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

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

Dictatorship “light”

Arch of the Federation

◦ Guzmán Blanco Hands on rule

initially Exercised power

behind the scenes subsequently

◦ Holiday in Paris (1884-1886Accomplishments Centralization of

power in Caracas Economic

development Infrastructure

construction Modernization of

Caracas

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.

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

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

López Contraras Medina Angarita (1940-45)

◦ Continuing modernization ◦ Nationalism and petroleum ◦ Politics of the aborted 1945 presidential election

campaign Revolution of October 18, 1945

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

AD’s Rómulo Gallegos wins more than 2/3 of vote

Opposition parties frustrated◦ COPEI (Christian Democrats)◦ PCV (Communists)◦ URD (Democratic Republican Union)

◦ 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

Loved by the U.S. business community?

◦ Andean militarism with a new twist

◦ Populism Physical development Reliance on petroleum

income

◦ Nationalism ◦ Infrastructure

development

◦ Increasing persecution of opponents

◦ Fall in oil prices ◦ Corruption ◦ All work and no

play makes Marcos a dull boy

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

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