Venezuela: Introduction to the Political Environment
Nineteenth Century: Independence & the Federal Wars Simón Bolívar and South American Independence Venezuela splits from Gran Colombia (1830) Jose Antonio Paez & Conservative Ascendency The Federal Wars 1858-63 Desire for a more democratic society Anti-clericalism Personalism Caracas vs. Interior Nineteenth Century: Independence & the Federal Wars
Dawn of Liberal Hegemony? Victorious “Liberals” fail to restore order Instability leads to rule of Guzmán Blanco Blanco Liberal Enlightenment (1870 – 1888) Centralization of power in Caracas Economic development Modernization Antonio Guzmán Blanco Dawn of Liberal Hegemony?
Characteristics of the “Liberal Enlightenment” (1870 – 1888) Guzmán Blanco Hands on rule initially Exercised power behind the scenes subsequently Holiday in Paris (1884-1886 Accomplishments Centralization of power in Caracas Economic development Infrastructure construction Modernization of Caracas Arch of the Federation Dictatorship “light”
Political Chaos Ends Liberal Era 1890 Guzmán Blanco’s heirs divide into factions 1899 – clash among political factions leads to violence Return of revolutionary chaos opens the way for Andean domination.
THE ANDEAN DICTATORSHIPS BEGIN Cipriano Castro and the Táchira Revolutionaries October 22, 1899 – Victorious Andeans enter Caracas Castro in power 1899-1908 Four years of intermittant fighting Default on foreign debts leads to blockade (1902) U.S.: role as negotiator Castro becomes nationalist hero by resisting demands for debt payment by North Atlantic nations November 1908 – to Europe for an operation
Juan Vicente Gómez (1908-1935 Style of governing Political unification Economic transformation Runs Venezuela like his ranch Cattle deals used to build the state Force and economic incentives ensure loyalty of the inner circle
December 1935: Outburst of hatred against Gómez clan upon the passing of the dictator
Heirs of Gomez: Modernization and Oligarchic Democracy (1935-1945 López Contraras Medina Angarita (1940-45) Continuing modernization Nationalism and petroleum Politics of the aborted 1945 presidential election campaign Revolution of October 18, 1945
A DECADE OF REVOLUTIONARY MODERNIZATION BEGINS Trienio (1945-48) Rapid modernization of peasants AD takes control of organized labor Marxist cast of AD governments antagonizes the church Incorporation of provincial middle class Constitution of 1947 Universal suffrage Representative democracy
Elections of December, 1947 AD’s Rómulo Gallegos wins more than 2/3 of vote Opposition parties frustrated COPEI (Christian Democrats) PCV (Communists) URD (Democratic Republican Union)
Provisional President Gen. Carlos Delgado Chalbaud Coup: November 28, 1948 AD divided & paralyzed Opposition believes they have been treated unfairly Church fears Marxist impact on Catholic education Military succumbs to pressure from opponents of the government Provisional President Gen. Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
General Pérez Jiménez and the New National Ideal Andean militarism with a new twist Populism Physical development Reliance on petroleum income Nationalism Infrastructure development Loved by the U.S. business community?
Decay of the military regime (1956-57) Increasing persecution of opponents Fall in oil prices Corruption All work and no play makes Marcos a dull boy
Fall of the Pérez Jiménez Dictatorship (1957-58) Mid 1957 Democratic Forces - meet in New York City to coordinate efforts against the dictatorship November 1957 Plebiscite on another term for the dictator January 23 1958 Democratic Revolution Return of exiles Pact of Punto Fijo (shares power) Much of territory remains under-populated
CARACAS ( late 1950’s)
TRANSITION TO REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY National Elections: December 1958 Results (Presidential) AD: Rómulo Betancourt (49%) URD, PCV: Admiral Wolfgang Larrazabal (35%) COPEI: Rafael Caldera (16%) January 1, 1959 Punto Fijo democracy begins