1. Venezuelan Revolution
Milla Chunton, Juliette Leclercq, Nicole Hill, Emily Lai, Anna Fischer, Andia Niederloh, Elisabeth Plum

2. CONTEXT... Before the Revolution and Quest for Independence
One of several in South and Middle America that led to the emergence of independent republics
Spain ruled Venezuela as a colony, though town councils, most importantly Caracas (future capital of independent Venezuela), allowed the hacendados a measure of political influence over local affairs.
Division of groups in society based on Spanish control
Planter elite, called hacendados, dominated Venezuela
Achieved their preeminence primarily through cocoa and coffee production, which was, before revolution, brought to Atlantic market through Spanish mercantilist system
Among the elite, those born in Spain were known as peninsulares from the Iberian Peninsula
Natives to America called creoles
Less well off than the hacendados
Worked primarily in urban positions as artisans, soldiers, and small-to-middling traders

3. ...CONTEXT continued
Majority of population was of combined Native American and European ancestry, known in Spanish as mestizos
Mainly made up of peasants.
Wanted to end creoles’ privilege and colonial power, but abolition of slavery was not top priority
African slaves, whose labor was essential for colony’s plantation economy, constituted ~20 percent of population
The foremost goal for slaves was freedom, specifically the end of slavery
As minority of population and with Venezuelan elite profiting from slave labor, slaves were not in good position to force their demands
Native population, suffering from the disease and death brought by Europeans in sixteenth century, made up ~10 percent of total population at independence
Thoroughly marginalized politically and economically
Outside political system despite being large part of Venezuelan society

4. Causes (SPICE)
Important People
Goals of the Revolution
Results of the Revolution
Social:
Planter elites called “hacendados” wanted to sell cocoa and coffee on world markets
Spanish government wanted to maintain hierarchical order in Venezuela
Political:
Strong political authority from Spain over Venezuela
Didn’t support being ruled by France (Spain had been captured by Napoleon)
Interaction:
Simon Bolivar was influenced by European ideas of Enlightenment and rallied support for revolution against Spain
Economic:
Interests of white Venezuelans and the Spanish imperial government diverged
Simon Bolivar- led the revolutionary movement, inspired by the ideas of Enlightenment
Napoleon Bonaparte-
Invaded Spain in 1808, provided revolutionaries an opportunity to establish a junta (group dictatorship) in Venezuela
Francisco de Miranda- set up first republic and assisted Bolivar
Wanted to become a bureaucracy that was not under control from viceroyalty
Wanted a social ladder
Spain took to much profit from Venezuelan trade
Restrictions on trade were lifted
Abolition of taxes on food
Abolition of Indian tribute payments to the government
Abolition of slavery
Continuation of white privilege and the social hierarchy

5. Timeline (After Revolution)
Napoleon overthrows the King of Spain
Spain recognizes Venezuela’s independence
Venezuela adopts its current democratic constitution
1810
1811
1821
1830
1999
Venezuela declares Independence
Ecuador and Venezuela leave Gran Colombia to become totally independent

6. Justification and Analysis
What were the changes in the structure of the governments? What changes were there in citizenship? In individuals’ rights?
Before, Venezuela was part of a viceroyalty of New Granada and was controlled by a handful of extremely wealthy and powerful families
After, warlord like military leaders (caudillos) backed by their personal armies took control
Jose Antonio Paez: mostly the same, but abolished the church’s tax immunity and its educational monopoly

7. Justification and Analysis
What were the changes in the structure of the governments? What changes were there in citizenship? In individuals’ rights? (Continued)
José Tadeo Monagas y General José Gregorio Monagas: liberal leaders who passed many laws, but never enforced them, so their integrity wavered and civil war followed
Guzmán Blanco: established a new constitution in 1872 that proclaimed representative government, suffrage for all males, and direct election of the president

8. Justification and Analysis
To what extent did the leaders borrow ideas, tactics, anything from one another?
Simon Bolivar influenced by European Enlightenment thinkers.
-John Locke, Voltaire, Thomas Hobbes and others.
Gran Colombia inspired by what George Washington had done in North America
What economic and social changes were there? What groups gained and what groups in society lost?
The Mercantilist Spanish restrictions on the Venezuelan market were lifted, allowing for global trade of coffee and cocoa. Many of the social aspects remained, as the hacendados still dominated society. The criollo white-only populations were also still placed above the mestizo mixed populations.

9. Justification and Analysis
What was the fate of the “losers” in the revolutionary struggle?
The Spanish forces remained in Venezuela even after they created two Republican governments.
Although independence was declared in 1810, Spain did not leave Venezuela until 1821 when they realized they could not retake the region and pacified it.
What was the fate of the institution of slavery?
The abolishment of slavery ended with Spanish rule.
Bolivar freed slaves who joined his forces and also gave them constitutional freedom.

10. Conclusion and Analysis
What fundamentally changed? What stayed the same? Why?
After the Revolution, the lack of stability continued because of internal strife, civil wars, civil war, and coups- no stable political gov established
Venezuela continued to be ruled by the hacendado elite and white privilege remained
Ended Spain’s mercantilist restrictions on Venezuelan commerce
What radical changes did or did not occur?
Bolívar’s goal to unite the former Spanish Colonies of South America into a great confederation like the U.S was unsuccessful
Restrictions on trade were lifted
Taxes on food, Indian tribute payments to government, and slavery were abolished

11. Comparison Venezuela and France Economic hardships
Demand change in taxation and solution to inflation
Ineffective rulers
Venezuela and American
Wars for independence
Creation of new nation states

12. GLOBAL IMPACT?
Bolivar’s victory resulted in Venezuelan independence from Spain
British Legion troops defeated the Spanish after Venezuelan troops retreated
Bolivar created Gran Colombia, uniting Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, as well as attempting to bring Peru and Bolivia into the confederation
The new republic traded its cocoa and coffee on the open world market
Cocoa and coffee trade became more popular throughout Europe as Venezuela was able to trade with other European powers
Without Spain taking their profit
Venezuela was able to create their first true republic
Granted rights to all citizens
Revolution allowed all slaves to be liberated after help from Haiti