SIS UC-WP Class Blog: They Went To War Because... with Ethan, Rachael, Courtney, and Patrick

Simon Bolivar, The Liberator, sought to free the northern part of South America from Spain starting with his home country of Venezuela. Following the sentiments of the people, he went to war to be free of Spanish rule because he no longer felt that the continent owed allegiance to the Spanish empire after the start of its decline. His quest for independence began in the early 1800’s, where he and his troops defended the territories of Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. Independence was finally achieved in 1822, and Bolivar soon decided to help eradicate Spanish presence from South America forever by ultimately conquering the Spaniards in Peru. Bolivar’s military actions were critical in gaining independence for these areas; he was overall one of the greatest leaders in the Latin American independence movement from Spain and was reveled as a grand politician and general.

Nathan Hale went to war because he wanted his country to be free. Joining the Continental Army was not enough. Serving as a Captain, leading troops in the Battle of Long Island was not enough. He believed in the United States so much that he volunteered to go on a daring espionage mission to report British troop movement back to his superiors. Unfortunately, after the mission he was captured, and then executed for his patriotism.

The US went to war in World War II for multiple reasons from different viewpoints. Some believe the US went to war in Europe to protect themselves; at the time small attacks and threats were coming to the US. Another reason for war could have been the fact that it was a moral fight; a battle to protect the rights of citizens and fight against discrimination, racism and human genocide. At the beginning of war, not many people supported the European cause. From looking at the viewpoint from Japan, the US was attacked so war was the only extreme option at the time to defend the nation.

Tadeusz Kościuszko went to war because after coming to America in August 1776, he read the Constitution and was so moved that he entered into American politics and eventually enlisted in the Continental Army as an engineer and eventually became the head engineer for the Continental Army.