HIST/LAS 3401W: Study Guide for Bolivar, Speeches (primary documents)

Be sure to read the excerpt on Bolívar from Bakewell’s textbook and use that as well as the Andrews articles and lectures for context. I have chosen different speeches for the English and Spanish sections. In the speech translated into English (“Address to the Congress at Angostura”), Bolivar presented his interesting and sometimes surprising proposals for the constitution of Venezuela.  (Several elements, like the Moral Power and the hereditary senate, were not enacted by the Congress.)  He gave it at a time (1819) when the insurgents were recovering from their defeat by the royalist army in 1812, but were not quite victorious yet.  Venezuela would finally gain independence in 1821.  The speech in Spanish (“Discurso . . . al Congreso Constituyente de Bolivia”) was given at the height of Bolívar’s power in 1826. He had by then led combined forces of the Andean regions to definitive victory over the Spanish Army at the Battle of Ayacucho. “Upper” Peru was split off as a separate nation named “Bolivia” in honor of the Liberator (as he was known). Bolívar’s proposals for the constitution of Bolivia (outlined in the speech) were adopted, but later abrogated after his fall from power and death.

1.  What did Bolivar identify as important and unique characteristics of Spanish-American society and politics?

2.  What were his specific proposals for the new constitution and government?  To which models did he look?

3.  Why do you think he made these proposals (i.e. what factors may have influenced him)?  Do you think they were revolutionary?

4.  How did Bolivar define concepts like "liberty", "equality," “slavery,” and "democracy"?

5.  What role did the issue of race play in Bolivar's thinking?

Please tear off this section and return to your T.A. when you have finished the reading:

EVALUATION OF BOLIVAR, SPEECH; PLEASE CIRCLE:    ENGLISH    or     SPANISH

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