19th Century Venezuelan Society and Foreign Policy

Urban Society

• Big Merchants: Controlled import and export activities and provided loans at high interest rates.
• High Clergy: Owned land and enslaved people, sharing influence with major landowners.
• Middle Class:
  • Professionals: Charged fees for specialized services.
  • Artisans: Engaged in independent skilled labor.
  • Small Businesses: Operated grocery stores and shops, selling directly to consumers.
  • Transportation: Facilitated the movement of products from farms and ranches to ports and consumption centers, including imported goods.
• Urban Workers: Employees of state institutions, shops, workshops, manufacturing, and mining companies.
• Bondage: Individuals tasked with carrying out household chores.

Population Distribution

Approximately 85% of the population was scattered throughout the countryside, towns, and villages due to the prevalence of extensive farming.

Foreign Policy

The first Venezuelan diplomats, Juan Vicente Bolívar and Telésforo Orea, traveled to the United States seeking political recognition and economic support. A second mission was sent to England, composed of Simón Bolívar, Luis López Méndez, and Andrés Bello.

International Relations

Treaties of International Trade in the 19th Century

Upon becoming an independent Republic, Venezuela ratified agreements signed during the former Republic of Colombia and established new treaties to facilitate trade with the United States and Europe. These efforts aimed to achieve international recognition and define national borders.

Treaties of Commerce, Friendship, and Navigation

These treaties were signed to ensure access for Venezuelan products to European and U.S. markets. Agreements were established with England, the Hanseatic cities, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, the USA, and Italy. Diplomatic relations were subsequently broken due to the following conflicts:

• England (1887–1897): Due to the occupation of territory between Amacuro and the Pomerón.
• France (1895–1897): In response to attacks against the national government.
• Colombia (1901–1903): Due to armed intervention and the invasion of the Colombian Guajira.
• United States and France (1905–1909): Due to the refusal of American and French companies to submit to Venezuelan law and jurisdiction.