Abstract

In This project, we are going to have an overview of the independence of the Spanish colonies,
with the primary focus on Venezuela. This assignment will give a brief resume of the internal
and external causes that led to the independence of Venezuela and other Spanish colonies. Then
we will continue with an analysis of the speech given by Simón Bolívar at the Congress of
Angostura on February 15, 1819. Known as “El discurso del Congreso de Angostura”. For this,
we are going to use “the rhetorical pentagon” as our analytical method. Analyzing the language
used by Simon Bolivar, the circumstances behind the speech, the audience he was trying to
target, the topic and the writer himself, which will lead us to the intention of the speech. And
to conclude, we are going to discuss the causes of Venezuela's independence and their particular
consequences.
Index

1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………2

2.0 Independence movements in Venezuela………………………………………………...3

2.1 Internal Causes…………………………………………………………………………….3

2.2 External Causes.…………………………………………………………………………...4

3.0 Precursors movements of the independence……………………………………………5

3.1 Juan Francisco de León’s rebellion………………………………………………………..5

3.2 Jose Leonardo Chirinos’ movement……………………………………………………….6
3.3 Conspiracy of Manuel Gual and José María España………………………………………6
3.4 Expeditions of Francisco de Miranda……………………………………………………...6

4.0 Independence of Venezuela………………………………………………………………7

5.0 Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………....7

5.1 Speech at the Congress of Angostura ..…………………………………………………....7

6.0 Discussion………………………………………………………………………………..12

7.0 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….16

8.0 Literature list……………………………………………………………………………17

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1.0 Introduction

Just like many other countries in the American continent, the history of Venezuela starts around
600 years ago, in the 14th century with the arrival of the first colonizer. Colonizers that did not
come to stay but to take the wealth and riches of that land and bring it to their own country.
After that they took control of those territories, making them colonies and a part of their reign.
In the 18th century started the first independence movements in America, more specific, what
it is known as Venezuela in nowadays. Simon Bolivar led the independence; he was an
illustrated and well-known character in the Venezuelan and Latin-American history. This
project will be a focus on the independence movements in Venezuela in the period 1810-1825.
It will be realized using the knowledge and methods from the subjects Spanish (A-level) and
History (A-level). First, we are going to acquire some knowledge about the independence
movement in Venezuela and causes that led to the independence of the same. Therefore we are
going to continue with the analyze of “El discurso del Congreso de Angostura” written by
Simon Bolivar, one of the most important speeches given by him. Extracting the most relevant
parts of the same and interpreting the thoughts and ideas of Simón Bolivar. To conclude this
project, we are going to discuss the causes that influenced the independence of Venezuela and
other American countries and their consequences. The intention behind this project is to
determinate the causes and effects of the independence and its influence now days.

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2.0 Independence movements in Venezuela

2.1 Internal Causes

- Spanish economic politics in Venezuela

Multiple reasons or causes led to those independence movements in Venezuela. We could start
by the fact that the Spanish colonists in America were subject to the control of the Spanish
commercial monopoly, which forced them to pay high taxes and to trade exclusively with the
representatives of the crown, making them dependent on the Spanish reign and creating a
feeling of resentment towards them.

- knowledge of illustration ideas

The white criollos were part of a social group characterized by the fact that they were well
educated, their educational preparation and their White criollo or Blanco criollo: This
was how the white people were
contacts abroad allowed them to know the
called when they were sons of
revolutionary ideas that were developing in Europe and Spaniards but born in American
the situation of the same. This knowledge permitted territory3.

them to know the right moment to start the uprising Peninsular white: These were the
whites that came from Spain.
against the Spanish reign 1.

- Rivalry between whites criollos and peninsular whites

There was also a marked contrast between the peninsular whites and the whites criollos. The
peninsular whites had all the political power in their hands. Besides having the economic
monopoly as it was stated before, they also had all the political control. Spain sent to America
the viceroys, governors, mayors, captains, generals, etc. While the white criollos had to settle
for a simple participation in the councils. These councils, knowns as “Cabildos”, oversaw three
powers: Legislative, administrative, and political. But always under the supervision of the
Spanish reign, that means, under the control of the viceroy2.

