ΦIA
The Beta Iota Chapter at The University of South Carolina
Don Simon Bolivar
Don Jose Marti
Cuba's foremost patriot in the struggle for independence from Spain was the poet and essayist Jose Julian Marti. His lifelong dedication to Cuban freedom was spelled out in essays and poems that circulated throughout the Latin American countries. He considered himself a citizen of all the Americas, and his essays did much to promote better relations between the United States and Latin America; but more importantly, between the Latin American nations themselves. Don Jose Julian Marti will be forever remembered because he waged war neither with swords nor guns, but with simple words expressing the truth.
Known as El Libertador (the Liberator), six nations, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia owe their independence from Spain to Simón BolÃvar. He possessed an uncanny ability to inspire men to follow him through trackless wilderness to fight and die for liberty. For 20 years BolÃvar led the fight to free northern South America. His small, poorly equipped forces won amazing victories and met overwhelming defeats. Not everything was easy for him. There were times where his defeats caused him to seek exile in Haiti and Jamaica, but always returned with a greater strength in energy and armies.
The leader of Chile's first independent government and a brilliant soldier, Bernardo O'Higgins led the Chilean patriots in their battle for independence. A reformer and an idealist, he was the first national leader in the Americas to abolish black slavery. When a new Spanish force invaded Chile, he was made commander of the revolutionary army but was defeated at the battle of Rancagua in 1814. Chile's provisional government asked O'Higgins to rule the country as supreme director. During his rule, which lasted for six years, he instituted a number of reforms and also helped San Martin build forces to fight Spain in Peru.
Mexico's national hero and its first president of Indian descent was Benito Juarez. During his years in the Government, he succeeded in undermining the power of the Roman Catholic Church and the wealthy landlords in order to make Mexico a constitutional democracy. He studied law at the Oaxaca Institute of Arts and Sciences, receiving his degree in 1831. Within a few years he had served in both state and national legislatures. In 1841 he became a judge and served as governor of his state. From his government service he gained many ideas for political and economic reform. In 1857 Juarez was chosen to preside over the Supreme Court and, in effect, to serve as vice-president. During a conservative revolt from 1858 to 1860, he acted as president.
Don Bernardo O'Higgins
Don Benito Juarez
Our Pillars
Unlike many organizations, we do not have founders. Our organization has pillars that were part of Latin American Independence movements during colonial times. These momentous men believed in the unification of Latin America which is still an ideology that we follow today.
Don Jose de San Martin
One of the greatest heroes of South American independence was Jose de San Martin. He helped liberate Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spanish rule. A proud ruler, at the height of his success he relinquished his power to Simon Bolivar after a historic meeting in 1822. In 1814, he had himself made governor of a district in the foothills of the Andes. After gathering and training an army, he led it across the Andes Mountains into Chile where his men routed the Spanish at Chacabuco in 1817 and entered Santiago unopposed. The next year, San Martin's decisive victory at Maipo set all of Chile free.
