Simón Bolívar: Liberation Campaigns and Educational Vision
Major Projects and Liberation Campaigns in the South
The Congress of Angostura and the Patriot Capital
The following points outline the foundational structure of the new republic:
- 1. Angostura: Established as the Patriot Capital.
- 2. Government Structure: A government based on the distribution of powers, including the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
- 3. Provincial Governance: The appointment of provincial governors is free.
- 4. The Orinoco Mail: The Correo del Orinoco (Orinoco Mail) was created to spread republican ideas.
- 5. Institutional Order: Congress was installed to provide an organized order to the government.
- 6. Defense: British troops were brought in to protect the region and support the cause.
The Promulgation of the 1819 Constitution
A new Constitution was promulgated with the following characteristics:
- Centralized System: A President elected for a 4-year term.
- Legislature: A hereditary, unelected life-senate.
- Social Reforms: The proposal of Moral Power and the abolition of slavery.
The Birth of Gran Colombia
On December 17, 1819, the motion to unite Venezuela and New Granada was accepted and approved through the Fundamental Law of Colombia.
Military Campaigns for Southern Liberation
The Path to Boyacá and New Granada
The liberation efforts moved through Boyacá and Bogotá toward New Granada. In 1819, patriotic combat troops from Apure broke through Cúcuta, crossing the Andes to confront the Royalist army defending Bogotá, which was commanded by Morillo. Bolívar organized the government and appointed Francisco de Paula Santander in Venezuela to calm the focal points of subversion that were occurring.
The Treaty of Armistice and War Regularization
Treaty of Armistice: Hostilities were suspended for six months to initiate peace talks.
Treaty of Regularization of War: Both sides pledged to respect the lives of non-combatants, facilitate the exchange of prisoners, and definitively end the old practices of "War to the Death."
Simón Bolívar: The Visionary Educator
During the mid-eighteenth century, a transformation in the educational field occurred thanks to the influence of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his work, Emile.
Pillars of the New Education
- The principle of natural education.
- The principle of freedom.
Comparison of Educational Approaches
Before: Education was strictly governed, focusing on the search for rote knowledge rather than reason.
Rousseau's Vision: Focuses on creating behavior in the child, promoting their natural impulses according to their age, and establishing a system based on nature rather than convention.
Simón Rodríguez was a staunch supporter of this educational practice and served as the master and mentor of the Liberator.
Core Pedagogical Principles
- Education for the people.
- Training not mere statistics, but the warrior spirit and the heart of youth.
- The right to education according to age, temperament, inclination, and genius.
The Study of Mathematics and Personal Growth
- Teach everything to the student.
- Pass from the known to the unknown.
- Think and react with logic.
This system ensures the mastery of letters, contributes to the formation of personality, and provides essential training for life.