independence for his country. When Napoleon occupied Spain, Simo¢n returned to his South America and led an uprising that established a republic in his native Venezuela. But his newly found republic quickly toppled by conservative forces. Bolivar then got a daring idea; he would march his forces across the Andes and attack the Spanish at Bogotá. He managed to free Caracas then moved into Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru to do the same.
The American Revolution was not only a battle between the British and the colonists; it was a historical movement that brought about new ways of thinking. The ideas of liberty and equality began to be seen as essential to the growth of the new nation. The separation of the American colonies from the British Empire occurred for a number of reasons. These reasons are illustrated in the Declaration of Independence. Although Thomas Jefferson wrote the document, it expressed the desire of the heart of each colonist to be free of British rule. British rule over the colonies became unbearable in the early months of 1776, making it clear to the colonists that it was time to either give in to British power or declare their independence. This idea of independence divided the colonies, but it was not long before a revolutionary committee met in Philadelphia and drew up the document that would change American history.
Bourbons’ monarchy and their reforms agenda greatly transformed the Spanish empire that had been formerly ruined by the Habsburgs’ regime. The country’s structural changes effected imposed increased tensions to the colonies since most of these reforms were targeted at eliminating colonial organizations that had dominated significant positions of the country. These reforms were later reinforced by the ideas borrowed from the French revolution that strengthened the Spain’s independence efforts.
For bourgeoisie eventually became a necessity not only partial removal of the obstacles, but removal the colonial system in general. The earlier expression of resistance against the colonizers were a huge Indian uprisings. These mostly spontaneous explosions occurred almost throughout the period of Spanish colonial rule. The main causes of an Indian uprising can be considered fight for land, violent requiring work responsibilities and Indian farmers clash with Spanish. In the second half of the 18th century, increasingly there were actions led by creoles. Creoles dissatisfied with limiting their economic and political opportunities. There was a rampant conspiracy occurred repeatedly on various conspiracy. Secretly circulated writings of french
Preston, Paul. The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2007. Print.
...he fact that they had no political power and were controlled by a country that was thousands of miles away from them. The American Revolution began as a conflict over political and social change, but soon developed into a dispute over personal rights and political liberty. A decade of conflicts between the British government and the Americans, starting with the Stamp Act in 1765 that eventually led to war in 1775, along with The Declaration of Independence in 1776. Americans united as one and knew that they wanted to be an independent country, have their own laws, rights, and not be colony of the Great Britain. They fought hard for their independence and people lost their lives in the process of it but in the end they succeeded. Never give up, keep fighting till the mission is accomplished just like the Americans did when they were fighting for their independence.