Cartagena Manifesto facts for kids

The Cartagena Manifesto was an important document written by Simón Bolívar. He wrote it on December 15, 1812, in Cartagena de Indias, which is in present-day Colombia. Bolívar wrote this paper after the First Republic of Venezuela had fallen. In it, he explained what he thought were the main reasons for this big loss.

This document was the first major public writing by Bolívar. He later became very famous as "the Liberator" because he helped five nations gain their freedom. The Cartagena Manifesto laid out his new ideas and plans for how to win independence.

Background

Before writing the manifesto, Simón Bolívar was an officer in the Venezuelan army. However, the First Republic of Venezuela was defeated. Many different groups were fighting each other. Some people, called royalists, wanted to stay loyal to Spain. Others wanted independence. There were also enslaved people and free people of color who fought for their own freedom.

Other problems made the situation worse. There wasn't enough food or supplies. Also, a huge earthquake hit Caracas in 1812, causing a lot of damage and chaos.

After the defeat, Bolívar left Venezuela. He traveled to Curaçao for a short time before arriving in Cartagena. There, he joined the army of the United Provinces of New Granada (which is now Colombia). This army later allowed him to lead a force to free Venezuela. This mission became known as the Admirable Campaign.

The Manifesto's Ideas

In the Cartagena Manifesto, Bolívar shared his ideas to stop New Granada from suffering the same fate as Venezuela. He pointed out several reasons why Venezuela had failed. These reasons included political, economic, social, and even natural problems.

Here are some of the main causes Bolívar mentioned:

• A weak government system: Bolívar believed the country used a [federal system] that was too weak during a time of war. A federal system gives a lot of power to local states, which can make the central government less strong.
• Poor money management: The government of the republic did not manage public money well. This led to financial problems.
• The 1812 Caracas earthquake: This natural disaster made the country's economic and political problems much worse.
• No strong army: It was hard to create a permanent army because many people did not want one. This meant the country could not defend itself well.
• Church influence: The Roman Catholic Church secretly worked against the republic. This caused more division among the people.

Bolívar strongly believed that a country needed a strong central government. He also thought there should be a powerful leader to avoid arguments between cities, states, and national authorities. He felt that too much fighting among these groups wasted money and energy.

He wrote that a government "must adjust itself to the times, people, and circumstances." He meant that if times are peaceful, the government can be gentle. But if times are hard and dangerous, the government needs to be strong and firm to protect the country.

See also

In Spanish: Manifiesto de Cartagena para niños