José Acevedo y Gómez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids José Acevedo y Gómez
Born	José Acevedo y Gómez 1773 Charalá, Colombia
Died	May 1817 (aged 44) Caquetá

José Acevedo y Gómez (born in 1773 in Charalá, Santander, and died in May 1817 in Caquetá) was a very important hero who helped Colombia gain its independence. He was a smart speaker and a strong political leader. He even became the Attorney General, which is a top legal job. José Acevedo also became very rich from his trading businesses. Today, there's a special statue of him in the Palacio Liévano to honor his memory.

Early Life and Education

José Acevedo y Gómez was born in 1773 in a town called Charalá. He came from important Spanish families. He went to study at the Our Lady of the Rosary University. Even though he read many classic books and ideas from famous thinkers, he didn't finish a degree. Instead, he became very good at business and trading.

He was also an amazing speaker. He used his speaking skills to encourage people to fight for Colombia's freedom. From 1810, he ran a trading business in Bogotá with his cousin, Miguel Tadeo Gomez Duran. People thought of him as a merchant who wasn't afraid to challenge the rules.

A Leader for Independence

José Acevedo moved to San Gil where he worked in different public jobs. Later, in Bogotá, he became known for his powerful speeches, earning the nickname "The Tribune of Pueblo" (meaning "The People's Speaker"). He continued to do well in trade while also studying law and philosophy.

In 1808, he was chosen to be a "Regidor" for the city council of Santa Fe. A Regidor was like a city council member. That same year, France invaded Spain. José Acevedo swore loyalty to King Ferdinand VII of Spain. But he also said that people needed to form their own local government council.

During 1809, he secretly worked with others to try and remove the Viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbón. A Viceroy was like a governor sent by the King of Spain. José Acevedo wanted to create an independent government for Colombia. He became very interested in the idea of American colonies becoming free from Spain.

He started organizing meetings with other smart people and leaders in the city. These meetings led to the famous "Cry of Independence" on July 20, 1810. On that day, street protests began, and things became a bit chaotic. People wanted José Acevedo to speak because he was such a good orator. He gave a powerful speech in the main square of the city. He told the crowd that they needed to act right then to form their own government. He famously said:

"Santafereños: If you lose the moment of excitement and heat, if you let this single and happy opportunity escape, within twelve hours you shall be treated as rebels: behold the dungeons, shackles and chains that await you."

The Act of Independence

On July 20, 1810, José Acevedo met with six other important patriots. These included Antoni Nariño, Camilo Torres Tenorio, Francisco Jose de Caldas, and Jorge Tadeo Lozano. They gathered in the main plaza of Bogotá, the capital city. These seven leaders are known as the "Colombian Founding Fathers."

The next morning, on July 21, 1810, a document called the "Act of Independence" was written. All the members of the group signed it. This document clearly stated that New Granada (which is now Colombia) would be an independent area. It would be governed by its own constitution under a federal system. This meant people could govern themselves.

After this declaration, there were some disagreements and protests between different groups of people. The leaders' decision, called the "junta proclamation," said that they no longer recognized the Spanish Supreme Regency Council. This was a huge step, showing that no one from Spain had authority over these lands anymore, except for King Ferdinand VII.

Later Life and Death

During a time known as the "Patria Boba" (which means "Foolish Homeland"), José Acevedo continued to be involved in the independence movements. He held government jobs in areas like Cundinamarca and Tunja.

However, when the Spanish forces, led by General Pablo Morillo, started to take back control of many parts of the United Provinces of New Granada, José Acevedo had to hide. He took refuge in the thick jungles of Caquetá. Sadly, while he was there, he became very sick and passed away in May 1817.

See also

In Spanish: José Acevedo y Gómez para niños