Gran Colombia - Zac

This map shows which regions of Latin America were colonized by which European country, with orange representing Spain.

This image shows the territory of Gran Colombia at its height and which countries the land is part of today.

General History of Gran Colombia

Before the arrival of Spanish colonists, northern South America was controlled by many diverse indigenous groups. One of the tribes occupying modern-day Colombia was called the Muiscas. They settled in the coastal regions and were skilled farmers, weavers, miners, and even goldsmiths. In addition, the Arawak were another tribe that spanned much of South America, but upon the arrival of Spanish colonists, most Arawak were wiped out due to disease. In 1498, Christopher Columbus arrived in present-day Venezuela on his third voyage to the Americas, and in 1523, the Spanish set up their first settlement there. Spanish colonists began to spread out across the region, and by 1600, there were over 20 settlements along northern South America and the Andes Mountains. The Spaniards enslaved the Indigenous peoples and, later on, brought over enslaved people from Africa. Enslaved people mostly farmed cash crops or mined in the Andes Mountains, with the colonial economy being highly export-based on products such as mercury, gold, silver, cacao, and coffee. The government and land were primarily ruled by Spanish royalty, and they established a complex caste system based mainly on skin color. At the top were the Peninsulares, who were aristocrats who had come from Spain. Following were Criollos, who were the descendants of Peninsulares, except they were born in Latin America. Below them were Mestizos, who were a mix of indigenous and white, and below the Mestizos were Mulattoes, a mix of African and white. After that came Native Americans, and lastly, African enslaved people.

Pre-revolutionary Gran Colombia

Before the Revolution in Gran Colombia, the Spanish colonies were in chaos. In 1808, Napoleon made his brother Joseph king of Spain, which led to a six-year war throughout the Iberian Peninsula. This war caused disunity within Spain’s Latin American colonies and started a movement among many to separate from Spain. In addition, tensions between Spain and the colonies had been growing because of the increased taxation from the Bourbon Reforms, which also restricted trade primarily within the aristocracy. Coupled with enlightenment ideals for equality and self-determination, the Spanish colonies were bursting with revolutionary ideals.

Main Events of the Revolution

The first independence movement was started in 1811 in Caracas, modern-day Venezuela. A liberation army under the command of Francisco de Miranda tried to instate a new republic and fight off the opposition Spanish forces. Unfortunately, he eventually failed, and the first republic was disbanded after less than two years. One of the reasons for this defeat was attributed to Simón Bolívar, as he allowed for the capture of one of the military bases named El Puerto Cabello, which contained munitions for the revolutionary army. Miranda attempted to argue with Spanish forces but was eventually sentenced to 30 years in a Spanish prison, where he ended up dying.

In 1812, Bolívar evaded Spanish capture, not having lost any revolutionary fervor. In his process of reconquering Venezuela, he achieved a fantastic military feat: he and his army crossed over the peaks of the Venezuelan Andes Mountains on horseback, surprising the Spaniards. In addition, he employed military tactics, such as issuing his “Decree of War to the Death,” which threatened to kill all Spaniards who supported Spanish rule or were neutral on the conflict unless they actively fought for independence. His army began to take over city by city and eventually captured Caracas in 1813. However, soon after his victory, Bolívar faced a strong opposition: the llaneros. The llaneros were groups of people who supported Spanish rule, led by Asturian José Tomás Boves. They eventually drove Bolivar’s army out of Venezuela and ended the Second Republic.

Finally, Bolívar started his last revolution in 1817 with the capture of Guayana. In 1819, he established a congress and delivered one of his most famous messages, the Angostura Speech. That same year, Bolívar pulled off the same incredible military feat he had accomplished six years prior: he led his army over the Andes Mountains and took the Spanish army (led by José María Barreiro) by surprise again. He defeated the Spaniards in the most famous battle of the revolution, the Battle of Boyacá. Bolívar then drafted the constitution for his new country, the Republic of Colombia (also known as Gran Colombia), which contained modern-day Venezuela and Colombia.

The creation of a new Spanish government in 1820 opened the door to Bolívar for negotiations. In 1821, combined with the victories of independence movements in Caracas, Bolívar finalized his control of the region. He continued further to Ecuador in 1822, although he was briefly stopped on his march towards Quito by a particularly bloody battle in Bomboná, where he had to wait for reinforcements before he could continue his conquest. Bolívar ended up making his way to Quito and conquering Ecuador during that year. At the same time, one of Bolivar’s generals, José de Sucre, managed to conquer Peru. He liberated it from its viceroyalty, and Bolívar quickly annexed it as part of his nation.

In 1824, Bolívar defeated another Spanish general and forced all remaining Spaniards to Cuzco. After a lot of fighting, Bolívar finally managed to expel the Spanish from continental South America forever, marking the end of his revolutionary conquest.

