HISTORY FOR KIDS

• General Summary
• Pre-Hispanic Populations
• Origin of the Name “Venezuela”
• Colonial Period and Resistance
• Pre-Independence Movements
• Independence
• Federal War
• Contemporary Governments
• The Pact of Punto Fijo and the “Caracazo”
• The Election of President Chavez
• Building a Country for All Venezuelans
• The 2002 Coup and Oil Sabotage

General Summary

The territories on which the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela currently sits were originally occupied by natives of diverse ethnic groups. Evidence exists that these human groups actually lived in the actual country of Venezuela starting almost 12,000 years ago.

Pre-Hispanic Populations

Among the native communities that took up most of the current geography of Venezuela, the main groups are:

• Chibchas: They occupied the Andean region; they were mainly potters and builders and they practiced agriculture and basic forms of irrigation and plowing of the land.

• Caribbeans: This group of people settled in the eastern and central regions of the country, in Guyana, the plains, and the north coast. They were characterized as warriors and hunters. They were best known for their athletic and stocky build. They became expert potters and stone carvers.

• Arawaks:

  They settled in parts of the regions of what today is known as the Amazon, a good portion of the west, central west and parts of the coast. They were navigators and fishermen.

• Wayuu or Guajiros:

  Located in the west of the country toward the north. They used clay and straw to build their homes and other constructions. They also managed to develop weaving of different types of fibers for wardrobe and other uses.

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Origin of the Name “Venezuela”

• Two theories stand out on the origin of the name “Venezuela.” One theory says that the word from the native word “Veneçiuela.” This term signifies “Large Water,” in reference to the great territorial extension of Maracaibo Lake. The second theory says that the word comes from little Italy word of “Venice” (that is to say small Venice), supposedly attributed to Americo Vespuccio who named it that because the small huts of the natives that lived in the Sinamaica Lagoon looked like the Venetian dwellings of those times.

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Colonial Period and Resistance

• In 1498, Christopher Columbus arrived on the Venezuelan coasts during his third trip to the American continent. Other notable European navigators like Americo Vespuccio, Juan de la Cosa, Alonso de Ojeda and Vicente Yánez Pinzon also explored the Venezuelan territories.

• The natives of the Venezuelan territory were almost completely destroyed by the illnesses brought by the Europeans–just like with the wars, the displacement from their ancient lands and the exploitation (slavery) of their people by the Spanish government.

• At least since 1520, we know of important native uprisings against European invaders.

• In 1528, the province of Venezuela was created by royal decree. In 1545, the official “charging” system began, with which the province tried to regulate the treatment of the natives and taxation.

• The rapid decrease of the native population led the Spanish authorities to promote commerce by bringing slaves from Africa to keep the economic activities of the new colonies going. In this history, the role of the religious Spaniard Bartolomé de las Casas (1474-1566) was emphasized. He denounced the commissions system as a way of hiding the slavery of the natives. De las Casas recommended the employment of slaves brought from Africa that were considered stronger and appropriate for the extraction of minerals and for agricultural labor.

• This situation led to the formation of a multi-ethnic colonial company, which was made up of white Europeans, natives and black Africans, but this company was deeply divided by classes and races. Nevertheless, this did not keep Venezuela from the creation of a population full of people of mixed races–without resolving the problem of racial discrimination.

• For more than three centuries, Venezuela was a Spanish colony who, as opposed to other Spanish occupations, did not possess large mines filled with precious metals in the large Viceroyalties of the Spanish Empire (Mexico, Peru, New Granada, de la Plata River). Venezuela was characterized as an agricultural colony and raiser of cattle, emphasizing the cultivation of coffee, and tobacco. Its greatest territorial status was that of General Captaincy.

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Pre-Independence Movement

• During the time of the Spanish occupation, a series of events took place against the Iberian authorities. In the first years of conquest, several armed resistance groups were organized by the chiefs and leaders of Caribbean communities and other ethnic groups that bravely resisted the devastating advance of the Spaniards. Among the most distinguished leaders of the native resistance were Chief Guacaipuro, Chief Tiuna, Chief Paramacay and Chief Tamanaco, among others, who sacrificed themselves to try to stop the oppression of their towns.

• Afterwards, once Spanish control was established, another series of resistance movements was led by mixed, black, and white natives. Among these it is important to mention the formation of the so-called “cimarroneras” communities, which were common centers for black slaves that escaped from the estates of their owners. Among these movements the following stood out:

  • The José Leonardo Chirinos Movement: an uprising of black and men of mixed race that took place in 1795 in the region of Falcón, and it grew large enough to threaten the control of the Spanish authority in that province. This rebellion was severely punished.

  • The Gual and Spain Movement: the first planned rebellion led by white natives that wanted the absolute independence of Venezuela. This movement took place between 1797 and came to an end in 1799. This plan was discovered and contained by the Spanish authorities; nevertheless, it became an inspiration for the formation of other movements in favor of the independence of Venezuela, especially in the city of Caracas.