1
https://www.lifeder.com/blancos-criollos-latinoamerica/
2
http://www.efemeridesvenezolanas.com/sec/his/id/452/?show=1
3
https://www.lifeder.com/blancos-criollos-latinoamerica/

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2.2 External Causes

- Illustrations ideas
The European philosophers and encyclopedists highlight the intolerance and excessive action
of absolutist monarchs. Some of the most prominent philosophers were John Locke, Jean-
Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu. They criticized the existing systems of government in
Europe. The Spanish reign prohibited the distribution of books that disseminated these new
European ideas in American territory. However, they secretly entered and reached the hands of
interested persons. As a result, these ideas of equality, freedom, security, and fraternity played
a decisive influence in the hearts of the white criollos, who began to conspire in America to
eradicate the Spanish absolutist government from the territory3.

- Independence of the United States

Then we have the independence of the United States, in 1776 they became independent of
England. They had the support of King Carlos III of Spain, who launched an anti-British policy
in defense of American settlers. Something he did not expect was that this would serve as an
ideological inspiration and encouragement for the Spanish colonies. If the United States had
managed to free themselves from England, the highest power in the world, the South Americans
thought that it would be easy for them to become independent of a weak Spain4.

- Independence of Haiti
In the middle of the 18th century, in Haiti, a French colony, it was one of the most economically
active centers of the Caribbean Sea. The number of African slaves arriving in Haiti was
increasing until the white population became a minority. News of the French Revolution also
reached that territory. Those ideas of freedom and equality meant the loss of privileges of
whites and at the same time the abolition of slavery. This gave rise to the Haitian independence
movements, which were the first to emerge in the entire region after those of the United States.
The key figure in the struggles for the independence of Haiti was Toussaint Louverture, a
descendant of Africans who led the armies of slaves against the French whites of the island and
against the invasion attempts of Spain and England, which ended with defeats military for these

3
Manuel Rodríguez, José: Catedra Bolivariana de 3er año (Editorial Santillana, 2014) page 17, line 33-44.
4
http://www.dw.com/es/la-independencia-de-ee-uu-y-américa-latina/a-4455706

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two powers. In 1802 they confronted a large army sent by Napoleon Bonaparte, sent to
reconquer his former colony. Toussaint Louverture was taken as a prisoner and taken to France,
where he died a short time later. The military leadership of the Haitian Revolution was taken
by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who managed to defeat the French and proclaim independence on
November 29, 1803. In 1815 they had already managed to overcome a series of internal
conflicts and became a nation willing to provide support for the independence causes of the
rest of America. This Haitian revolution also inspired Simón Bolívar, who met with the
president of Haiti and asked for his support to fight the Spanish forces that were still in some
islands and cays of the Venezuelan territory5.

- The French revolution

Another determining factor was the French revolution; this is the reason Spain was seen as
weak by the American colonies in that period. The French revolution was a political, social,
economic, and military movement, which emerged in France in 1789; the same that brought as
a consequence the collapse of the absolutist monarchy, which until then had ruled in France,
while it originated the establishment of a democratic republican government. In 1808 Napoleon
took control over Iberia and declared his brother Joseph as the king of Spain. The invasion and
the subsequent lack of power led Spain to war. And therefore, the colonies in America began
to see that there was a way to suppress colonialism and achieve independence in the long term.6

3.0 Precursor movements of the independence

3.1 Juan Francisco de León’s rebellion

Juan Francisco de León led approximately 800 mutineers in Panaquire, who were unhappy with
the procedures of the “Compañía Guipuzcoan”. They arrived armed in Caracas, and as the
governor did not keep his word to expel the company, Leon returned months later leading 8,000
protesters. In 1751 he organized a third armed demonstration. He and his son Nicolás were
defeated, and they surrendered after fleeing. Once prisoners, they were taken to Spain where
Leon died, and later his son returned to Venezuela7.

5
Manuel Rodríguez, José: Catedra Bolivariana de 3er año (Editorial Santillana, 2014) page 24, line 12 - 42.
6
https://mihistoriauniversal.com/edad-contemporanea/revolucion-francesa/
7
http://www.efemeridesvenezolanas.com/sec/his/id/484/?show=3

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3.2 Jose Leonardo Chirinos’ movement
José Leonardo Chirino, leading about 350 rebels among blacks, Zambos, and Indians, marched
on Coro, killed several wealthy whites, and burned some properties. They demanded the
abolition of taxes, the establishment of a Republic, the equality of all citizens, the abolition of
the privileges and freedom of the slaves, and the handing over of the government to an
indigenous cacique. They were defeated by the authorities and severely punished. The Royal
Court judged Chirino, and he was sentenced on December 10, 1796, to be dismembered 8.

