Question

What lesson did Bolivar draw from European history? What did he suggest doing in South America to prevent this problem

Answer 1

Bolívar was born into a wealthy family in Venezuela, he was educated mostly in Europe. Because of that he was able to meet important thinkers and politicians in Europe that thought him several lessons, which led him to think about independency. Because of that when Bolívar went back to Venezuela he joined the movement for independence. He knew that Spanish-American colonies had vast resources and they could be even more powerful if they became free of Spanish control.

He also learned from experience that the large number of countries in Europe were the reason they had many wars, because of that he urged people to vote for a republic of Gran Colombia, that would be a country that united Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, avoiding wars.

Answer 2

Bolivar went to Paris and there he lived with Fanny du Villars. He eventually read many books that contained a message of freedom. He was influenced by Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Condillac, Buffon, D'Alembert, Helvetius, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and especially Rousseau. In the end, because of that, he vowed to free Venezuela.