Simón Bolívar

Simón Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Ponte Palacios y Blanco was born on July 24, 1783, in Caracas, Venezuela. He was a Criollo and belonged to an aristocratic family. Unfortunately, at three years old, his father died, and at 9, his mother too. Simón’s grandfather raised him throughout the rest of his childhood and was his primary caretaker. Throughout his childhood, he was greatly inspired by one of his teachers, “Simón Rodríguez,” who influenced his development and served as one of his role models. When his grandfather passed away at age 16, Bolívar was sent to study in Madrid and took classes in foreign languages, dance, mathematics, horse riding, history, and other subjects. While abroad, he met his future wife, married her at 19, and moved back to Venezuela with her. However, only eight months after they were married, his wife died of a fever, as she was not used to the vastly different climate in the Americas compared to Spain.

After her death, Bolívar settled down in Paris and happened to run into his former teacher, Simón Rodríguez. Rodríguez told Bolívar that he was wasting his life and convinced him to study the works of Enlightenment philosophers at the time, such as Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire. Rodríguez also convinced him to go on a trip to Italy, where he encountered Napoleon Bonaparte, who was an admired conqueror throughout all of Europe. Napoleon inspired Bolívar’s militaristic and revolutionary passion, which would later define the rest of his career.

Directly after, Bolívar returned to Venezuela during a time of political turmoil. In 1811, when Venezuela declared independence, Bolívar quickly was recognized as a prominent freedom fighter and joined the Venezuelan Army as a colonel. Unfortunately, two years later, the Spanish Army beat the Venezuelan Army and regained control, and the leader of the Venezuelan army was imprisoned in Spain. Although Bolívar lost, he learned valuable lessons about leadership and war.

After this defeat, Bolívar moved, and in 1812, he wrote one of his most famous documents: the Cartagena Manifesto. He proposed the conquest of much of Latin America to establish a new country, which he called “Colombia.” In 1813, Simón Bolívar swiftly reconquered Venezuela and was hence dubbed “El Libertador,” meaning “The Liberator”. Unfortunately, Bolívar soon faced resistance and fled Venezuela to Jamaica. While there, he wrote his most famous piece, “Letter from Jamaica,” describing his ideal future for the continent.

In 1817, Bolívar decided to try once again to take over Venezuela. He started by taking over Guayana and turning it into his base of operations over the next two years. In 1819, he defeated the Spanish forces and reclaimed Venezuela, followed by land towards the west. Bolívar finally succeeded in staging a revolution and began to conquer land all over the north of South America. In 1830, Bolívar resigned from his position in power, leaving his republic to crumble and split up into the hands of many smaller countries. He died later that year in Santa Marta and blamed his excessive desire for power on the fall of his empire.

Francisco de Paula Santander

Francisco de Paula Santander was born in 1792 in present-day Colombia. Initially, Santander pursued a career in law but dropped out of law school in 1810 to join the revolutionary army at the time, as he was passionate about emancipation from the Spanish. He rose ranks in the army quickly, although the revolution was unsuccessful. He escaped Spanish capture as well, fleeing eastward until 1819 when he was inspired again to join Bolivar’s army. He served as a brigadier general and was chosen to be Vice President of the Republic of Colombia. Towards the latter years of Gran Colombia’s rule, Santander began to disagree with Bolívar on many things, most notably the decision to retain Venezuela as a part of Gran Colombia. In 1828, Santander was suspected of plotting an attack on Bolivar’s palace and was exiled, even though this plot was later proven to be false. After Gran Colombia dissolved with the leave of Simón Bolivar, Santander became the president of New Granada in 1833. His administration was highly successful, and he served until 1837 as president. He died in 1840 in Bogotá.

Carta de Jamaica (passages)

"The role of the inhabitants of the American hemisphere has for centuries been purely passive. Politically they were nonexistent. We are still in a position lower than slavery, and therefore it is more difficult for us to rise to the enjoyment of freedom. Permit me these transgressions in order to establish the issue. States are slaves because of either the nature or the misuse of their constitutions; a people are therefore enslaved when the government, by its nature or its vices, infringes on and usurps the rights of the citizen or subject. Applying these principles, we find that America was denied not only its freedom but even an active and effective tyranny. Let me explain. Under absolutism there are no recognized limits to the exercise of governmental powers. The will of the great sultan, khan, bey, and other despotic rulers is the supreme law, carried out more or less arbitrarily by the lesser pashas, khans, and satraps of Turkey and Persia, who have an organized system of oppression in which inferiors participate according to the authority vested in them. To them is entrusted the administration of civil, military, political, religious, and tax matters. But, after all is said and done, the rulers of Isfahan are Persians; the viziers of the Grand Turk are Turks; and the sultans of Tartary are Tartars. China does not bring its military leaders and scholars from the land of Genghis Khan, her conqueror, notwithstanding that the Chinese of today are the lineal descendants of those who were reduced to subjection by the ancestors of the present-day Tartars. "

"More than anyone, I desire to see America fashioned into the greatest nation in the world, greatest not so much by virtue of her area and wealth as by her freedom and glory. Although I seek perfection for the government of my country, I cannot persuade myself that the New World can, at the moment, be organized as a great republic. Since it is impossible, I dare not desire it; yet much less do I desire to have all America a monarchy because this plan is not only impracticable but also impossible. Wrongs now existing could not be righted, and our emancipation would be fruitless. The American states need the care of paternal governments to heal the sores and wounds of despotism and war. The parent country, for example, might be Mexico, the only country fitted for the position by her intrinsic strength, and without such power there can be no parent country. Let us assume it were to be the Isthmus of Panamá, the most central point of this vast continent. Would not all parts continue in their lethargy and even in their present disorder? For a single government to infuse life into the New World; to put into use all the resources for public prosperity; to improve, educate, and perfect the New World, that government would have to possess the authority of a god, much less the knowledge and virtues of mankind."