3.3 Conspiracy of Manuel Gual and José Maria España

This conspiracy was the first attempt to separate from the Kingdom of Spain to establish an
independent Republic. The idea came from Manuel Gual, a retired captain and Jose Maria
España, who was a lieutenant of justice. They had the collaboration of some Spanish
Republicans that were deported and other citizens. Their idea was a real egalitarian socio-
political revolution. The independence of the United States and the style of the French Republic
influenced them. But unfortunately, the conspiracy was discovered a few days before it could
be carried out, it was discovered on July 17, 1797. Both fled to Trinidad where they continued
with their revolutionary propaganda. José María España returned clandestinely to Venezuela
where he was captured and sentenced on May 8, 1799, to the death penalty. Several of his
accomplices were also sentenced to death9.

3.4 Expeditions of Francisco de Miranda

In the year 1805, Miranda organized a liberating expedition, which leaves from the United
States to Haiti, aboard the “Leander”, to seek reinforcements. In this country, two other ships
joined him, the “Bacchus” and the “Bee”. On March 12, 1806, for the first time, it hoisted what
would be the Venezuelan Flag, aboard the ship Leander near the Venezuelan Coasts. They were
surprised by much more powerful Spanish Boats; only the “Leander” managed to escape. The
other two ships were destroyed and captured 58 men. Miranda reorganized his forces and left
again for Venezuela, disembarking in Vela de Coro. On August 3, 1806, he raised the Tricolor

8
http://www.panorama.com.ve/ciudad/Hace-262-anos-nacio-Jose-Leonardo-Chirino-lider-de-la-insurreccion-
en-contra-de-la-esclavitud--20160425-0028.html
9
Bracho, América and others: Historia de Venezuela y de Nuestramérica - Ciencias Sociales 1er año (Ministerio
del Poder Popular para la Educación, 2014 ) Page 134-135

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Flag for the first time on the mainland but did not receive the expected support. The city was
empty because the Spanish authorities had run a rumor about Miranda. They said that he wanted
to be crowned Emperor of Venezuela. This caused that the town did not receive it and did not
give its support to him. Miranda returns to England. Even though Miranda’s expedition failed,
thanks to it the revolutionary ideas in the country expanded in the country10.

4.0 Independence of Venezuela

The independence of Venezuela was decreed on July 5, 1811. The document was written by
Juan Germán Roscio. In which forty-two representatives from seven of the ten provinces
belonging to the "Capitanía General de Venezuela" met in the “Capilla Santa Rosa de Lima”,
where they declared their independence against the Kingdom of Spain. These representatives
established a new nation based on republican and federal principles, abolishing the Monarchy
that ruled in Venezuela for more than three hundred years. It should be noted that this was the
first time that a Spanish Colony in America declared its absolute independence11.

5.0 Analysis

5.1 Speech at the Congress of Angostura

This speech was pronounced by Simon Bolivar on February 15, 1819, in front of the twenty-
six elected deputies. This was one of the most significant writings of Simón Bolívar since in it
we can see someone who offers the Constituent Congress three points of view. The first of
these points of view is the one from a citizen from that insurgent America, who notes with
admiration that the race of the American people it’s a mixture between the original indigenous
and the Africans, but at the same time with European rights. The second point of view of the
speech is that of the successful soldier who has fought on different fronts, both in the American
territory and abroad. And finally, there is the third facet. The facet of the political and strategic
Simón Bolívar. In this stage, we can see that in the speech he has several proposals for the

10
Bracho, América and others: Historia de Venezuela y de Nuestramérica - Ciencias Sociales 1er año (Ministerio
del Poder Popular para la Educación, 2014) Page 137
11
http://www.elimpulso.com/noticias/actualidad/la-independencia-de-venezuela-del-19-de-abril-de-1810-al-
5-de-julio-de-1811

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Constituent Congress to take into consideration when making the set of laws that will govern
the nation.

Among the things said by Simon Bolivar, he proposed that the new political system should be
based on social justice, the regulation of the powers and the free will of the peoples. He also
stressed that further institutions should be created to respond to the needs of the people. And
he makes an enormous emphasis on these two things throughout the discourse, giving examples
of what they should take from the social system of the Roman Empire, Athens, and even Sparta.
With this, we can appreciate his knowledge about the European culture, politics and also the
old continent. Because, being a white Criollo, he received his education in Spain and came to
travel the old continent. It is noticeable that he was an illustrated and world-aware man at the
time of writing this discourse.

