Monument to Simón Bolívar who was a military and political leader. Bolívar played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, and is today considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas. During his lifetime, he led Venezuela, Colombia (including Panama at the time), Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire. Admirers claim that he helped lay the foundations for democracy in much of Latin America.