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Venezuela was the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in South America in 1522 (the modern day city of Cumaná), and most of the territory eventually became part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. Parts of what is now eastern Venezuela became New Andalusia. After several unsuccessful uprisings, the country declared independence from Spain on July 5th 1811 under the leadership of its most famous native son, Simón Bolivar. Nevertheless, full control over Venezuelan territory was achieved after Bolivar., with the help of General Jose Antonio Páez and especially the then General Grand Marshall Antonio Jose de Sucre, whose battle plan Bolivar. chose to follow, won the Battle of Carabobo on June 24th 1821, and after Jose Prudencio Padilla won the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo on July 24th 1823. New Granada's congress gave Bolivar. control of the Granadian army, he then led several countries to freedom and created a new republic called Colombia (also known as Great Colombia to differentiate it from the Republic of Colombia) consisting of what are now Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela. He then led the army towards the south, liberating Peru and founding Bolivia (named after the Libertador, formerly a part of Peru, known as 'Alto Peru') from the Spaniards. Antonio Jose de Sucre, who won many battles for Bolivar., was to become his natural successor, until he was murdered in Berruecos. Venezuela became, after the war of independence, along with Colombia and Ecuador, part of the Republic of Gran Colombia (República de Gran Colombia) until 1830, when the country separated through a rebellion led by Jose Antonio Páez and declared itself a sovereign republic. Páez became the first president of Venezuela. Much of Venezuela's 19th- and early 20th-century history was characterized by political instability, political struggle and dictatorial rule. Following the death of Juan Vicente Gómez in 1935 and the temporary demise of caudillismo (authoritarian rule), democratic struggles eventually forced the military to withdraw from direct involvement in national politics in 1958. Since that year, Venezuela has enjoyed an unbroken tradition of democratic civilian rule, though even this has not been without conflict. Venezuela is member of the South American Community of Nations (SACN). |
Venezuela Information: Inside
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