“… La continuación de la autoridad en un mismo individuo frecuentemente ha sido el término de los

gobiernos democráticos. Las repetidas elecciones son esenciales en los sistemas populares, porque
nada es tan peligroso como dejar permanecer largo tiempo en un mismo ciudadano el poder. El
pueblo se acostumbra a obedecerle y él se acostumbra a mandarlo; de donde se origina la usurpación
y la tiranía 12…”

This thought from Simón Bolívar tries to show that, from any point of view, political power is
the most coveted among men, since some only seek it to dominate or to impose on others.
Others try to seize as many of the nation's wealth as possible, to enrich their families and some
to just simply avenge from their enemies and thus satisfy their impious wishes. There are very
few who covet and seek the power to do good to others, to adequately serve the people who
have chosen them for that purpose, transforming it into a grand and glorious country. And there
are very few who think about the origin of power, that all the power comes from the people and
that all the authority comes from the public powers, that it must represent the people with
dignity, exercising its powers with honesty and rendering accounts of all his acts.

12
“…The continuation of authority in the same individual has frequently been the end of democratic
governments. Repeated elections are essential in popular systems, because nothing is as dangerous as letting
power stay in one citizen for a long time. The people get used to obeying him and he gets used to rule over it;
from where the usurpation and united tyranny originates...”

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Indeed, the power is something that addicts and intoxicates, just like an aphrodisiac, the one
that makes use of it for the first time is inevitably addicted to continue exercising it. That is
why Simón Bolívar said "…nothing is as dangerous as letting the same citizen stay in power
for a long time…" since that ends in two disastrous consequences for every society. These are
that the people are accustomed to obey him and the ruler to command, from which the
usurpation and tyranny originate. The ruler that has accustomed to command experiences
totalitarian temptation, usurping power as if it were something that belongs to him by right and,
like everyone who usurps, fears criticism and contrary opinions, and ends up transforming
himself into a tyrant. On the other hand, the people who are accustomed to obey blindly often
lose their critical sense and the capacity to resist oppression. As we can see, these ideas only
aim to warn about the pernicious and enormously damaging effects that the presidential re-
election of a representative and participatory democratic regime provokes. Using “Logos” as a
form of appeal to persuade the deputies of the importance of frequent elections, and it is
something that the did manage to achieve because they indeed established frequent elections in
that constitution.

“…Por el engaño se nos ha dominado más que por la fuerza; y por el vicio se nos ha degradado más
bien que por la superstición. La esclavitud es la hija de las tinieblas; un pueblo ignorante es un
instrumento ciego de su propia destrucción; la ambición, la intriga, abusan de la credulidad y de la
inexperiencia de hombres ajenos de todo conocimiento político, económico o civil; adoptan como
realidades las que son puras ilusiones; toman la licencia por la libertad, la traición por el
patriotismo, la venganza por la justicia…13”

Here Simón Bolívar confirms what it has been said before. Through the time, many tyrants
and dictators have manipulated the people. Using no more than lies and false promises to get
to the power. It is the truth that many of them have used the force to achieve their purposes, but

13
“…By deception we have been dominated more than by force; and the vice has degraded us rather than
superstition. Slavery is the daughter of the darkness; an ignorant people is a blind instrument of their own
destruction; the ambition, the intrigue, abuse the credulity and inexperience of men outside of all political,
economic, or civil knowledge; they adopt as realities those that are pure illusions; they take the license for
freedom, betrayal for patriotism, revenge for justice...”

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 must of them have managed to deceive and mocked the credulity of the people. The tyrants are
dangerous wolves disguised as harmless sheep.

When he says, “the slavery is the daughter of the darkness”, he means that the subjugation of
the people it is the result of the ignorance of the same. By darkness, he may refer to the
obscurantism, a period that lasted for many centuries. Where the ignorance was a shadow that
followed the masses. Many pieces of knowledge were hidden from people; they just let them
know what it was for their convenience. In this way it was easy for them to handle the masses,
creating non-existent enemies, division in the population and posing as false heroes. Another
possible outcome is the disapproval of the slavery, saying that the slavery is as bad as those
dark ages.

