Primary sourceDocument1826
Proyecto de Constitución para la República de Bolivia y Discurso del Libertador
Simón Bolívar · 1826
Bolívar's 1826 speech presenting his proposed constitution for the new Republic of Bolivia.
Bolívar's own speech and constitutional proposal, showing his direct role in shaping Bolivia's founding institutions.
PDF · 50 pagesAbout this source
What it is
This 1826 printed pamphlet contains Bolívar's speech to the Bolivian Constituent Congress, presenting his project for a new constitution, along with the constitutional text itself. It was printed in Lima in 1826.
Why it matters
In this speech Bolívar reflects on the heavy responsibility of lawmaking, describing himself as a soldier who had seen only captives in chains and comrades bearing arms to break them. It reveals his political philosophy at the height of his power, as he tried to shape lasting institutions for the newly independent nations.
Look closer
- How does Bolívar describe his own qualifications, or lack of them, for writing laws?
- Why might a military leader feel uneasy about also being a lawmaker?
- What does this document suggest about the challenges of building new governments after independence?
This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Simón Bolívar on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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