Venezuela's Path to Sovereignty: 1826-1860

Cosiata: Separatist Movement of 1826

Cosiata was a separatist movement that occurred in Venezuela in 1826.

Key Concepts of 19th-Century Venezuelan Politics

• Agriculture: The economy relied heavily on agriculture and livestock.
• Centralism: A system where several functions depend on a central authority.
• Censitary: A system to elect those who govern the public destiny.
• Federalism: A political doctrine that fosters the national union of several states.
• Oligarchy: A small, united group of powerful businessmen who control a sector.

Congress of Valencia (1830)

Summons: January 13, 1830
Installation: May 6 to October 14, 1830
Leader: General José Antonio Páez, civil and military chief of Venezuela

Accomplishments

1. Approval of regulations for the executive power.
2. (Temporary) Appointment of Diego Bautista Urbaneja as Vice President of Venezuela.
3. Licensing of troops that had moved from Bogotá to Colombia.
4. Incorporation and possible rejection of the province of Casanare to Venezuela.

Provinces: Caracas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Margarita, Carabobo, Maracaibo, Coro, Mérida, Barinas, Apure, and Guayana.

Gran Colombia

Background: Constitution of 1811, failure of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Republics, the liberation of New Granada, and the Liberator Project of 1811.

Organization: Venezuela, New Granada, Panama, and Quito.

Capital: Bogotá
President: Bolívar (4 years)
Vice President: Francisco de Paula Santander
Civil Chief: José Antonio Páez
Government System: Centralist

Causes of Dissolution

• Regimental traditions.
• Political differences.
• Enormous distances.
• Feelings of regionalism.

Caudillismo

Consequences: Caudillismo corresponds to a 19th-century social reality characterized by a form of political organization supported by personalist leadership.

It led to political instability due to:

1. Lack of national foundations.
2. Successive years of political confrontation.
3. Costly civil wars in terms of human loss.

Conservative Oligarchy

• Composed of political, social, and economic elites.
• Focused only on the interests of their groups.
• Operated under strong leadership.
• Functioned more as doctrines than political parties.

Presidents During the Conservative Oligarchy

1. José Antonio Páez (1830-1835)
2. José María Vargas (1835-1836)
3. Andrés Narvarte, José María Carreño, Carlos Soublette (1836-1839)
4. José Antonio Páez (1839-1843)
5. Carlos Soublette (1843-1847)
6. José Tadeo Monagas (1847-1851)
7. José Gregorio Monagas (1851-1855)
8. José Tadeo Monagas (1855-1858)

Federal War

Origin: Began in Coro, Falcón state.

Main Reasons: Political trends of federalism and centralism.

Major Battles: Santa Inés (December 1859) and Copié (February 17, 1860).

Leader: Ezequiel Zamora.

Causes

1. The unresolved issue of slavery.
2. The power of the oligarchy.
3. The fall of the Monagas government.
4. The economic life of the country.
5. Socio-economic problems.

Consequences

1. Over 200,000 deaths.
2. Increased literacy rates.
3. Reduced agricultural productivity.