Simon Bolivar :: essays research papers

Throughout history there have been some(prenominal) leaders who apply their cunning and sly intelligence to trick the commonpopulation into following them and their beliefs. Eventually,these leaders had so much support, they could no weeklong becalled leaders, but absolute and dictatorial rulers. However,during the period of reasonableness and of the french innovation, non-maleficent ideas, created by Locke,Montesquieu, Voltaire, and other EnlightenmentPhilosophes, were spread throughout the Europeanpopulation. They verbalize the opposition to absolutemonarchies as well as a unexampled main focus on peoples innaterights and freedoms. many leaders after this period ofEnlightenment preached its ideas, while others simply usedthem to gain power. Simon Bolivar might have preachedopinions that mainly reflected the ideas of the FrenchRevolution. However, his actions contradicted theseopinions, and revealed that his true intentions were self-seekingand illiberal.In several document s and speeches, Bolivar stated that hewas very fond of freedom, self-sufficiency and equality. Clearly, itwould seem that he desired democracy. This can be seen inhis "Jamaican Letter", where he states "More than anyone Idesire to see the States fashioned into the dandyest nation inthe world, greatest not so much by virtue of her area andwealth as by her freedom and glory." However, he addsto this "love of freedom" in saying that it is " unacceptable"to set up such a government, simply because there is notenough political knowledge for a governance such as that to run.Further, Bolivar says that he agrees with the ideas ofMontesquieu, who played a very important role during theEnlightenment period, and states that he is againstabsolutism. In looking at the beliefs Bolivar spoke of, onecould around come to the conclusion that he directlylectured the ideas fought for in the French Revolutionopposition to absolute monarchies, natural rights andfreedom s, ideas of Montesquieu, and ruling for thepeoples exceed interest. Interestingly, however, Bolivar never actually put any of his"glorious ideas" into action. Instead of view up ademocracy, ideas of which he praised, he arranged asystem in which his total control was made known. Hedeclared himself prexy until he died, created a weaklegislative body with almost no power, and limited the rightto vote to the Creoles, who were American-bornSpaniards. Not only did this contradict his great "Love offreedom" that he originally spoke of, but in any case his hate ofmonarchy, a system of government not too far off from the"paternal constitution" he himself created. Furthermore, thisgovernment system doesnt reflect ideals fought for in theFrench Revolution, which he once agreed with. In adocument written by Bolivar, he states that he fears shocking