Later, Simón Bolívar continues saying, “…an ignorant people is a blind instrument of their
own destruction…”. This means that the ignorance it is a weapon that threatens the people itself
and that the people it is not able to perceive. The people that it is not well-educated it is the
most susceptible to be manipulated and the easiest one to lie. Ignorant people cannot, in any
way enjoy a decent standard of living, because they do not have the capacity to choose a
government that adequately represents them, and nobody can claim something that they do not
know they have. And that is why the people are brutalized under a reign of tyranny because the
only thing that can avoid and get rid of a tyrant it is the same one that a tyrant it is the most
frightened of, a well-educated and united people.

Throughout this extract, Simón Bolívar uses imagery features such as personification, granting
human qualities to inanimate objects when he says, “the slavery is the daughter of the darkness”
and “… an ignorant people is a blind instrument…”,

“Meditad bien vuestra elección, legisladores. No olvidéis que vais a echar los fundamentos a un pueblo
naciente que podrá elevarse a la grandeza que la naturaleza le ha señalado, si vosotros proporcionáis su
base al eminente rango que le espera. Si vuestra elección no está presidida por el genio tutelar de
Venezuela, que debe inspiraros el acierto al escoger la naturaleza y la forma de gobierno que vais a adoptar
para la felicidad del pueblo; si no acertáis, repito, la esclavitud será el término de nuestra transformación14.

14
Meditate your choice well, legislators. Do not forget that you are going to lay the foundations of a nascent
town that will be able to rise to the greatness that nature has pointed out to you, if you provide its base to the
eminent rank that awaits you. If your choice is not presided over by the tutelary genius of Venezuela, who

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In this extract, Simón Bolívar uses once again Pathos as a form of appeal, trying to demonstrate
how important is it for Venezuela to choose the right type of government and to persuade them
to make the right decisions. Simón Bolívar is well-aware of the potential that Venezuela it is
capable of achieving, if the choices are well made, to Venezuela would come a time for
greatness. When he says, “Do not forget that you are going to lay the foundations of a nascent
town that will be able to rise to the greatness that nature has pointed out to you” we can see
that he is aware of what it is the most important thing for a new nation, the constitution. Having
an impeccable constitution allows us to enjoy a healthy and egalitarian society.

When Simón Bolívar address this, “…if you do not succeed, I repeat, slavery will be the end of
our transformation.”, He means that if they do not make the right choices, all the sacrifices,
and battles that have been fought to get rid of the control of the kingdom of Spain, all will have
been in vain and they will fall into the oppression gain. By transformation, he means the change
from a Spanish Colony to an independent country. He does not refer to be summited to the
Spanish Kingdom again but to the negligence or leadership of tyrant.

“Yo abandono a vuestra soberana decisión la reforma o la revocación de todos mis Estatutos y
Decretos; pero yo imploro la confirmación de la libertad absoluta de los esclavos, como imploraría
mi vida y la vida de la República.”15

Here Simón Bolívar shows us how important it is for him to grant freedom to the slaves,
something he has already reiterated on multiple occasions throughout this speech. Despite the
fact that at that time having slaves was common and even more among the white criollos or
peninsular whites, ee can appreciate his thoughts about this. Saying that the freedom of the
slaves matters more than the titles that had been granted to him or even as important as his own
life or the republic itself would be. Something that would have impacted all the people present

should inspire you by choosing the nature and form of government that you are going to adopt for the
happiness of the people; if you do not succeed, I repeat, slavery will be the end of our transformation
15
I abandon to your sovereign decision the reform or the revocation of all my Statutes and Decrees; but I
implore the confirmation of the absolute freedom of the slaves, as I would implore my life and the life of the
Republic

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in that Congress since all the deputies that were present there participated in the independence
movements to establish the Republic that they desired for so long. This Republic that was as
important for them as for Simon Bolivar.

“La educación popular debe ser el cuidado primogénito del amor paternal del Congreso.
Moral y luces son los polos de una República, moral y luces son nuestras primeras
necesidades16”. This last extract is one of the most popular thoughts of Simón Bolívar in
Venezuela. This shows us the importance of the education and the principles for Simon Bolivar,
saying that the public education should be one of the priorities of the Congress, like the
importance that a parent would give to a newborn. By morals, he refers to the principles of the
people. And having these two, together with freedom, to Venezuela and America would not
wait for more than greatness.

