Holy cow at this long, informative book. I chose this book because I noticed Simon Bolivar is also all over New Orleans. Little did I know he was Venezuelan. Once he visited Charleston and was exposed to American democracy, he became an even more staunch activist for the freedom of Venezuela from Spain and the promotion of democracy for Latin America. After years of traveling through Europe, South America, and the Caribbean islands, Bolivar was elected as Presient "La Gran Colombia," which was part of Venezuela at the time. Years later, opposers of his broke into his home and his life was saved by a woman. He liberated many countries in Latin America and is viewed as a brave hero from all of the wars he fought in and a political visionary. He is widely respected and admired. ( )