Analysis

Orgin

Simón Bolivar wrote this letter after the fall of the second republic of Venezuela. He was a military general who helped lead three revolutions in Latin America and ultimately forced the Spanish out of Latin America for good. Bolívar wrote the letter in exile, right before he launched his third and most successful revolution. Bolívar wrote this letter to an Englishman living in Jamaica, but the letter was intended to be read by a larger audience, including much of Europe and even potentially Americans.

Values

This source is highly valuable, as it provides direct insight from a primary source into the thoughts of the man primarily responsible for the outcome of all three revolutions in Venezuela. Simón Bolívar was the ruler of most of the upper half of Latin America, and this letter outlined his ideals before his conquest, so it lets us view his thought process before he was able to complete any of his actions. Because Bolívar’s speaks from a personal perspective, the letter includes his biases, aspirations, and doubts, which helps us grasp the motivations and character of Latin American leadership during the independence era.

Purpose

Through this letter, Bolívar aimed to explain why his previous government had failed and clarify why he sought to throw another revolution. He did this because he aimed to garner support from the rest of the world. In addition, Bolívar discussed his view of the future of Latin America, which turned out to be relatively accurate, such as separation from Europe, authoritarian governments, racial divides, future foreign interference, and the future of Latin American economies. Although he predicted many parts of the future accurately, he was wrong about his central theory of one unified Latin American republic.

Limitations

As with all primary sources, this letter is highly subjective and only presents Bolivar’s point of view, which would radically differ from many others at the time. In addition, we cannot be sure of the accuracy of many of the sources Bolívar cites throughout his letter. In addition, this letter provides an idealistic and incomplete picture of what Bolívar was thinking, as this source was angled as a way to convince others of his point of view so it would exclude any doubts he had. Lastly, I read the document as a translation into English from Spanish, so there may have been different interpretations or connotations lost during translation.

How Was Gran Colombia Revolutionary?

Radical

Gran Colombia was highly radical because it broke away from prior European rule and fully pushed the Spanish off the American continent. In addition, it introduced enlightenment ideals such as equality and liberty into the government, which was a dramatic change from monarchies during their colonial times. Lastly, Simon Bolivar offered enslaved men freedom by joining the Patriot army, which made progress towards a more equal society, even though it was not perfect.

Transformational

Gran Colombia introduced a new political structure into Latin America, mainly a centralized form of representative democracy. The government contained a president, congress, and judiciary, which were all transformational for the region and market, a considerable change from the prior European monarchies. In addition, Bolivar tried to decrease the church’s power, which introduced more separation of church and state. Lastly, rather than the economy focused on extracting resources for exportation, Gran Colombia focused on diversifying its economy and local trade to stimulate

Foundational

Gran Colombia served as a model for the future of Latin American governments. Many future governments down the line took the form of a republic, and its constitution and laws influenced the development of democratic governments still present today. In addition, Gran Colombia served as a symbol to the rest of Latin America that independence and self-governance were possible, which inspired future revolutions in the area.

Fundamental Unity

Although Gran Colombia was more of a takeover or coup d'état than a revolution, there was still unity among those who lived in the country. The country was run and comprised entirely of people born in Latin America, supported by the universal desire for self-governance. Gran Colombia also managed to unite culturally diverse regions and peoples under one government.

Works Cited

"Postconquest Indigenous Society." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/place/Latin-America/Postconquest-indigenous-society.

"Chibcha." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chibcha.

"Arawak." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arawak.

"History of Venezuela." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Venezuela.

Lombardi, John V. "Venezuela: History." Oxford Bibliographies, Oxford University Press, n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199766581/obo-9780199766581-0043.xml.

"Map: American Expansion – U.S.A. and Gran Colombia." PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/civilization-west-and-rest/killer-apps/property/map-american-expansion-u-s-a-and-gran-colombia/.

"Venezuela - Cash Crops." Photius Coutsoukis, n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://photius.com/countries/venezuela/economy/venezuela_economy_cash_crops.html.

García, Eduardo. "Simón Bolívar, El Libertador de América." National Geographic España, RBA, n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/Simón-bolivar-libertador-america_12174.

"Francisco de Paula Santander." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francisco-de-Paula-Santander.

Bolívar, Simón. "Letter from Jamaica, September 6, 1815." Translated by Lewis Bertrand in "Selected Writings of Bolívar." Brown University Library, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, n.d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2023, https://library.brown.edu/create/modernlatinamerica/chapters/chapter-2-the-colonial-foundations/primary-documents-with-accompanying-discussion-questions/document-2-simon-bolivar-letter-from-jamaica-september-6-1815/.

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