After having seen and analyzed the most relevant parts of the speech given by Simón Bolívar
in front of the Angostura Congress, we can say that it is a masterpiece and that it significantly
influenced the history of Venezuela, both in the short and long term. The use of Pathos was
evident as a form of appeal throughout the discourse, where he hoped to be able to persuade
the deputies with his ideas and proposals for the new constitution of what we know today as
Venezuela. He also uses imagery as a reiteration, repeating throughout the speech how
important education is for people, how dangerous it is to have a person as president for an
extended period, his opposition to slavery and his vision of what should be the reforms and
laws for the new Republic. In addition to all this, he also uses metaphors and throughout the
discourse. In the end, we can say that he achieved his purpose since the laws and reforms
applied in that constitution, reflected the ideas and thoughts of Simón Bolívar.

6.0 Discussion

As it has been shown previously, there are multiple factors and causes that led to the
independence of Venezuela; we can start by the influence of the French Revolution in those
independence movements, well, being more specific the influence of Napoleon Bonaparte.

16
“Popular education must be the firstborn care of the paternal love of Congress. Morals and lights are the
poles of a Republic, morals and lights are our first needs”

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Simon Bolivar is a man who has traveled the world, and it is well known that he came to travel
in Europe. We could say that he gained influence from the political ideals of Napoleon
Bonaparte since he was someone who looked with admiration and who could be influenced to
begin the liberation of Venezuela from the control of the kingdom of Spain and eventually other
countries of the American continent.

Both, Napoleon, and Simón Bolívar grew up and were inspired by the books and experience
of Jean-Jacob Rousseau, both of them wanted a transformation in their people, both political,
social, and economic. The glory of Napoleon Bonaparte could be something Simon Bolivar
admired, the way people idolized him. Although it is well known that the idea of being
perceived as Emperor was not something that caught Simon Bolivar's attention. But the way in
which people acclaimed and saw Napoleon is something that could leave a mark on Simón
Bolívar. One of the reasons for saying this is that Simon Bolivar was present on the day of
Napoleon's coronation, to which he said it was something that strongly influenced him that day.
Something that admitted later. In addition to all this, both Napoleon and Simón Bolívar grew
up and were inspired by the books and experience of Jean Jacob Rousseau; both wanted a
transformation in their political, social, and economic peoples. Which they both managed to
accomplish.

The first consequences of the influence of Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution are
the ideals and the suggestions that Simon Bolivar tries to disseminate among the deputies of
the Congress of Angostura. Mentioning repeatedly the Republican political model of France.
Which he is inspired to suggest laws and public institutes for Venezuela. Another direct
consequence is the establishment of Venezuela as a Republic, and this is something that stills
remain nowadays.

A consequence of having become independent from the kingdom of Spain could be the
economic autonomy that this separation would entail. On the one hand, it could be something
positive since they would not have to pay high taxes to the Kingdom of Spain, and they would
have control of the price of purchase and sale of the inner product. Besides that, they were able
to integrate into international trade through the British, which imposed fewer restrictions on
them than the kingdom of Spain. That could have helped them to establish that great export
volume of agricultural products. On the other hand, The British had a more significant
industrial potential than the emancipated colonies, which could result in the stagnation of

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industrial projects and at the same time the need to maintain an economy based on agricultural
exports. Additionally, the economy was in crisis due to the years of war. Because it was a
Spanish colony for so long, it is very likely that most of the capital of Venezuela was in the
hands of peninsular businessmen or the envoys of the king, which were expelled by the
authorities and would have taken their wealth to the kingdom of Spain. This could be translated
to an economic crisis due to the lack of capital.

Then we have the establishment of a new ruling class because the control of these colonies was
exclusively for those sent by the kingdom of Spain. When these colonies became independent,
the whites criollos and other ethnic classes took control of the new government institutions,
which led to more egalitarian laws and reforms for these new countries. Making people of color
and aborigines have more freedom an. But at the same time, this required an increase of
government officials, what would have been complicated to maintain due to the economic crisis
already mentioned above.

We also have the internal wars that the emancipated Spanish colonies had to go through, being
a period of changes and transitions that lasted about fourteen years. There were multiple wars,
attempts of coups of states and multiples internal problems. On the one hand, a redistribution
of the population occurred to avoid the disturbances that were happening in the country. What
probably has increased the number of jobs in some areas. On the other hand, due to all these
problems, there were many deaths, which also would have caused a lower birth rate and a
population imbalance due to emigration.

