Political Crossfire Forums

[Piotr]

Bolívar's Decree of War to the Death, a response to Spanish atrocities committed on Americans (in the old sense- natives of the American continent) during and following the first attempts at independence from the Spanish Crown in the early 19th Century, demanded the death of all Spaniards opposing or not actively engaged in favour of the Independence Movement and the pardon and immunity of all Americans, whether or not they were guilty of crimes or whether or not they participated in the movevement.

It has been one of Bolívar's most controversial documents for historians. The question is: was it justified?

I think it was. The sheer psychological terror emanating from such a proclamation might have been enough to coerce most Spaniards into disarray while simultaneously giving new strength to the Movement.

Indeed, Bolívar did not in fact carry out this proclamation to the letter, but he did eventually succeed in leading the Movement, securing Independence for what are now Venezuela , Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia. I might reconsider this position though.