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Independence

• At the beginning of 1810 the pro-independence movements, extended all over the Spanish Americas, gave rise to the formation of the first independent Latin American republics. On April 19, 1810 in Caracas, an autonomous meeting that entrusted state functions to the Spanish General Captain Vicente Emparan, led to the signing of the independence. Then, on July 5, 1811, the signed document was declared the final Independence of Venezuela.

• Nevertheless, Venezuela’s fight for independence from Spain lasted until 1821, led by the Liberator and Father of the Country, Simón Bolívar. The Liberator achieved independence of the countries that are known today as Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Venezuela. Simón Bolívar developed Venezuela’s principles, virtues and legal rules.

• Following the victorious movement of independence led by Bolívar, Venezuela formed part–between 1820 and 1830–of the historic Confederation of Great Colombia (composed by the countries that today are Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and segments of Peru, Brazil and Guyana). During the last year, the authorities of the city of Caracas, headed by General José Antonio Páez, proclaimed the irrevocable separation of the Venezuelan provinces of the Grand Colombia Union, which gave rise to the forming of the Republic of Venezuela.

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Federal War

• For a good part of the 19th century, Venezuela was plunged in a series of internal wars and fights between leaders that decimated the population. Still, the war that stands out most for its impact on the construction of the Venezuela we know today is the Federal War (1859-1863).

• The Federal edict, led by Ezequiel Zamora, demanded social reforms, distribution of lands, the dividing of the power of Caracas and the strengthening of local authorities in each of the provinces. This proposal was supported by good portion of the population and especially by the poorest classes that then became part of the armies of the Confederacy. After a long war with the central authorities of Caracas, the Federal Army achieves its triumphant entrance to the capital and the establishment of a federal system of government was proclaimed.

• The influence of the Federal Revolution extended to the second half of the 19th century and contributed to the formation of the governments of Antonio Guzman Blanco and of General Joaquín Crespo.

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Contemporary Governments

• At the beginning of the 20th century, a restructuring of the political elite took place that carried to power a new class of leaders that gave more priority to the economy and the politics than to fights over leadership. The two biggest promoters of this vision were Cipriano Castro and Juan Vicente Gómez.

• Castro stood out by promoting nationalist measures and the organization of the Venezuelan state. During his presidency, the 1902 blockade of Venezuelan ports by European powers took place.

• Gómez started a centralized dictatorship that kept Venezuela under an iron fist for 27 years. During his rule, oil was discovered and became a central part of Venezuela’s national revenue. His leadership also marked the start of interstate programs and the structuring of the contemporary Armed Forces.

• During the first years of the 20th century, oil became the base of the economy, displacing most agricultural activities.

• The first oil concessions were offered in 1910, and with the first wave of large oil exports during the early 1920s, one of the world’s most important oil industries was set in motion. As of 1982, petroleum exports made up 90% of the country’s income, which continues to be the case today.

• After the long dictatorship of General Gómez, a prolonged process of transition began between 1935 to 1958 in which a series of democratizing reforms in 1948 were interrupted by another dictatorship. The first attempt at democracy took place in the year 1948 with the election of Venezuelan novelist Romulo Gallegos, who was ousted nine months later by a military junta that gave power to General Marcos Perez Jimenez.

• General Pérez Jiménez carried out government programs based on a huge public expenses and the creation of wasteful infrastructure projects. He stayed in power until December 31, 1958, when a civilian and military uprising that demanded a return to democracy ousted him.

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The Pact of Punto Fijo and the “Caracazo”

• By the end of 1959, the Venezuelan people again responded to free elections to elect a new president. The electoral campaign was marked by an intense debate that divided the political actors into who supported a moderate reform program and who wanted a program of revolutionary and deep transformations. Moderates approved a political pact for the government that excluded the remaining political factions. This pact, known as the Pact of Punto Fijo, was used to create Venezuela’s “representative democracy” that limited governance to two principal political parties, Democratic Action (AD) and the Christian Democratic Party (COPEI).

• Under the pact, different government from both parties alternated power. Among them were: Rómulo Betancourt (1959-1964); Raúl Leoni (1964-1969); Rafael Caldera (1969-1974); Carlos Andrés Pérez (1974-1979); Luis Herrera Campins (1879-1984); Jaime Lusinchi, (1984-1989); Carlos Andrés Pérez (1989-1993); and Rafael Caldera (1994-1999).

• As a result of this political pact, extensive social sectors and political parties remained excluded from the new system. The Communist Party of Venezuela (CPV) and the Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MRL) were banned and persecuted. Between 1960 to 1973, the different representative governments had to face guerrilla movements and discontented military groups who had taken arms due to the sectarianism practiced by the economic and political elite.

• These old political wounds added to the growing deterioration of the economic situation of the country during the 1980s and led to a social explosion on February 27, 1989, known as the “Caracazo.” Additionally, in 1992 the government of Carlos Andres Perez had to face two military rebellions of young officials who were unhappy with all the rampant corruption and the neoliberal economic policies that kept the majority of the country in poverty.

