Name : _______________________________________ Date: _______ Period: _____
Chapter 21 - Section 3: Latin American Wars of Independence
Analyzing Primary Sources” Simón Bolívar
In 1814, after a defeat in Caracas, Venezuela, Simon Bolivar fled to the British colony of
Jamaica. There, he wrote a letter stating his principles. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
"There is nothing we have not suffered at the hands of that unnatural stepmother- Spain. . . . Americans, under the existing Spanish system, occupy a position in society no better than that of serfs suitable for labor. . . . And even this status is surrounded with galling restrictions, such as the prohibition against the cultivation of European crops, the existence of royal monopolies, or the ban on factories. . . . To this add the exclusive trading privileges. . . . In short, do you wish to know what our future was?- simply the cultivation of the fields of indigo, grain, coffee, sugar cane, cacao, and cotton; raising cattle on the empty plains, hunting wild game in the wilderness; digging in the earth to mine gold for the insatiable greed of Spain”
--Simon Bolivar, "Letter From Jamaica"
1.
Why do you think Bolivar calls Spain an "unnatural stepmother"? __________________
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2.
According to Bolivar, what position in society did Latin Americans occupy? __________
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3.
What restriction was placed on Latin American farmers? __________________________
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4.
Who had monopolies on some industries? ______________________________________
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5.
Why do you think there was a ban on factories? _________________________________
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6.
What does Bolivar say was the ultimate purpose of all Latin American labor? _________
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7.
What do you think were the effects of the publication of this letter? _________________
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(Ellis 535)