What Is The Overall Thesis Of Simon Bolivar Atlantic Revolution

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Cassidy Emerson
Dr. Dorothea Browder
HIST 102
7 October 2014
Atlantic Revolution Global Echoes and Enlightenment Evidence
In Historical Documents Enlightenment ideas and philosophies served several roles among the Atlantic world. Viewpoints of human rights and government pushed revolutionary change after 1776, major politicians and scholars on both wings of the Atlantic mutually encouraged eachother to engage in revolution and enlightened reform, and eventually, revolutionary emergence gave way to new concepts of human rights anywhere, and everywhere. As a result, many global echoes, revolutionary trends, and Enlightenment views are discussed in several historical documents composed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The United States Constitution, …show more content…

The struggles of Bolívar were successful in ending Spanish colonial rule, however, he had a lifelong dream of a federation like that of North America’s, yet failed to he achieve. However, the overall thesis of Simón Bolívar’s letter reflects a main idea of enlightenment during the revolutionary period—as he devises his plan based solely on his wish to flee from Spanish rule and reconstruct the government of Latin America. His letter in many positions supports his thesis and highlights his ideas and enlightenment influences to recreate the Latin American government. Bolívar’s informed demand for independence is in one way supported by his understanding of rights: “Americans by birth and endowed with rights from Europe—find ourselves forced to defend these rights against the natives while maintaining our position in the land against the inturstion of the invaders.” This statement reflects the key concepts of the enlightenment idea of the government protecting human rights, which was an important idea among enlightenment thinkers. Bolívar goes further to explain how they are being hindered from elevating themselves to the enjoyment of freedom. “The Americans…occupy no other place in society than that of servants suited for work or, at best, that of simple consumers, and even this is limited by appalling restrictions…” This statement represents not a key enlightenment ideal, however, a global influence of an Atlantic Revolutionary trend--nationalism. Bolívar presents statements such as these in his letter as he is addressing his motivation to gain independence and reconcile a new government. Overall, The Jamaica Letter reflects ideas of Enlightenment and provides evidence of global influences of revolutionary trends such as nationalism in ways of certain motivations, and gives us an idea of the