Simon Bolivar wrote this text when he was exiled to Jamaica. He wrote this letter in order to gain Britain’s support for Latin America’s independence from Spain.
The author of this text is Simon Bolivar. He was also known as “El Liberador” which also means the Liberator because he has helped Latin America gain their independence from Spain. He looked up to Rousseau and Voltaire and was inspired by the French Revolution. He wrote this letter to gain support of Latin America’s independence and wanted to unify Latin America.
The main argument of this letter is to gain Britain’s support and to show that the people of Latin America are humans that deserve human rights. Bolivar is constantly questioning the reader to emphasize the problems in Latin America. He explains to the reader that they are “still in a position lower than slavery, and therefore it is more difficult for [them] to rise to the enjoyment of freedom.” He constantly reminds the reader the freedom and rights that the people of Latin America doesn’t have and how they feel lower than slaves with constant labor in order to feed Spain’s greed. Bolivar uses these examples to persuade the reader to help Latin America be free of Spain’s rule.
The strong points of Bolivar’s letter seems to be when he questions the reader constantly. It directs the reader to the thought that Bolivar wants them to have. He tries to gain empathy by questioning “But are not the people of those islands Americas? Are they not maltreated? Do they not desire a better life?” The weak point of his letter is his conclusion on unity. It feels like he could’ve emphasized it more.
I think it is successful in conveying its message because it shows how the people in Latin America are suffering as well as how Spain caused it. This text also gains my empathy because of how the people feel “lower than slaves.” The system that the Spaniards put on the people made them feel a way that they feel weak and hopeless and it makes me want to reach out and try to help them.
In the political aspect, there has been some progress. There have been many dictators throughout Latin America that the people have went against and succeeded. Even so, there are still Latin American countries that are unhappy with the inequality they face.