At last but not least significant we have the participation of Simón Bolívar in the independence
movements, being one of the primary precursors of the independence of Venezuela and other
countries of America. The role of this hero or liberator to Venezuela is one of the leading causes
of the independence of the same since Simón Bolívar had many advantages that not everyone
was capable of possessing. He was a white criollo, so his family had enough money to have
private teachers, one of his teachers being an anarchist, taught him politics to Simón Bolívar
and this would influence in his future. At the same time, Bolívar had contacts abroad that would
be crucial at the time of Venezuela's independence. Because of this, he was able to receive
news of what was happening in Europe meanwhile the rest of the people was not able to know
about it. Allowing him, to begin with, the rebellion in the right moment.

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Thanks to all this, the independence of Venezuela would be achieved. And this would compel
Simón Bolívar to fight for the liberation of other Spanish colonies that today are known as
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Which later would join to be what was once known as
"La Gran Colombia", but unfortunately it was a project that did not last long due to the different
ideas and objectives of each region.

If we talk about the influence of Simon Bolivar, On the one hand, it was very positive for
Venezuela and other countries of America. He was the primary precursor of independence, an
excellent source of inspiration for Venezuela and other countries. On the other hand, throughout
the history of Venezuela, there have been rulers who base or inspired on Simon Bolivar, but
they misinterpret his ideals and principles at will and convenience. The most recent and obvious
example is the current government of Venezuela. That in spite of considering a Bolivarian
government, who say they abide by the laws that are written in the constitution and follow the
ideals of Simón Bolívar, they could not be further from the truth.

We can start by the fact the current government has been in power for over 18 years, which is
something that was always entirely against Simon Bolivar and unfortunately is a reality that
Venezuela lives today. A government which has clung to power and to which people have
become accustomed to obeying despite the damage and consequences that they have brought
to Venezuela.

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7.0 Conclusion

Now that we have seen the presented above, we can say that multiple causes led to the
independence of Venezuela and the other Spanish colonies. The constant repression and control
imposed by the Kingdom of Spain was nothing more than a time bomb that sooner or later
would end up exploiting, among them the totalitarian control of power and the commercial
monopoly that they had at that time. We also have the freedom ideals that became more popular
and stronger among the population, the French Revolution, which was a determining factor for
the rise of these colonies and of course, the courage and ideals of freedom of illustrious people
like Simón Bolívar. All of these resulted in the independence of Venezuela and the other
Spanish colonies, but not before having fought many wars. We can also say that these
characters and events had an enormous impact on the history of Venezuela and even in
nowadays, despite the fact that the current situation would not have been Simón Bolívar's vision
for the future of Venezuela.

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8.0 Literature List

http://www.dw.com/es/la-independencia-de-ee-uu-y-américa-latina/a-4455706 (19-12-2017)

http://www.efemeridesvenezolanas.com/sec/his/id/452/?show=1 (19-12-2017)

http://www.efemeridesvenezolanas.com/sec/his/id/484/?show=3 (19-12-2017)

http://www.elimpulso.com/noticias/actualidad/la-independencia-de-venezuela-del-19-de-abril-de-
1810-al-5-de-julio-de-1811 (19-12-2017)

http://www.panorama.com.ve/ciudad/Hace-262-anos-nacio-Jose-Leonardo-Chirino-lider-de-la-
insurreccion-en-contra-de-la-esclavitud--20160425-0028.html (19-12-2017)

https://issuu.com/santillanavenezuela/docs/catedra_bolivariana_3 (E-bog) Manuel Rodríguez,

José: Catedra Bolivariana de 3er año (Editorial Santillana, 2014) (19-12-2017)

https://mihistoriauniversal.com/edad-contemporanea/revolucion-francesa/ (19-12-2017)

https://www.guao.org/sites/default/files/biblioteca/Historia%20de%20Venezuela%20y%20de%2
0nuestra%20América.pdf (E-bog) Bracho, América and others: Historia de Venezuela y de
Nuestra América - Ciencias Sociales 1er año (Ministerio del Poder Popular para la
Educación, 2014) (19-12-2017)

https://www.lifeder.com/blancos-criollos-latinoamerica/ (19-12-2017)

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