Venezuelan Political History: Páez to the 1943 Oil Policy

First Government of José Antonio Páez

At the beginning of the government, armed movements against Páez began to occur. In 1830 and 1831, there were pronouncements in the eastern provinces, where another prestigious leader, General José Tadeo Monagas, spearheaded the movement against Páez and the Caracas oligarchy. Monagas and his supporters proposed to restore Gran Colombia, for the eastern provinces to form an independent federal state, and to recognize General Santiago Mariño and José Tadeo Monagas as new heads of state.

The Administration of Juan Crisóstomo Falcón

During the administration of Falcón, the disorder in public administration deepened. To cover the shortfall, the new government authorized the hiring of a loan of one and a half million pounds, guaranteeing it with import duties from the customs of La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Maracaibo, and Ciudad Bolívar.

The Septenio and Quinquenio Periods

In the first period, the Septenio, he ruled for seven years from 1870 to 1877. At this stage, Venezuela recovered hopes of becoming a modern and organized nation. In the second period, known as the Quinquenio, he served five years of government from 1879 to 1884. This period continued the material progress that had begun in the first stage and also stressed the dictatorial nature of the regime.

The Naval Blockade of the Venezuelan Republic

During Castro's government, the most grave and serious international conflict the Republic ever faced occurred. The navies of the British Empire, the German Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy blockaded Venezuela's coasts and ports to demand immediate payment of Venezuelan debts incurred by companies of their countrymen. As in the time of Guzmán Blanco, these companies took advantage of the prevailing crisis to press charges and made use of their governments for the cancellation.

The Venezuelan Oil Policy of 1943

Oil companies were interested in obtaining further concessions to enable them to ensure the future expansion of the industry. The Oil Policy of 1943 made it possible to unify the legal framework for the concessions that had been governed by different laws and unify the tax system, also making oil companies pay the same taxes.