I’m a Bo-liever: Cabinet of Simon Bolivar, 1820 BOLIVAR

¡Viva la revolución!

Under the leadership of enlightenment thinker Simon Bolivar, much of South America finds itself emancipated from the yoke of Spanish rule that has suffocated it for centuries. Bolivar, a Venezuelan military leader known as “The Liberator, has united South American countries under his forceful guidance and through monumental efforts. During his brief time as president, he coined the Republic of Columbia, composed of present day Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama, known more generally as ‘Gran Colombia”. However, the revolution was only the first step, and the vast country faces threats from seemingly all sides. Disrupted by regional rivalries, threatened by separatism, destroyed by civil war, haunted by Spain’s control, Bolivar holds control of Gran Colombia through sheer will, but he requires the help of others.

Now, as Bolivar leads the young country of Gran Colombia, he and his cabinet find themselves in trouble. They’ve drafted their constitution, but struggles continue. For one, the country is in a deep economic crisis, with the government under significant debt from the war of liberation, and high levels of joblessness among citizens along with regional economic discrepancies compound the difficulties of rebuilding. Second, there is deep internal tension between different models of governance, with Bolivar and his allies, the Centralists, staunchly believing in a strong central government for the new nation, while another group, the Federalists, prefers a weaker central government. While the constitution of 1821 is a temporary compromise between the groups, strong disagreements between the new central government and local leaders have begun to arise, indicating that change and more sturdy institutions might be necessary. Finally, the country faces royalist threats in its infancy: a number of citizens remain loyal to the Spanish crown, and the Spanish fleet–uncowed by their defeat and eager to regain lost territory–has launched occasional surprise attacks on Gran Colombia’s cities.

As Simon’s cabinet, delegates will have to navigate these simultaneous crises creatively while responding quickly and efficiently to new ones as they arise. Can Gran Colombia develop into a thriving nation, or will the country be crippled and divided by these regional skirmishes and economic challenges? It’s up to you!