Simon Bolivar was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led the independence of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama.
Although Bolivar was both practical and idealist, I would argue that out of these two characteristics, he was more practical. This is shown by the fact that Bolivar was able to achieve much of what he set out to do, proving that his goals were realistic. He was able to liberate New Granada in 1819. He also founded the first union of independent nations in Latin America. Gran Colombia. He liberated Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Finally, Bolivar was able to reign over a territory that expanded from Argentina to the Caribbean Sea.