Page 59 - 100 Events That Made History

Young revolutionary
Simon Bolívar was a Venezuelan who, inspired by the
revolutions in France and America, vowed to free his country
from Spanish rule. Bolívar and his followers invaded
Venezuela on May 14, 1813, and although he was
hailed by the people as El Libertador (the
LIBERATOR), civil war meant he had to flee.
He returned and finished the job in 1821.

Busy liberator

Bolívar wasn’t only a hero AT
HOME IN VENEZUELA, where they
named their currency, the Bolivar,
after him in 1879. He also helped
liberate Ecuador, Colombia, Peru,
Panama, and Bolivia, which they
then named after him, too. He
died in 1830 of tuberculosis.

How it changed the world
After the revolutions, Europe
had lost virtually all its lands
in North and South America,
plus the valuable natural
resources that went with
them. Although Europe still
dominated trade around the
world, it would never rule
so much of the planet again.

In 1821, JOSÉ DE SAN MARTIN In 1825, after 16 years
invaded Peru, which was of struggle led by ANTONIO
the center of Spanish rule JOSÉ DE SUCRE, Bolivia
in South America, and declared independence
declared independence. from Spain.
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