Simón Bolívar, Letter to the Governor of the English Colony of Jamaica, September 6, 1815
The role of the inhabitants of the American hemisphere has for centuries been purely passive. Politically they were nonexistent. We are still in a position lower than slavery, and therefore it is more difficult for us to rise to the enjoyment of freedom....States are slaves because of either the nature or the misuse of their constitutions; a people are therefore enslaved when the government, by its nature or its vices, infringes on and usurps the rights of the citizen or subject..
We have been harassed by a conduct which has not only deprived us of our rights but has kept us in a sort of permanent infancy with regard to public affairs. If we could at least have managed our domestic affairs and our internal administration, we could have acquainted ourselves with the processes and mechanics of public affairs....
Despite the convictions of history, South Americans have made efforts to obtain liberal, even perfect, institutions, doubtless out of that instinct to aspire to the greatest possible happiness, which, common to all men, is bound to follow in civil societies founded on the principles of justice, liberty, and equality. But are we capable of maintaining in proper balance the difficult charge of a republic? Is it conceivable that a newly emancipated people can soar to the heights of liberty, and, unlike Icarus [a character in Greek mythology who flew close to the sun and fell to his death when his wings melted], neither have its wings melt nor fall into an abyss? Such a marvel is inconceivable and without precedent. There is no reasonable probability to bolster our hopes.
1. Detail the context in which Bolívar's explanation is given a were unable to enjoy freedom.
as to why South Americans
Bolívar's explanation is given in the context of the political and social situation in the American hemisphere during the early 19th century. He states that for centuries, the inhabitants of the American hemisphere had been politically passive and non-existent. They were oppressed and in a position lower than slavery, meaning they were not only denied their freedom but were also deprived of basic rights and kept in a state of permanent infancy regarding public affairs.
Bolívar argues that the people in the American hemisphere were enslaved because their governments, either by their inherent nature or due to their vices, infringed on and usurped the rights of the citizens. These governments prevented the inhabitants from managing their domestic affairs and internal administration and deprived them of the opportunity to learn about the processes and mechanics of public affairs. This lack of knowledge and experience in governing themselves hindered their ability to rise up and enjoy freedom.
Bolívar acknowledges the efforts made by South Americans to obtain liberal or perfect institutions, driven by their instinct to aspire to greater happiness and societies founded on justice, liberty, and equality. However, he questions whether a newly emancipated people can successfully navigate the challenges of maintaining a republic. He compares this endeavor to the myth of Icarus, suggesting that it is inconceivable and without precedent for a recently liberated people to avoid their metaphorical wings melting and falling into an abyss.
In summary, Bolívar's explanation is given in the context of the oppressed and politically passive state of the inhabitants of the American hemisphere, highlighting the challenges they faced in achieving and maintaining freedom due to the actions of their governments and their lack of experience in self-governance.