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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Venezuela: History
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Background Notes: Venezuela
History
</hdr>
<body>
<p> The indigenous peoples of Venezuela ranged from
sophisticated agriculturalists--the Timotes, who used
irrigation and terracing--to primitive groups living on
islands offshore. Coastal Carib tribes, especially the Teques
and Caracas, proved formidible enemies to the Spanish who
followed Columbus after his 1498 visit. Carib leader
Guarcaipuro mobilized as many as 10,000 warriors to resist
Spanish settlement. The first permanent Spanish settlement in
South America--Nuevo Toledo--was established in Venezuela
in 1522.
</p>
<p> Spanish explorers noted natives using a black, oily liquid--petroleum--in their daily chores and took some of it to
Spain as a curiosity in 1500. The Spanish were interested in
yellow, rather than black, gold, however, and looked for
treasure elsewhere in their colonial empire. Even Venezuela's
agricultural potential was not appreciated by the Spanish.
Other Europeans, especially English adventurers and Dutch and
French traders took an interest in the region and developed
important commercial connections there. Eventual efforts by
Spain to limit these inroads and develop the colony proved
counterproductive, and Venezuelans began to grow restive under
colonial control.
</p>
<p> Armed uprisings broke out in 1795, 1797, and 1799. In 1806,
Francisco de Miranda--a Venezuelan aristocrat who was also a
lieutenant general in the French Revolution and an acquaintance
of Washington, Hamilton, Adams, and Paine--launched an
unsuccessful rebellion. Independence was not achieved until
1821 and then under the leadership of Simon Bolivar,
Venezuela's native son and continental hero. Venezuela, along
with what are now Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador, was part of the
Republic of Gran Colombia until 1830, when it separated and
became a sovereign country.
</p>
<p> Venezuela's 19th-century history is characterized by
frequent periods of political instability, dictatorial rule,
and revolutionary turbulence. The 20th century has been marked
by long periods of authoritarianism: dictatorships of Gen. Juan
Vicente Gomez (1908-35) and Gen. Marcos Perez Jimenez
(1950-58), and a democratic interlude between 1945 and 1948.
Since the overthrow of Perez Jimenez on January 23, 1958,
democratic elections have been held every 5 years, and
democratic institutions are flourishing. Action Democratica
(AD) won five of these elections (1958, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1988),
and the Social Christian (COPEI) Party won two (1968 and 1978).
</p>
<p>Political Conditions
</p>
<p> After a 10-year, constitutionally mandated hiatus from
power, Carlos Andres Perez took office again as president on
February 2, 1989, for an unprecedented second 5-year term. He
has abandoned economic nationalism, import substitution, and
state intervention, the trademarks of his first term (1974-79).
The decline of oil prices in the mid-1980s and changes in
policy have forced austerity on consumers accustomed to
subsidies. Perez is trying to diminish the role of the state
in economic affairs and the country's dependence on oil exports.
To reduce the scope of public sector intervention in the
economy, authorities have moved to a floating exchange rate and
eliminated many interest rate and price controls, as well as the
level of subsidies for consumer goods. This adjustment is
likely to be painful in the short term and already has resulted
in inflation and economic contraction.
</p>
<p> Economic hardship and the austerity program sparked violence
in February 1989. On Februray 27-28, crowds, reacting to a
sharp increase in bus fares, began burning buses. The violence
grew when mobs, frustrated by reduced food supplies, began
widespread looting of groceries and other businesses. When
police no longer could maintain order, the government
temporarily suspended some constitutional rights and used
military force to restore order and to feed the population.
</p>
<p>Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs,
April 1989.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>