Simon Bolivar El Libertador

Simon Bolivar has been referred to as the Latin American George Washington - and rightfully so. After the Americans achieved their independence from England in 1776, the Spanish-Speaking populations achieved the same from the powerful Spanish colonial rulers. Simon Bolivar was the leader of this revolution.

Simon Bolivar entered into military service when he was 14 years old. Over the years he gained a thorough understanding of military tactics used in his time. As a result, he was uniquely qualified later as a military leader. Bolivar had a distaste for the Spanish rule over the peoples of Latin America. Finally in 1813 he was given a military command that would launch his career as the most important Latin American Revolutionary to date.

After some difficulties early on, Bolivar returned to the northern half of the South American continent to begin his operations. Starting in modern Columbia, Bolivar led his revolution into Venezuela, the most powerful territory in the region. After the fall of Carracas, the capital of Venezuela, Bolivar created a country free from Spanish rule. This new country, which was founded on democratic principles, similar to the United States, included territories ranging from Columbia to Venezuela and as far south as Peru and Ecuador. Its name was Gran Columbia.