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The Election of President Chávez

• After spending about two years in jail, Hugo Chávez, the popular leader of the military rebellion of February 4, 1992, was nominated as the candidate of a coalition of the progressive forces of the country in the 1998 elections. The phrase Chávez had used after being arrested for his role in the rebellion — he indicated that they had failed, “For now” — remain marked in the collective subconscious of Venezuelans. In a country burdened by corruption and a democracy of elites — where nobody wanted to assume responsibility for failures in governance — this gesture would not be easily forgotten. With a program of transforming government and calling a consituent assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution, Chávez won the presidency with an overwhelming majority in spite of not having the endorsement of the traditional political parties.

• On February 2, 1999 Hugo Chávez Frías was sworn into office as the president of the Republic of Venezuela. President Chávez called for the creation of a constituent assembly that would draft a new social and political pact for the country. The new Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic was approved with more than 70% of the votes in popular referendum December 15, 1999.

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Building a Country for all Venezuelans

• Since 1999, while overcoming adversities and with an unquestionable adherence to the democratic principles outlined in the constitution, President Chávez has promoted a plan of government whose vision is the construction of a prosperous, inclusive and just society — a socialist society. Ten years since the start of his journey, a majority of Venezuelans have supported, in 14 elections, the construction of this project.

• President Chávez has been re-elected in popular elections in the year 2000 and 2006, with the highest levels of participation and an extensive margin of victory. He has overcome a coup in 2002, a sabotage of the oil industry in 2003 and received an overwhelming endorsement of his tenure in a 2004 recall referendum. (The Constitution of 1999 allows that all elected officials be submitted to a referendum, midway through their term in office, to decide whether or not the official could finish the period for which he or she was elected.)

• In 2003, President Chávez decided to seek alternative mechanisms for tending to the needs of the excluded majorities. He began to create “Bolivarian Missions” to address social needs such as health and education that could not wait for the reform of existing state institutions.

• Starting with the “Barrio Adentro” (“Inside the Neighborhood”) Mission and the Mercal Mission, both initiated in April of 2003, the missions were gradually extended to tackle the causes and consequences of poverty and exclusion. For 2009, 28 missions were functioning in the country, ranging from education to health to job training, housing, local development, etc.

• The government of President Chávez has given a great boost to the organizational community and its participation in public management. As part of this effort, in April 2006 communal councils were created as a means to channel public participation into policy making. By 2008, 26,000 communal councils existed throughout the country. Through these councils, local communities could count on resources and advice for directly resolving pressing needs.

• The presidential election of December 3, 2006, resulted in another victory for Chávez, who won with 62.84% and the highest level of participation in the democratic history of the country.

• Among the main achievements of the government of President Hugo Chávez, we find the reduction of extreme poverty from 42% to 9.5% and the decrease of inequality. For 2009, Venezuela has been ranked as one of the region’s most equal countries.

• President Chávez has begun to promote a long-range plan for the development of the country, a plan so that the children of today and tomorrow not only live in a better Venezuela, but in a better world. This plan is outlined in the Social and Economic Development Plan of the Nation for 2001-2007 and for 2007-2013.

  • Reduce the misery and accelerate the reduction of poverty.

  • Promote ethics, culture and a supportive and liberating education.

  • Deepen the solidarity with the excluded of the world.

  • Building a public sector for the service of the citizen.

  • Expanding the spaces of civic participation in public management.

  • Developing a new productive model, that promotes the internal capacities of the nation, where private enterprises, state businesses and businesses of social economy coexist.

  • Encourage science and technology and the access to knowledge.

  • Reach a model of production and sustainable environmental accumulation.

  • Fortify productive diversification and social inclusion and accelerate the sowing of the petroleum.

  • Fortify the national sovereignty and accelerate the formation of the regional geopolitical block and a multipolar world.

• In 2009, the Venezuelan people supported a constitutional amendment to permit the re-election of public officials. The proposal won with 54.86% of the votes.

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The 2002 Coup and Oil Sabotage

• During the early years of President Chávez’s presidency, new laws and reforms were promoted, among them ones that sought to direct more oil resources to social programs and diminish the number of large land holdings in the country. This changes threatened many vested interests and led to a coup attempt in April 2002 and a sabotage of the oil industry in late 2002 and early 2003.

• The coup of April 11, 2002 was launched against President Chávez with the support of members of the opposition, the privately held media and sectors of the armed forces. Though President Chávez was briefly taken from power, his public supporters and members of the armed forces seeking to uphold and defend the constitution returned him to power on April 13.

• A few months later, the defeated opposition movement tried to sabotage the state petroleum industry, PDVSA. In alliance with the then-managers of the business, the opposition organized a mass layoff that paralyzed the industry and greatly affected the economy. Nevertheless, again with the aid of the Venezuelan people and professionals from other industries, the government managed to recover the petroleum industry and since then, was able to use its profits for the benefit of all the Venezuelans.

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