Assignment 5a

The "Independence Period" refers to the demand for cordage and fibers on the world market, which stimulated the formation of vast henequen plantations throughout the northern part of the Yucatán Peninsula.  This period occured at the beginning of the late 18th century.  Before this time, villagers in the region only needed to pay relatively modest taxes and submit to occasional labor drafts in order to be left alone by colonial authorities. By the end of the 18th century, however, village lands were suddenly subject to expropriation by Spaniards.  

I chose to write about Simon Bolivar, because he is perhaps the most influential person in Latin America.  Prior to doing reasearch I was unaware of his enourmous impact on the countries of Latin America.  Statues all over the regoin are present and his legacy will continue for years to come.

Simon Bolivar was one of the most important leaders in the struggle for Spanish American independence.  He worked closely with Argentinean general, Jose de San Martin.  Bolivar is credited with the independence of numerous present day Latin American countries inlcuding, Columbia, then named, "Gran Columbia," Bolivia, Ecudor, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.  He was also preseident of some of the coutries listed such as, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru.  

In many parts of Latin America Bolivar is revered as a hero and sometimes given the distinction, "George Washington of Latin America."  He was born in the capital city of Venezuela, Caracas.  His father is a descendent of King Fernando III of Castile and Count Amedeo IV of Savoy.  The Caracas Cathedral, founded in 1594, has a side chapel dedicated to Simón Bolívar's family.  Bolivar and his families influences can be found all over the sprawling metropolis of, Caracas.  

Simon Bolivar was a great admirer of the American Revolution and a great critic of the French Revolution. Bolívar described himself in many of his letters as a "liberal."  Bolivar intended to leave the country for exile in Europe, perhaps in France after his liberal priciples were not accepted and caused much controversey.  His dream of eventually creating an American Revolution-style federation between the newly independent republics, with a government ideally set-up solely to recognize and uphold individual rights, gave way to the pressures of particular interests in the region.  He passed away on December 17, 1830 in Columbia, after a battle with tuberculosis, before he could leave.

I used infoplease.com and wikipedia.com.  These are credible sources because the information provided matches other websites.  They offer extensive insight and give background information on the topics researched.  These sources are used by a wide majority of individuals.